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Army Wives

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 15, age appropriate for kids over 18; suggested age 15.

  • Is it any good?

    3.0
  • Common Sense says

    Soapy drama about being married to the military.

Themes in this show include:   dating/crushes, family relationships, friendship

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 15–18

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    The show tackles a wide variety of mature, complex topics -- including adoption, surrogate motherhood, alcoholism, children abusing parents, post traumatic stress disorder, and more -- in typically melodramatic soap opera fashion. But it also highlights many of the real difficulties associated with living on an active Army post.
  • Role models:

    While the wives (and husbands) of those serving must live by Army codes of conduct in public, within their own circle they're often secretive, catty, gossipy, and competitive. The cast isn't particularly diverse.
  • Violence:

    Disturbing images of a teen son hitting/abusing his mother. News footage of U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan is sometimes visible. Children occasionally play with guns, tanks, and other military-type toys. Soldiers are sometimes seen working with or wielding guns. Physical fights between soldiers, some of whom are drunk or traumatized. Some violent incidents, like explosions.
  • Sex:

    Strong sexual innuendo and occasional simulated sex acts (including oral sex). Some skimpy underwear. Some of the wives discuss the various names for their vagina, talk about virginity, etc. Sex and infidelity are frequent topics of discussion.
  • Language:

    Audible language includes "ass," "damn," "hell," etc.
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Frequent alcohol consumption. Lt. Colonel Burton is often seen drunk and acting wildly as a result of post traumatic stress. Scenes take place at a local bar. Some underage drinking.

What Parents Need to Know

This review of Army Wives was written by Melissa Camacho

Parents need to know that this drama about military spouses has strong sexual innuendo, some upsetting scenes of a teen physically abusing his mother, and lots of drinking (some in response to post traumatic stress), While current events in the Middle East provide a backdrop for the show, at its heart, the series is a fictional drama about life as an Army wife (or husband) -- not the current war.

Families Can Talk About

Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
  • Families can talk about how the media portrays the military. In general, is it positive or negative? How can you tell?
  • Do you think this show reinforces the general public's ideas about life in the Army or dispels them?
  • What are the challenges and benefits of living on a military post or base?
  • How do military families cope with having a loved one serving in a war zone? What can communities do to help these families?
Did this review help you decide?

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More on Army Wives

What’s the Story?

ARMY WIVES revolves around a group of Army wives (and one army husband) who become friends while facing the many challenges of living on an active Army post. The group's key members are strong, well-respected Claudia (Kim Delaney); devoted wife and mother Denise (Catherine Bell), saucy, independent newcomer Roxy (Sally Pressman); former police officer Pamela (Brigid Brannagh), and psychiatrist Roland (Sterling K. Brown), who must rebuild his marriage when his wife returns from Afghanistan. Life on the base is dictated by military rules but the wives (and husbands) follow their own code of behavior. Along with rumors, gossip, and female competition, there are also personal challenges such as abuse, ex-husbands, and financial problems. While their issues may differ, they all share the same anxieties. They're expected to stay strong, but their fears of losing a spouse in the Middle East are compounded by their inability to express those fears freely. Even those who reunite with their partners face realities like post traumatic stress disorder and eroded marriages.

Is It Any Good?

As is the case with other Lifetime series, Army Wives focuses primarily on the lives of women. The series isn't designed as a political statement on current events; instead, it tells entertaining stories that combine fiction with the very real drama associated with marrying into a military life.

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Our Members Say

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    I rate this title on for age 10 and give it 4.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    i love army wives so much im a big fan of army wives it really isn't inaprprite but it is a great drama.

  2. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in Arkansas
    I rate this title on for age 14 and give it 3.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • My highlights are:
    • Good role models

    e.g. Perfect for older kids, but not for tweens

    I think this is a great show for adults and teenagers. I tivo it and watch it while my daughter takes a nap.

  3. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Maryland
    I rate this title off for age 0 and give it 0.0

    Army wives disrespectful soft porn

    I was horrified as I watched the treatment of how Army wives and on-duty women are supposed to behave. A female Lt. Col having sex in a bathroom stall; a young wife who spilled on her dress walking around in the ladies room in a thong. Come on! If you want to show the lives of Army wives and women in the military, tell the story without cheap sex shots.

  4. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Texas
    I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it 2.0

    Disappointment

    As a real life Army wife, I was really disappointed with the show. Yes, the characters represented traditional Army wife stereotypes, but there were a TON of inconsistencies and situations that would NEVER happen. NOne of the characters represented the "Average" military wife.

  5. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Florida
    I rate this title on for age 0 and give it 5.0

    a true to life issue

    I would like to se this issue from both sides of the same coin.Thusbands with out the wifes and vies versa

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