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The Nine

(Rated TV-14, Drama, Starring Scott Wolf, Timothy Daly, Kim Raver, Where to watch: ABC, 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?

    3.0

  • Common Sense says

    Now-familiar flashback formula works ... again.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 14–18

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Most characters go beyond the traditional "good guy" and "bad guy" labels, but it's these shades of gray that make them more interesting. For example, one character is a heroic cop with a serious gambling problem, and one of the robbers seemed to participate reluctantly. The female characters are well-developed and speak their minds.

  • Violence:

    Suicide and death are discussed, and a funeral is shown. There are also several graphic scenes in the flashback sequences that show dead and dying bodies covered in blood. Guns are a central part of the plot and are used to instill fear in the hostages.

  • Sex:

    Palpable sexual tension exists between several of the main characters, with occasional shots of women in lingerie or other suggestive clothing. Characters are shown kissing passionately but not actually having sex ... although it's easy enough to infer. Implications of cheating.

  • Language:

    Relatively mild: "Jackass," "hell," "bastards," etc.

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    One character has "party girl" tendencies and sometimes drinks to excess, though not on camera.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About The Nine

Parents need to know that most of the characters in this high-concept serial drama (with the exception of one female high school student) are adult hostages who are the victims of a traumatic violent crime. At least one of them dies, and several of them are emotionally distraught after the fact, which could upset young children. The intensity of the hostage experience causes an upheaval in most of the main characters' everyday lives, with stable relationships crumbling and emotions swinging wildly. The flashbacks include plenty of violence (in the form of guns, blood, and torture), which means this isn't one for the kids.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the believability of the storyline and how often bank robberies and hostage situations actually occur. Are there things people can do to protect themselves in extreme circumstances? And what, if anything, could these hostages have done differently? The show also brings up the importance of encouraging communication (and sometimes therapy) in the wake of a traumatic event. Why are some people hesitant to talk about a trauma they've experienced? And why do some victims of violent crime become emotionally attached to the perpetrators (a phenomenon also known as Stockholm syndrome)?
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