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Castle

(Rated TV-PG, Drama, Starring Nathan Fillion, Stana Katic, Susan Sullivan, Where to watch: ABC, DVD, Online)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 10, age appropriate for kids over 13; suggested age 12.
  • Is it any good?

    3.0
  • Common Sense says

    Colorful main character adds flair to lighthearted cop show.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 12–13

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    The characters investigate plenty of heinous crimes, but the show has a lighthearted tone overall. Castle's unusual background gives him a unique perspective that often helps them figure out who did it. He's also a doting single father.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    Little on-screen violence, but most of the crimes on the show involve violence -- including murder -- and the crime scenes sometimes feature brief shots of corpses.
  • Sex:

    There's some flirting between Castle and his female partner. They also sometimes speculate on the sexual habits of their victims and suspects when it's relevant to the crimes they're investigating.
  • Language:

    Not an issue.
  • Consumerism:

    Some signage visible in the background.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Characters sometimes discuss drugs and alcohol as possible factors in the crimes they're investigating. Some social drinking.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Castle

Parents need to know that this crime drama about a novelist (who also happens to be a devoted single dad) who tags along with a detective as she investigates crimes is much less violent -- and more lighthearted -- than intense procedural series like CSI. Many of the cases do involve murder, so some crime scenes feature shots of corpses, but there's little gore. Some episodes also include discussions about the sexual habits of both victims and suspects, and there's romantic tension between the main characters. Expect some social drinking.

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Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about whether this kind of crime show is more appealing than one like CSI. If so, why? Do crimes like murder seem less upsetting in this context? Is that OK? What's the impact of seeing violence on television? Families can also discuss why so many TV shows revolve around "odd couple" pairings. Is it just a way to generate conflict? Do you think odd-couple partnerships are better for drama shows or comedies? Can you think of any real-life odd couples?

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Our Members Say

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Texas
    I rate this title on for age 14 and give it 4.0

    Great cop show--teens and up

    As we all know, ABC makes the stupidest programming decisions. Castle is really not "adult" enough for 10:00 p.m. For the most part, it could easily be an 8:00 p.m. "Family Hour" show. If you don't like graphic violence like that found on CSI and Bones, and if you appreciate smart comedy, Castle is for you. With all the great shows on TV canceled this season (Pushing Daisies, Eli Stone, etc.), don't be surprised if Castle is canceled.

  2. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    Lives in North Carolina
    I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 4.0

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