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The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones

common sense media says

A thrilling, educational romp through history.

parents & educators say
  • 33% say violence is an issue
  • 33% say it's educational
See all 7 reviews | Review it

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this show isn't just a TV version of the immensely popular Indiana Jones movies -- although, like the films, the series features plenty of excitement as young Indy pursues adventure (and sometimes romance) around the world; there's plenty of action (including fights with weapons); and the series does a decent job of emulating the films' mix of thrill-a-minute drama and light comedy. But with the show's stronger focus on Indy's involvement in historical events and interactions with major historical characters, there's less of a feeling of wall-to-wall escapades. The fight scenes are less polished, and the plots are sometimes thinly developed. But, on the flip side, there's more time for Indy to discuss important ideas about politics, love, friendship, and life.

Positive messages: Indy's adventures typically place him in opposition to some rival -- whether they're both on the hunt for some kind of ancient artifact or on different sides of a battlefield -- and generally try to paint the other side as the "bad" side. But the show sometimes gives short shrift to explaining why these opponents are actually in the wrong; just because another adventurer is seeking the same prize as our hero, he's not necessarily a villain. Some early 20th-century conflicts are clearly seen from the Western point of view, which seems to automatically assume that the European or American forces are the good guys, while rebellious ethnic tribesmen must be the bad guys. Failing to explain the larger background of these conflicts does a disservice to viewers, especially younger ones, who may get a skewed perspective of history. That said, one of the joys of this show is watching Indy interact with an extensive roster of important historical characters, ranging from a young Ernest Hemingway to T.E. Lawrence.
Violence & scariness: Plenty of action, though less than the big-screen movies. Indy's adventures always seem to include encounters with dangerous villains and often lead to fights of all kinds -- fist, gun, knife, sword, etc. Some of these battles are quite intense, and some characters die on screen, but there's little blood or gore. A good portion of the series takes place during World War I, so there are many battle scenes featuring machine guns, bombs, and other types of mechanized combat. Again, many injuries and some deaths, but little gore.
Sexy stuff: Ever the romantic, Indy finds someone to woo in almost every episode that follows him as a teenager/young man -- though passionate kissing is generally the most that's shown on screen. There's no sex or nudity, though the show hints at some off-screen dalliances.
Language: Plenty of words like "darn" and "rats," as well as the occasional "damn," but not much stronger language.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Plenty of social drinking, and teenage/young man Indy sometimes drinks until he and his pals are falling-down drunk, which is portrayed for laughs. Some characters smoke.
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More on The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about history. Is a show like this a good way to get viewers -- especially kids -- thinking about history? Does seeing history "come alive" make it more interesting? Why or why not? How accurate do you think the events and people portrayed here are? How could you find out more about the facts of Indy's adventures? Also, what historical figures would you like to meet? Is there any historical moment you wish you could have witnessed -- or changed?

What's the story?

What's the story?
When the world was first introduced to Indiana Jones, he was deep in the Peruvian jungle in 1936, hunting for an ancient golden idol. His practiced ease at avoiding booby traps in Raiders of the Lost Ark made it clear that he was at the peak of his career as an archeologist and adventurer. So how did this daring, whip-wielding buccaneer get his start? That's the premise behind THE ADVENTURES OF YOUNG INDIANA JONES, a thoughtful, entertaining, Emmy-winning series that traces Indy's life from about age 10 through his early 20s as he careens around the world in search of excitement. Some episodes focus on Indy's life as a young boy, with Corey Carrier in the lead role, while others follow his escapades as a young man (Sean Patrick Flanery). In both periods, the adventurer frequently finds himself at the center of major historical events and meeting some of the most important people of the 20th century, from Ernest Hemingway to Sigmund Freud to Winston Churchill and Ho Chi Min. As he spends his youth on archeological digs, hunting for treasure, and joining up with some of history's great military leaders during World War I, it's easy to see how Indiana Jones developed both a sense of daring and his noble character.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
That said, don't expect a straight adaptation of the movies as the character moves to the small screen. Though there's plenty of action, and the series manages to capture the entertaining blend of thrills and comedy that made the movies so much fun, the plot twists sometimes seem a bit forced as the writers must engineer ways for Indy to run into the next big historical character. And it's hard for even the best action sequences to match the sheer audacity of Indy's big-screen exploits, some of which remain among the best ever filmed.

On the plus side, while the movies were non-stop thrill rides from start to finish, the TV version of Indy's life takes time to introduce some important ideas. When Indiana Jones sits down to discuss philosophy or love or art or military strategy with some of history's greatest thinkers, the series adds an enjoyable element of education that's missing from the films.

TV themes & details

TV Details
TV Rating: NR
Cast: Corey Carrier, Ronny Coutteure, Sean Patrick Flanery
Genre: Drama
This review was written by Will Wade
 
 

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What parents & educators say

7
Based on 6 parent & educator reviews:
  • 33% say violence is an issue
  • 33% say it's educational
Read the reviews

Most useful reviews by all members

Peguin
adult
 
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helped me decide (2) | had useful details (8) | read my mind (6)
cdandeneau
parent of 12 year old
10
 
I absolutely LOVE the series!!! What better way to begin a discussion about history with boys. My 7 and 10 year old love it. Of course, we watch it with them and skip any scenes that seem too violent (there are a few war scenes), just like we did with the Indiana Jones Movies. The Mata Hari one is not appropriate but the rest are fabulous! I had no idea they existed until a month ago. Why is that?!!!
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bibliophile
adult
 
Boring
I really want to watch the real Indiana Jones movies, but they are really violent, so I'm not allowed. I tried to watch these, which aren't as violent, but stopped watching half an hour into it. It was very boring and there was some swearing, such as d--n and h-ll, pretty much every five to ten minutes. Overall, I didn't enjoy one bit of it.
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Voiceofthekids
adult
 
it reaked
The story is ok, but I laugh at the poor soul who came up with this...kid indiana jones thing! You cant turn indiana jones into a tv series! its just not right! booooo! booo! hiss boooo!
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Happy Guy :-)
kid, 11 years old
 
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HOLLYWOODHILLSMOM
parent of 3 and 8 year old
6
 
For 8+, beware of language, including N word.
Volume 3 is terrific, however there are WWI battle scenes with lots of battle bloodshed. Disc 4 at the Treaty of Versailles is difficult for an under 8 year old to understand. Also disc 4 uses the "N" word in an encounter with Indy's friend Paul Robeson. I was not prepared for my son to hear this word.
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6hughes
parent of 7 year old
5
 
Received as a gift for our 7 year old, too many violent scenes, child watches as mom chooses another man other than his dad, kissing. Lots of shooting, killing, execution style killing, historical but too much for our kids, including a five year old.
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