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.

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)?