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Journeyman

(Rated TV-14, Drama, Starring Moon Bloodgood, Kevin McKidd, Gretchen Egolf, Where to watch: NBC, Online)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 14, age appropriate for kids over 99; suggested age 14.
  • Is it any good?

    4.0
  • Common Sense says

    Time-travel drama is entertaining but mature.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 14–18

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    While his marriage has had its problems, Dan is a loving husband and a caring father. Still, there are hints of infidelity and love triangles. The main cast members are all Caucasian, though people of various racial and ethnic backgrounds are visible.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    Scenes include characters getting punched, kicked, and hit with baseball bats, fireplace pokers, and other items. There are also images of people getting hurt, hit by cars, and suffering various other accidents. Guns visible.
  • Sex:

    Embraces (with some kissing) and strong sexual innuendo. Women in skimpy underwear.
  • Language:

    On the milder side; "hell," "damn," etc.
  • Consumerism:

    Various San Francisco landmarks, including the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and trolleys.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Alcohol consumption (especially beer) is frequently visible. Dan's friends think he has a substance abuse problem. There are references to both Dan and Jack being recovering addicts.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Journeyman

Parents need to know that this time-travel drama about a journalist who changes people's lives includes some mature subject matter (marital problems, hints of infidelity), violent moments (characters are punched, hit, and kicked), and fairly strong sexual innuendo. The main character's odd, time-travel related behavior also leads to frequent discussions of potential substance abuse among those who don't know what's going on.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the appeal of time-travel stories. Why do viewers like watching TV shows and movies about the subject? Is it more or less interesting than other sci-fi themes, like space travel and extraterrestrials? Why? If time travel were a reality, where (or, more accurately, when) would you want to go? Who would you want to see? Would you change anything?

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Texas
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 2.0

    I'm sorry, but this show is just utterly generic

    Granted, I am basing this review purely on the pilot of the episode, which is the only one I was able to watch since that's all NBC decided to include on their preview DVD. However, based solely on that-- and I admit, the show for all I know could add some twists and original ideas and become a great show, it just hasn't shown any signs that it will-- the characters are average, as is the acting mainly, with the obvious exception of Kevin McKidd (having just finished up with HBO's "Rome"). The script is nothing more than a combination of different plots that have been used countless times for shows or movies that have to do with time travel. The production and direction are slick, but those factors can't redeem the show by themselves. And while there's nothing wrong with a show using ideas from something else, it has to be done well and incorporate enough fresh ideas of its own to prevent its episodes from being more than just a passing distraction. I was, quite honestly, bored-- more in a "I'm staring at a TV for no reason other than to preview NBC's lineup before the pilots and I'm not really caring much about this show" kind of way-- and I was not nearly interested enough to even tune in for the second episode. Not to mention that the ending of the pilot, which was so obviously supposed to be the show's huge kind of twist/"Oh my gosh, that was brilliant" moment, was so predictable I figured it out as soon as McKidd's character asked for a shovel (or whatever implement he used). Really, I cannot understand CSM's four star rating, as this show is one of weakest of NBC's new shows. If you want the best new fall shows to watch I would suggest "Pushing Daisies", "Chuck", "Reaper", and "Life" (if you appreciate nuanced acting and realize just how volatile of a character Damian Lewis is portraying if you really look at his personality.) If you want nothing more than an hour of TV to pass some time, then by all means, Journeyman will take up that hour of your life. Whether you'll actually be satisfied with that decision is something else entirely.

  2. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in California
    I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 5.0

    great show -- hope it stays on the air

    If you have children younger than 14-15 in the room watching this show, you will be uncomfortable here and there with some mature scenes (no nudity, just mature relationships and some VERY brief showing of skin, bras, underwear). But, I loved this show. It is about caring people who want to do the best in life despite real-life or other-worldly obstacles ... including staying together in a somewhat difficult marriage! I hope this show does well, as it could gain a following like Medium.

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