Handpicked by Our Editors

True Jackson, VP
Age 8+
3

True Jackson, VP

Why We Recommend It

The aptly named heroine of this show demonstrates how to overcome obstacles by staying true to yourself.

Read our full review
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Industry TV ratings aren't much help when it comes to finding good family TV. It's hard to translate television ratings that look like a string of letters into good choices, and the TV ratings themselves aren't so reliable when you realize that the people who make the shows provide the ratings. So whatever your concern -- sex, violence, or all the ads -- our TV ratings help you find age-appropriate shows and manage the messages that our kids get from them.

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showing: science fiction
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Skyrunners (Disney XD)
Parents Need to Know...

that this made-for-TV alien-invasion adventure about two brothers who stumble upon a UFO is equal parts sci-fi action and high school drama, with older brother Nick trying to win a date with the girl of his dreams while defending younger ... read more

Age 9+
Skyrunners
3
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V (ABC)
Parents Need to Know...

that this remake of the same-named 1980s miniseries centers on the arrival of a group of alien Visitors who claim to have only the best of intentions but actually have a hidden agenda. As their real goals become clear, a resistance ... read more

Age 14+
V
4
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Stargate Universe (Syfy)
Parents Need to Know...

that this sci-fi series is yet another spin-off in the popular Stargate family. It's a little racier than earlier series like Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis, but the levels of (mostly bloodless) action violence are about the same. ... read more

Age 12+
Stargate Universe
4
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The Troop (Nickelodeon)
Parents Need to Know...

that this fantasy/sci-fi adventure series is a generally worry-free choice for the grade schoolers it will appeal to. Very young kids might be frightened by the concept of monsters living among the general population, but tweens should be ... read more

Age 8+
The Troop
3
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Time Jumper (Online)
Parents Need to Know...

that this innovative online adventure from comics legend Stan Lee blends static comic book images with limited animation to tell the story of a seemingly normal student who travels in time. There’s no swearing or sex, and the fight ... read more

Age 10+
Time Jumper
3
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Warehouse 13 (Syfy)
Parents Need to Know...

that this sci-fi series about two Secret Service agents assigned to a special unit that retrieves and safeguards mysterious artifacts frequently involves dangerous situations, combat, and weapon use -- but overall the action scenes tend ... read more

Age 13+
Warehouse 13
3
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Power Rangers: RPM (ABC)
Parents Need to Know...

that this version of the long-running children's franchise offers up plenty of big, fiery explosions, armies of hostile robots, martial arts, and more -- but the action delivers a lot more noise than danger. The fact that nobody seems to ... read more

Age 7+
Power Rangers: RPM
2
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Dollhouse (Fox)
Parents Need to Know...

that this sci-fi/action series from the creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer plays with the concept of identity. The Dollhouse's "actives" have no personality of their own; each is temporarily imprinted with another identity ... read more

Age 14+
Dollhouse
4
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Aaron Stone (Disney XD)
Parents Need to Know...

that this Disney XD series is about a teen video gamer who's tapped to fight a group of real criminals bent on world domination. Perhaps not surprisingly, then, gaming takes center stage in the series, with characters frequently talking ... read more

Age 9+
Aaron Stone
3
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Kamen Rider Dragon Knight (CW)
Parents Need to Know...

that this tween-targeted series is heavy on martial arts-style violence (punching, kicking, and weapon use) that never results in realistic injury or death. The two heroes always manage to overcome the odds to escape their enemies, and ... read more

Age 8+
Kamen Rider Dragon Knight
3
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Sanctuary (Syfy)
Parents Need to Know...

that this sci-fi show -- which began its life as a popular Web series -- assumes that monsters are very real and that they need to be tracked down and captured. That process often entails a fair bit of suspense and violence (often ... read more

Age 11+
Sanctuary
3
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Knight Rider (2008) (NBC)
Parents Need to Know...

that this retread of the well-known '80s series is too racy for this generation of kids -- and too poorly made to please old-school fans. In addition to very frequent car chases, there's plenty of other action featuring fists, guns, and ... read more

Age 14+
Knight Rider (2008)
2
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Primeval (BBC America)
Parents Need to Know...

that some of the dinosaurs in this sci-fi series are hungry, mean, and very scary. Watching a massive beast chasing people -- especially young people -- could be frightening for kids. The show makes some efforts to be accurate, showing ... read more

Age 11+
Primeval
2
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Charlie Jade (Syfy)
Parents Need to Know...

that this sci-fi series has lots of action sequences, as well as a good bit of violence, drinking, and sex. The main character's exploits in the underworld sometimes include scenes that could be tough for younger teens, including rape, ... read more

Age 14+
Charlie Jade
3
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Code Geass (Cartoon Network)
Parents Need to Know...

that this dark sci-fi anime series is part of Cartoon Network's Adult Swim lineup. It's very violent, with people getting shot point blank with pistols and machine guns, as well as lots of blood splattering across walls, floors, and ... read more

Age 14+
Code Geass
3
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The Sarah Jane Adventures (Syfy)
Parents Need to Know...

that this family-targeted Doctor Who spin-off is heavy on aliens trying to take over the Earth, but light on violence and scares (the characters prefer to use wits over weapons, and the effects aren't very sophisticated). There's no iffy ... read more

Age 8+
The Sarah Jane Adventures
3
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Power Rangers: Jungle Fury (Toon Disney)
Parents Need to Know...

that, like its many predecessors, this installment in the Power Rangers franchise has lots of violence, which is the only available means of conflict resolution. Rangers engage in hand-to-hand martial-arts battles and sometimes use ... read more

Age 7+
Power Rangers: Jungle Fury
2
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Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (Fox)
Parents Need to Know...

that this series picks up right where the first two Terminator movies left off, centering on the never-ending conflict between Sarah Connor and her son and the indestructible robotic assassins that want to kill them. There's plenty of ... read more

Age 13+
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
4
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Death Note (Cartoon Network)
Parents Need to Know...

that this mature Adult Swim anime series isn't intended for kids. It revolves around a high school student who becomes a serial killer. Since his victims are all criminals, he justifies the murders as a way of creating a crime-free world. ... read more

Age 14+
Death Note
3
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Bionic Woman (NBC)
Parents Need to Know...

that this series is much darker and more intense than the 1970s version. The violence here is more graphic (including fights, car accidents, and more), the tone is bleaker, and the characters are more fully developed -- all of which makes ... read more

Age 14+
Bionic Woman
3
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V (1983) (NBC)
Parents Need to Know...

that this cult favorite 1983 TV miniseries (which later spawned a regular series) includes several battle scenes (with guns and other weapons), but the action isn't very intense, especially by today's standards. There's also some social ... read more

Age 13+
V (1983)
4

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