Supernatural - TV-14

Terrifying guilty pleasure -- NOT for kids.

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Common Sense rates it
3
Seen the show?
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details
  • TV Rating: TV-14
  • Network: ABC Family
  • Cast: Jared Padalecki, Jenson Ackles
  • Genre: Science Fiction
  • >Available On: DVD,Download

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that this is definitely NOT a program for kids. It's gory and extremely scary. It includes images of women trapped against ceilings, dripping with blood, and bursting into flames, a great deal of suspense, gun shots, intoxication, and scantily clad women. The main characters lie and pose as FBI agents to attain information.

Families can talk about the series' main theme of family loyalty. What do your teens think of the lifestyle the brothers lead? Parents may want to talk about the different ways in which people cope with death. They may also wish to mention the ways in which women have historically been portrayed in horror films. Does the show challenge these stereotypes or reinforce them?

Message

Social Behavior:

Women are brutally victimized. The main characters are loyal to their family, but they go about achieving their ends in questionable ways.

Consumerism:

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Some drinking by college seniors.

Violence

Shots of bloody corpses on fire, a possessed car tries to run people off a bridge, gun shots are fired.

Sex

One character appears in a sexy costume and suggestive underwear. A scantily clad ghost comes on to unsuspecting victims.

Language

"Hell," "bitch," "damn," "ass," etc.

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Marjorie Kase

SUPERNATURAL follows the lives of Sam (Jared Padalecki, Gilmore Girls) and Dean Winchester, (Jensen Ackles Smallville, Days of our Lives) in this X-Files-meets-Hardy Boys paranormal thriller. These two brothers come from extraordinary pasts. As children, their mother died from a horrific supernatural event. While Dean spends his life fighting the demons that may have killed their mother, Sam does everything in his power to escape his traumatic past. When their father goes missing on a "hunting" trip, Dean rips Sam from the law school track on a search for Dad and answers to their mother's untimely death.

Is it any good?

3

Supernatural picks up where the X-Files, Angel, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer left off. Supposedly based on real folklore, the overall tone of the program is very eerie. At times, the dialogue drags on, especially when the brothers reminisce about their childhoods. One troubling issue is that all three female characters, including the homicidal specter, are portrayed as virginal prey, and men are treated no better (given that victims were chosen for their infidelity).

The show is entertaining, especially if you're into cute boys and sci-fi horror. But this isn't a show for kids, and not even for some adults.

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Parents and kids say

All Reviews

There are 27 reviews.

5


Posted on 03/09/08 by Chris LP Adult contributor

I LOVE THIS SHOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is, in my opinion, the best show the CW has to offer. Violence = R rated level Language = PG-13 rated level Sex = R rated level when shown, which has only been twice so far. Drugs = PG-13 rated level
5


Posted on 03/03/08 by Chrislloyd Kid contributor, age 15

I love this show more than anything else on TV

This show is something I started watching on my own in 2005 when it started. Then as time whent on I got my dad, sister, and sister's boyfriend all hooked on this show. Something to mention though, this show is TV-14 but the violence at times surpasses the limitations of a TV-14 program. Example: A woman chokes on her own bloody teeth as she breaks them out her gums in panic. Nonetheless, the show is brillant and deserves more than just 5 out of 5 stars. The actors are brilliant and the writting is super. The show has the best dramatic acting I've ever seen since "The Shield"
5


Posted on 02/01/08 by rambo is beast Adult contributor
4


Posted on 01/07/08 by ilovethemall Kid contributor, age 13

I have watched this show once and what I saw of it was pretty good! My parents absolutly LOVE this show! they bought the season one and season two DVDs and couldn't stop watching them! I think that towatch this show you need to be mature, but from what I have seen, 16+ is a little much. I think it is appropriate for maybe a mature 12, 13, or 14 year old. Over all this show is pretty interesting! I could watch it if I wanted to, but I have other shows to watch that are better.
5


Posted on 01/01/08 by james brown Kid contributor, age 14

Best Show On TV!

