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Murphy's Law

(Rated TV-14, Drama, Starring James Nesbitt, Claudia Harrison, Del Synott, 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

    Tense British crime drama is too violent for kids.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 15–18

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    The main character is an undercover cop who assumes various false identities and tells plenty of lies to gather intelligence and gain criminals' and victims' confidence. Allegiances and assumptions of guilt often change multiple times throughout each episode, making it difficult to know which characters are good and which are bad.

  • Violence:

    Violence is plentiful and graphic. Gunshot victims are shown bleeding and gasping for air, dead bodies are cut down after suicide by hanging, and fistfights result in cuts, bruises, and other obvious injuries. Kidnapping victims cry and plead for their lives.

  • Sex:

    Some obvious flirtation among adults, but it rarely leads to anything physical.

  • Language:

    Fairly infrequent use of expletives like "ass" and "hell."

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Casual and habitual smoking and drinking are common among adult characters, and some plots deal with drug use and the drug trade, so there's potential for onscreen substance use.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Murphy's Law

Parents need to know that this British crime drama is full of mature content: suspense, frequent and bloody violence, kidnapping, references to drug use, and occasional strong language. The main character (an undercover cop) assumes false identities to gain the trust of criminals or victims and then exploits that trust to get the information he needs to put criminals away. Allegiances and assumptions of guilt often switch, so young viewers may be confused about whom to trust. Remind teens that Murphy's brash confidence in the face of frequent mortal danger (he's often confronted by weapon-wielding criminals) isn't an accurate representation of similar real-world situations.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about how the violence in this series compares to that of American crime dramas like CSI and Law & Order. Does it seem more or less realistic? What kind of impact does realistic violence have on kids? How is cartoon violence different? For more on violence in the media, click here.
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