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Jekyll

(Rated TV-14, Drama, Starring James Nesbitt, Gina Bellman, Michelle Ryan, Where to watch: BBC America, DVD)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 15, age appropriate for kids over 99; suggested age 15.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0

  • Common Sense says

    Chilling Brit take on classic is for adults only.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 15–18

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    The main character struggles with his increasing inability to protect those around him from his malicious alter ego. A common theme throughout the series focuses on his uncertainty about who he can trust, and often the loyalty and honesty of those he considered friends is called into question.

  • Violence:

    Much of Hyde's time is spent inflicting physical and emotional violence on others. In one scene, he snaps a man's neck and stomps on his body, causing blood to spurt from his mouth, before verbally terrorizing a young woman with implications of his sexual desire for her. In another, he's shown covered in blood after apparently killing a lion by hand. Many scenes also show close-ups of him giving victims a vampire-like snarl.

  • Sex:

    As Hyde, the main character often seeks out the company of prostitutes, but these scenes are usually limited to shots of them dressing after the act or him paying for services rendered. Lewd comments about the attractiveness of certain young women are also common.

  • Language:

    Strong expletives like "hell," "s--t," and "damn" are common. Multiple uses of "f --k" are bleeped.

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Hyde is a heavy drinker, and many other characters drink and smoke occasionally. In one scene, a woman drugs the main character's drink to knock him out so she can search his belongings.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Jekyll

Parents need to know that this new spin on Robert Louis Stevenson's classic psychological thriller will captivate adults, but it's far too mature for kids. Bloody, graphic violence is common, as is the emotional trauma that Hyde sadistically inflicts on innocent victims. Strong language ("damn," "s--t," and bleeped uses of "f--k") is prevalent, as is drinking (especially when Hyde appears); sexual content includes discussions of Hyde's weakness for prostitution and implications that he enjoys forcing himself on attractive young women. Add to that the show's heart-pounding suspense, and it's easy to see why this one deserves a close look before teens tune in.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the prevalence of violence on TV. Why are so many primetime shows violent in nature? How does the violence vary between shows? What does this tendency say about society? Are we becoming immune to violence's shock value? And why do we enjoy dramas that delve into the disturbed psyches of deviants and criminals? Families can also discuss how this show compares to Stevenson's original novella. What liberties did the producers take in rewriting the tale? How was the story modernized? Does the show improve upon or detract from the original story? How do you think Stevenson would view this adaptation? How does it compare to others you've seen?
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