This is the best show on TV. a great "supernaturl" thriler. not to menchin Dean and Sam drive a sweet jet black Chevy Impala. don't watch if you don't like being scared.
5


Posted on 12/29/07 by Aleksandra Kid contributor, age 13
3


Posted on 12/27/07 by #1elf Kid contributor, age 15
5

Posted on 10/04/07 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 16

Great Show

TV has been slipping lately, great shows have been canceled, and only a few good ones remain. Supernatural is one of them. It has great writing, good character interaction, and a lot of thrills and chills. Great show for teenagers, but not for younger children or pre-teens.
5


Posted on 07/09/07 by NikkiHolly Kid contributor, age 15

Not That Scary!

Alright, someone here must be very sensitive if you honestly found this too scary for children. I know children who watch this show, and aren't at all afraid. The show is absolutely wonderful. The dialogue sounds like real guys. The action keeps your eyes glued to the tv. Underneath the brotherly banter, demon hunting, and classic rock, lies a story about the Winchester family. A family that would do anything for each other, no matter how often they fight. Yes, in the pilot episode, 3 women are killed. However that isn't the series as a whole. Just as many men are killed. The show isn't driven by sex (unlike most shows these days), and the violence isn't that bad for me. I'm a 14 year old, and I am just fine watching Supernatural. I'm hardly ever frightened, and it is much better than most of the crap on tv today. This is a good show about two brothers who are willing to do whatever it takes to keep their family together. It's a GOOD show.
5


Posted on 07/09/07 by stillwaters Adult contributor

See all 27 reviews >

Adult Reviews

There are 10 reviews.

5


Posted on 03/09/08 by Chris LP Adult contributor

I LOVE THIS SHOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is, in my opinion, the best show the CW has to offer. Violence = R rated level Language = PG-13 rated level Sex = R rated level when shown, which has only been twice so far. Drugs = PG-13 rated level
5


Posted on 02/01/08 by rambo is beast Adult contributor
5


Posted on 07/09/07 by stillwaters Adult contributor
5


Posted on 07/06/07 by crazy4supernatural Adult contributor

Best show on tV!!

This is the best tv show out there right now! It has everything! Horror, humor,action, mystery, drama. I love this show! Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles are ammazing 2gether. They're the reason why this show awesome!
5


Posted on 07/05/07 by tona234angel Adult contributor

Must see show

This show is about 2 brothers who travel across the country. The have the unusual job of hunting the supernatural and killing it. I absolutely ove this show. It's the only thing I watch on TV. I feel it is the only thing on tv with an actual story behind it. I wish there were more shows with this much thought and passion behind it in the form of it's actors, writers, and especially the fans.
4

Posted on 03/11/07 by Anonymous Adult contributor

Good for adults, HORRIBLE for kids/teens

This is a good horror/sci-fi show that gets too gory quite often. I like the brothers and love Jensen Ackles (that's why I started watching the show) but this is definately a show that kids/teens should NOT watch. We are a very desensitized nation and this only furthers that. So while I like the show, I do think that the tension is better than the flat-out gore.
5


Posted on 12/08/06 by timberrose Adult contributor
5


Posted on 12/08/06 by Lorna3 Adult contributor

I love this show. It makes me laugh and then scares me to death. I can't wait each week to see what the boys do next.
4


Posted on 12/08/06 by n8chiro Adult contributor
5


Posted on 04/03/06 by JaredsMine Adult contributor
See all 10 adult reviews>

Kids Reviews

There are 17 reviews.

5


Posted on 03/03/08 by Chrislloyd Kid contributor, age 15

I love this show more than anything else on TV

This show is something I started watching on my own in 2005 when it started. Then as time whent on I got my dad, sister, and sister's boyfriend all hooked on this show. Something to mention though, this show is TV-14 but the violence at times surpasses the limitations of a TV-14 program. Example: A woman chokes on her own bloody teeth as she breaks them out her gums in panic. Nonetheless, the show is brillant and deserves more than just 5 out of 5 stars. The actors are brilliant and the writting is super. The show has the best dramatic acting I've ever seen since "The Shield"
4


Posted on 01/07/08 by ilovethemall Kid contributor, age 13

I have watched this show once and what I saw of it was pretty good! My parents absolutly LOVE this show! they bought the season one and season two DVDs and couldn't stop watching them! I think that towatch this show you need to be mature, but from what I have seen, 16+ is a little much. I think it is appropriate for maybe a mature 12, 13, or 14 year old. Over all this show is pretty interesting! I could watch it if I wanted to, but I have other shows to watch that are better.
5


Posted on 01/01/08 by james brown Kid contributor, age 14

Best Show On TV!

