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The Pretender

(Rated TV-PG, Drama, Starring Andrea Parker, Michael T. Weiss, Patrick Bauchau, Where to watch: Hallmark Channel, Syndicated, DVD)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 11, age appropriate for kids over 15; suggested age 12.

  • Is it any good?

    3.0

  • Common Sense says

    Multi-layered suspense will engage older tweens.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 12–15

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    The main character devotes his life to helping acquaintances resolve past wrongs -- even when it puts his life in danger. But the series includes a lot of iffy behavior -- like theft, dishonesty, murder, and suicide. The lone recurring female character is a no-nonsense leader, but she often shows her temper's short fuse.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    Depending on the subject matter, there's potential for fistfights and confrontations with guns, knives, and other weapons. Characters are occasionally shown dying; photos depict corpses with gunshot wounds. Plot topics touch on murder and suicide.

  • Sex:

    Themes sometimes touch on things like extramarital affairs and illegitimate pregnancies.

  • Language:

    "Hell" and "damn" are used infrequently; in the syndicated version of the show, words like "bastard" and even "panties" (in the context of "don't get your panties in a wad") are bleeped.

  • Consumerism:

    Rarely, products like Cracker Jacks get air time.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    The main female character often smokes, and others sometimes join in.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About The Pretender

Parents need to know that this action series is packed with heart-pounding suspense. Storylines often deal with topics like murder, abduction, conspiracy theories, and corruption, and sometimes it's hard to tell whether a character's intentions are good or bad. The main character remains steadfast in his efforts to help those around him, despite the fact that he's being tracked by people bent on forcing him back into the exploitation he escaped. The show's violence and subject matter ensure that it isn't for little kids, and its changing nature (each episode introduces a new storyline and cast of supporting characters) makes the subject matter unpredictable -- so parents may want to preview a few episodes before letting tweens tune in.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about how this show compares to more recent crime/action dramas. Does it seem less violent? How do you think it would be different if new episodes were airing today? Families can also discuss helping others. What do you get out of assisting someone in need? Tweens: Have you ever lent a hand to someone you didn't even know? Why did you do it? How far would you go to help someone? Would you do something immoral or illegal if it was for a good cause?
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