Without a Trace - TV-14

Predictible crime drama for older teens only.

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Common Sense rates it
3
Seen the show?
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details
  • TV Rating: TV-14
  • Network: CBS
  • Cast: Anthony LaPaglia, Poppy Montgomery, Marianne Jean-Baptiste
  • Genre: Drama
  • >Available On: DVD,Download

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that this crime drama deals with sensational topics, many of which involve children and teens, such as abduction, molestation, child pornography, and infanticide. The regular characters also struggle with adult topics like adultery, divorce, addiction, and serious health problems, which may upset sensitive young viewers.

Families can talk about the rare nature of the cases that the show's team investigates. Under what circumstances do most people go missing? How safe do kids feel? Is there anything families can do to make everyone feel safer?

Message

Social Behavior:

While the main characters are humanly flawed and deal with problems like adultery and substance abuse, they're on the side of justice. The cast is multicultural; recurring female characters are generally portrayed as strong and capable. An occasional character is disabled.

Consumerism:

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

The main character was addicted to painkillers. Another recurring character may have a drug abuse problem, but drug use has serious repercussions on the show. Plots may involve drugs, but not without consequences.

Violence

Violence varies from episode to episode. FBI agents carry and sometimes use guns and engage in tense stand-offs, but blood is minimal.

Sex

Some minor sexual activity: characters wake up in bed together, the main characters engaged in adultery, but were remorseful. Plots sometimes revolve around sexual themes, like prostitution or pornography, but the show takes a generally moral stance toward sex.

Language

Some adult language in certain episodes, but not generally noticeable.

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Sierra Filucci

WITHOUT A TRACE follows the small team of FBI investigators on the Missing Persons Squad who step in when someone disappears mysteriously. Knowing that every second counts in an abduction, the crew works quickly to chart the missing person's activities during the previous 24 hours. This involves interviewing friends and family, checking into the person's financial and personal records, and searching for any clues that might reveal the circumstances of the disappearance. Storylines also explore team members' personal lives, such as division leader Jack Malone's (Anthony LaPaglia) divorce, the office romance of Samantha Spade (Poppy Montgomery) and Martin Fitzgerald (Eric Close), and the health scare of Vivian Johnson (Marianne Jean-Baptiste).

Is it any good?

3

This procedural drama follows a similar formula to many crime investigation shows and bears the slick, fast-paced mark of Jerry Bruckheimer, who produces this show as well as the popular shows CSI and Cold Case. Though Without a Trace's producers have clearly made attempts to deepen the show's characters, the show itself, while dark, stays pretty close to the surface. The storylines are predictably sensational, involving child abductions, accidental infanticide, and teen sex rings.

Moderate violence, sexual themes, and drug use with repercussions definitely make Without a Trace a show for older viewers. But even more distressing to young folks might be the storylines, which often involve children in disturbing situations, such as being snatched from their nanny, or dying from experimental medicine.

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Parents and kids say

All Reviews

There are 4 reviews.

4


Posted on 01/21/08 by Grady508 Adult contributor

Good but nothing beats the 24

great but some of the episodes are preditcable.
5


Posted on 09/23/07 by ElleEmanuelle Adult contributor

Terrific Show

Without a Trace is one of the best shows on television, perhaps the best show on CBS. Without a Trace is a fast-paced and compelling crime-drama, but differently from CBS’s big three CSI’s. Without a Trace is character-driven with the storyline often secondary to the characters interaction with that particular storyline. One of Without a Trace’s most interesting aspects is the depth with which it explores the lives and feelings of its main characters, all of whom are interesting human beings with shortcomings as well as virtues. This is truly an ensemble show with each member of the cast playing an integral role in the plot. Nicely cemented by Anthony LaPaglia’s Jack Malone, the show achieves a gravitas or weight that the CSI’s lack. The show also achieves a level of compassion for the victim that the cold hard science of the three CSI shows have difficulty achieving. Also interesting is the shows format, unlike in the CSI’s where you have a body and must work to discover why, in Without a Trace the action is spurred by the absence of a body, a possible victim who in the beginning is essentially a blank slate, however, by the episodes end, becomes as well known to us as a friend or colleague. Without a Trace is an exceptional drama with thought-provoking plot lines and likable characters. Highly recommended for those thirteen/fourteen and up.
5


Posted on 02/05/07 by RachaelEmanuelle Kid contributor, age 17
4


Posted on 05/19/06 by JewishPrincess Kid contributor, age 16

Good Show

This is a well done, intelligent show. It features likeable, intelligent characters with mostly decent morals, and a strong determined attitude. Without a Trace centres around a team of FBI agents who investigate mysterious disappearances. The show is not on par with the CSI franchise, but is smart and enjoyable all the same. The characters are well rounded and interesting, they are appropriately flawed making them seem fully human; they are nicely diverse and the interaction is excellent. While kidnappings are a frightening and frequently featured aspect of the show that some people might find disturbing, those who are not easily disconcerted are likely to enjoy the fast paced, smart, and generally likeable show. I recommend it for those 15+.

Adult Reviews

There are 2 reviews.

4


Posted on 01/21/08 by Grady508 Adult contributor

Good but nothing beats the 24

great but some of the episodes are preditcable.
5


Posted on 09/23/07 by ElleEmanuelle Adult contributor

Terrific Show

Without a Trace is one of the best shows on television, perhaps the best show on CBS. Without a Trace is a fast-paced and compelling crime-drama, but differently from CBS’s big three CSI’s. Without a Trace is character-driven with the storyline often secondary to the characters interaction with that particular storyline. One of Without a Trace’s most interesting aspects is the depth with which it explores the lives and feelings of its main characters, all of whom are interesting human beings with shortcomings as well as virtues. This is truly an ensemble show with each member of the cast playing an integral role in the plot. Nicely cemented by Anthony LaPaglia’s Jack Malone, the show achieves a gravitas or weight that the CSI’s lack. The show also achieves a level of compassion for the victim that the cold hard science of the three CSI shows have difficulty achieving. Also interesting is the shows format, unlike in the CSI’s where you have a body and must work to discover why, in Without a Trace the action is spurred by the absence of a body, a possible victim who in the beginning is essentially a blank slate, however, by the episodes end, becomes as well known to us as a friend or colleague. Without a Trace is an exceptional drama with thought-provoking plot lines and likable characters. Highly recommended for those thirteen/fourteen and up.

Kids Reviews

There are 2 reviews.

5


Posted on 02/05/07 by RachaelEmanuelle Kid contributor, age 17
4


Posted on 05/19/06 by JewishPrincess Kid contributor, age 16

Good Show

This is a well done, intelligent show. It features likeable, intelligent characters with mostly decent morals, and a strong determined attitude. Without a Trace centres around a team of FBI agents who investigate mysterious disappearances. The show is not on par with the CSI franchise, but is smart and enjoyable all the same. The characters are well rounded and interesting, they are appropriately flawed making them seem fully human; they are nicely diverse and the interaction is excellent. While kidnappings are a frightening and frequently featured aspect of the show that some people might find disturbing, those who are not easily disconcerted are likely to enjoy the fast paced, smart, and generally likeable show. I recommend it for those 15+.
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