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Jericho

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 13, age appropriate for kids over 16; suggested age 14.

  • Is it any good?

    2.0
  • Common Sense says

    Mildly scary disaster drama fails to thrill.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 14–16

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    The main characters are all good people with moral values. Some characters may have ulterior motives and unknown pasts. At least one escaped convict is on the loose. Men and women play traditional roles. The cast is all-white, except for one African-American man, who plays a significant role. One minor character is hearing-impaired.

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    Police officers and some civilians carry guns. One man is shot in the back. Several car accidents leave people dead, and viewers see some blood. A girl's throat is pierced with a knife to save her life. Some men scuffle and argue.
  • Sex:

    References to past romantic relationships. Nothing sexual.
  • Language:

    Mild: "damn," etc.
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.

What Parents Need to Know

This review of Jericho was written by Sierra Filucci

Parents need to know that this potentially scary drama depicts a mushroom cloud erupting in the distance, with both adult and kid characters left crying and worried after seeing it. Parents and their children become separated at times, and one teenage boy hears his mother die on an answering machine. Aside from the issues raised by the show's underlying premise (nuclear disaster striking, and people left to fight for survival), violence is the biggest issue here: Several auto accidents leave adults dead, and viewers see some blood and brief glimpses of the dead bodies; a character uses a pocketknife to perform a successful emergency tracheotomy on a young girl; and a man is shot in the back.

Families Can Talk About

Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
  • Families can talk about their experiences during crises. How did you feel and react during 9/11? Did you see people fighting or helping each other? What is it about disaster that brings out the best and worst in people? What would your family do in case of an emergency? Do you have a disaster plan and a meeting place? Do you think the show's scenarios are believable? Do stories like this make you scared or nervous? Why or why not?
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More on Jericho

What’s the Story?

What happens to a group of people when disaster strikes? Do they rally together or fight for their own survival? These are the questions explored in JERICHO after a mushroom cloud appears on the horizon of the small Kansas town, knocking out electricity and communications. A mix between Lost and Lord of the Flies, Jericho reveals the social dynamics that emerge within a group that's cut off from the outside world and forced to rely on one another. While some people fight over hoarded gasoline, others help their neighbors in unexpected ways.

Is It Any Good?

Beyond the tale of a small town affected by disaster is the mystery behind the explosion. As the possibility that the United States has been attacked becomes more likely, Jericho has the potential to be truly scary. While the potential is there, the dramatic moments are softened in Jericho and tension rarely builds for long. This makes the show more family-friendly, but a bit of a letdown for mature viewers. In one scene, for example, Jake Green (Skeet Ulrich) saves a dying girl by using a pocketknife and a collection of juice box straws to perform a tracheotomy. With only a bit of blood, the rescue is quick, easy, seemingly painless -- and old hat to those weaned on the likes of ER and CSI.

All in all, Jericho is by no means cutting-edge drama. It's familiar, sentimental stuff, and some viewers may find it a bit earnest and hokey, with an all-too-obvious message about patriotism and togetherness. It takes on some of the elements that make Lost so compelling and brings them down a notch to appeal to a younger, broader audience. But in doing so, much originality is lost as well.

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Our Members Say

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 5.0

    most amazing tv show i ever saw. realistic and true. no duming down. http://www.cbs.com/primetime/jericho/video/

  2. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in Kentucky
    I rate this title on for age 11 and give it 5.0

    Greatest TV Show out

    Best show out there. Great plot and realistic storyline. Some violence but most teens and some preteens should handle it well.

  3. Parent Reviewer
    Kids ages: 15, 17
    I rate this title on for age 12 and give it 5.0

    Excellent study in human nature... gripping story, fantastic characters... must see!

    If you are a fan of story lines that have not been dumbed down to appeal to the wider, generally less intellectually gifted majority, this show is for you. If you need everything spelled out for you, best to stick with your average, run of the mill big box action production. So much of the Jericho story unfolds between the lines and in what isn't said or done that you really do need to pay attention. I intend to watch it again with my 13 year old son. He is very interested in war, weapons, urban chaos and human nature in relation to natural and man made disasters so I think he will find it very interesting. The consequences of the choices we make, the relationships we nurture, and our role in the context of the society around us are all topics that can be further explored through this show and in subsequent conversations. Definitely one to watch WITH your kids.

  4. I rate this title on and give it 4.0

    I love Jericho

    Jericho is a well written TV program about how people react under pressure and in a crisis. Some become heroes while others use an event for their own gain at the expense of the community. This is a good show to share with the family. A great lead in for LOST.

  5. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in California
    I rate this title off and give it 1.0

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