See more TV reviews

Close to Home (CBS)

common sense media says

Dull legal drama will bore teens, scare kids.

parents & educators say
Be the first to review it

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this dull legal drama deals with violent crimes like rape, torture, and robbery, though the action is rarely graphic. The premise of the show is that danger lurks even in the safest-looking places -- not the most reassuring message for youngsters. On the plus side, the lead characters are both strong women in powerful positions, and the cast is generally multicultural.

Positive messages: The main characters are upstanding citizens fighting on the side of the good guys. The lead character is a working mom.
Violence: Only some minor violence is shown, but plenty is discussed (including rape).
Sex: Adultery is discussed, but not shown.
Language: Not common, but "bitch" and other mild curse words do pop up.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: An occasional plotline is based on drug addiction or a drug-related crime.
Our ratings and reviews are informed by child development guidelines. Learn more.

More on Close to Home

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about appearance versus reality. Are the suburbs really safer than cities? What can make a place feel safe or dangerous? Parents can reassure kids that the show's criminal scenarios are written to be as dramatic as possible and are not necessarily realistic or common.

What's the story?

What's the story?
The idea behind CLOSE TO HOME is an intriguing one: It's a cop-lawyer drama taken out of the city and moved to the picture-perfect suburbs. Pretty, first-time mom (Jennifer Finnigan as lawyer Annabeth Chase) is fresh from maternity leave and is the new lead prosecutor, working to protect the community from incidents of abuse, arson, rape, burglary, and more. For example, one episode begins with a jewelry store robbery and ends up investigating an escape convict's possible abduction of a prison librarian. The librarian, we learn, shows signs of Stockholm Syndrome, a la Patty Hearst, and might even be pregnant with her abductor's child. Kimberly Elise plays Maureen Dobie, Annabeth's coworker and sometimes rival.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

Sadly, this show's premise doesn't reward viewers with any real psychological or emotional payoff. The plots rely too heavily on well-worn territory that other shows, like Law & Order and CSI, do with much more thrill. The actors are fine, but they're never given the space to dig in and show their stuff.

Close to Home's topics can tread into disturbing territory for young viewers. In the episode mentioned above, the mother suffering from Stockholm Syndrome rejects her preteen daughter upon their reunion. Another episode features kids who have been severely abused by a parent. And even if younger viewers can tolerate the sometimes-creepy storylines, they may still be bored by the lack of real drama.

TV themes & details

TV Details
TV Rating: TV-PG
Network: CBS
Cast: David James Elliott, Jennifer Finnigan, John Carroll Lynch, Kimberly Elise
Genre: Drama
Where to watch: CBS
This review was written by Sierra Filucci
 
 

Review It

 

Review Close to Home

Hang on! You need to be a member to post your review.
A safe community is important to us. Please observe our guidelines.
 

There aren’t any reviews yet. Ask your friends to review this title.

More reviews ...

An independent voice for families
Age-appropriate reviews
Advice on the big issues
 

vote now

Will you see Close to Home?

Won't miss it
We'll try
Change it

Already seen it? What do you think?

I recommend it
It's a pass
 

Great alternatives handpicked by our editors

Browse more TV
About our rating system
ON: Content is appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child, some content may not be right for some kids
OFF: Not age appropriate for kids this age
Our child development rating guidelines