This is the best show on TV. a great "supernaturl" thriler. not to menchin Dean and Sam drive a sweet jet black Chevy Impala. don't watch if you don't like being scared.
5


Posted on 12/29/07 by Aleksandra Kid contributor, age 13
3


Posted on 12/27/07 by #1elf Kid contributor, age 15
5

Posted on 10/04/07 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 16

Great Show

TV has been slipping lately, great shows have been canceled, and only a few good ones remain. Supernatural is one of them. It has great writing, good character interaction, and a lot of thrills and chills. Great show for teenagers, but not for younger children or pre-teens.
5


Posted on 07/09/07 by NikkiHolly Kid contributor, age 15

Not That Scary!

Alright, someone here must be very sensitive if you honestly found this too scary for children. I know children who watch this show, and aren't at all afraid. The show is absolutely wonderful. The dialogue sounds like real guys. The action keeps your eyes glued to the tv. Underneath the brotherly banter, demon hunting, and classic rock, lies a story about the Winchester family. A family that would do anything for each other, no matter how often they fight. Yes, in the pilot episode, 3 women are killed. However that isn't the series as a whole. Just as many men are killed. The show isn't driven by sex (unlike most shows these days), and the violence isn't that bad for me. I'm a 14 year old, and I am just fine watching Supernatural. I'm hardly ever frightened, and it is much better than most of the crap on tv today. This is a good show about two brothers who are willing to do whatever it takes to keep their family together. It's a GOOD show.
5

Posted on 07/06/07 by Anonymous Kid contributor, age 15

Supernatural can be a little frightening at times, but it is not close to the scariest or most gory show or movie you will see this year. It has well written stoylines and doesn't just convey the myths. It's also about the brothers' relationship. It has very touching and memorable moments. When people do die on the show, it's usually evil things doing it, not other people like on CSI, Lost, Jericho, NCIS, and many, many other shows. Supernatural is an amazing show, you should just give it a chance.
5


Posted on 07/06/07 by JacklesJadalecki Kid contributor, age 17

Tops all other Late Night Shows

So you have the following: Desperate House Wives Greys Anatomy Family Guy South Park CSI ...so all these considered. Would you let your kids sit down and watch those shows (granted, CSI has it's good moments)? Supernatural gives more than just a good thrill every week, it gives the adults and younger children alike, a taste of 2 brothers. These brothers set nothing in front of their family and to them, one another comes first. They speak of their mother with dignity and they obviously loved their father to pieces. Disfunctional family? NO. They had a tragedy occur, kind of like most families in todays society. That doesn't make them warped. And their job. They kill the bad to protect and save innocent people. Tell me if you can spot the bad in that. Of course, if you want to send your kids the message to hurt other people as long as you can get to number one, go ahead and watch Desperate House Wives. Parents can make the choice to allow their children to watch it. Even if they want to discuss it the shows elements with their child about how it isn't real. If you're that worried about a scene coming up that you don't want your child to see, which in this show, that's about 2/44. Go to tv.com and read what the episode is going to be about. Search for spoilers about what this episode is going to be about. If you're too lazy to do that, you're not that worried about what your kids see. You're just looking for an easy excuse out by saying, "Monsters, Demons..NO!" If you're looking for more sex, once again, check out 'Greys Anatomy', 'Sex and the City', and 'Desperate Housewives'. But to say that it's for 16+? I began watching this show when I was 14 and if it taught me one thing...family comes first. GO SUPERNATURAL!!!!
5


Posted on 05/19/07 by Lianny92 Kid contributor, age 14

My favorite show...

This is one of my favorite shows, but its definately not for anyone under the age of 16. I'm 15, but I think I'm pretty mature for my age so my parent's think it's o.k. It's a really good show, it's action packed every episode with sudden twists and turns. It always has you on the edge of your seat, which I love! So, I think anyone 16 or older would really enjoy this movie.
See all 17 kids reviews >
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