See more TV reviews

DEA (Spike)

common sense media says

Intense ride-along glamorizes a very tough job.

parents & educators say
See all 6 reviews | Review it

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this reality show glamorizes the difficult -- and very dangerous -- job of a Drug Enforcement Administration agent. Team members are shown breaking down the doors of drug dealers' homes and rushing in, guns drawn, to arrest suspects. Viewers see plenty of real dealers, real deals, and lots of real drugs. The series makes the agents' day-to-day activities seem exciting and important, but the show makes little effort to discuss the big picture -- such as why so many of the dealers are poor, or whether arresting them will actually have much impact on the international drug trade.

Positive messages: The show draws very clear lines between the "good guys" (the agents), and the "bad guys" (the dealers) and shows the two sides in very confrontational situations. The agents first document the dealers' crimes and later storm their homes to arrest them. Once suspects are in custody, the agents try to convince them to turn in their suppliers, and it's clear that many of the dealers are very conflicted about whether to cut a deal. The agents often show contempt for the criminals when speaking to the camera and can seem a bit two-faced as they try to sweet-talk the suspects into setting up other dealers.
Violence: Though there are few fistfights or gunfights, the DEA agents are often shown raiding suspects' homes. These raids typically start by battering down the front door and rushing inside with guns drawn and are quite intimidating. Suspects are later shown in handcuffs, sometimes on the ground.
Sex: Not applicable.
Language: Both the agents and the suspects frequently swear in everyday conversation, but the strongest words are bleeped. Some conversations appear in subtitles, with some of the words marked with dashes, including "s--t" and "f--k."
Consumerism: The show glamorizes the job of DEA agents to the point that it could serve as a recruiting film.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: The DEA's mission is to eliminate drug trafficking, and every episode focuses on finding and arresting dealers. There's plenty of discussion of drugs, and the real thing is often displayed after raids on suspects' homes, sometimes in very large quantities. As part of their investigations, the team must document deals, and some are shown on camera. Many of the suspects are high when the agents burst in on them.
Our ratings and reviews are informed by child development guidelines. Learn more.

More on DEA

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about drugs and how they're depicted in the media. How do the dealers and users in this show compare to the ones portrayed in fictional TV shows and movies? Does the life of a drug dealer seem glamorous or dangerous? Do the DEA agents seem to enjoy their job?

What's the story?

What's the story?
Few programs on the reality-show spectrum seem as real as DEA, an in-depth look at the day-to-day activities of a Drug Enforcement Administration task force trying to stem the flow of illegal substances in Detroit. The camera crew rides along with real-life agents as they interview confidential informants, go undercover to make buys, and raid suspected dealers' homes. Once a suspect is in custody, the agents try to convince them to help snare their suppliers, and the process begins again one step up the food chain.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 
The show focuses on the street-level agents and makes their very dangerous job seem both exciting and important. Certainly the agents seem to get a rush from busting down a suspect's door and rushing in with guns drawn; knowing that these raids are the real thing can make them seem more thrilling to viewers than similar invasions on fictional cop shows.

DEA does an admirable job of explaining how the agents navigate the complicated world of the drug trade, collecting evidence and building cases. It's a gripping look at a world that few people get to see. But by focusing on low-level dealers, the show fails to explain the larger context. It doesn't address the ideas behind the government's drug policies or question whether there may be better approaches to fighting the "war on drugs."

TV themes & details

TV Details
TV Rating: TV-14
Network: Spike
Cast: John Greer, Justin Mohr, Rick Gatewood
Genre: Reality TV
Where to watch: Spike
This review was written by Will Wade
 
 

Review It

 

Review DEA

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

What parents & educators say

15

Most useful reviews by all members

vicemaster666
adult
17
 
noy reel
i think its scripted not real the people who get done give up too fast dont ask for council even after poped the a lot of inconsistencies with the street value from 1 seg to the next 22 k of coke 1ml >120,000th the next and the actors that role i could i.d. 666
Flag as inappropriate 
was this review useful?
helped me decide (2) | had useful details (2) | read my mind (4)
eboyko
adult
 
Great Show
DEA is a great show. People need to see that there are bad guys out there and that the good guys are coming for them.
Flag as inappropriate 
was this review useful?
helped me decide (2) | had useful details (3) | read my mind (3)
tiffanithiesse ...
teen, 17 years old
14
 
AMAZING show!
I LOVE it! My cousin Woody(Detroit DEA) is on it. I love DEA! :D
Flag as inappropriate 
was this review useful?
helped me decide (2) | had useful details (2) | read my mind (3)
mcast12
adult
15
 
Looks like DEA might not come back
I liked the show while it was on, but it looks like that might not be much longer. Check out an article on ticklethewire* on the future of the show...
Flag as inappropriate 
was this review useful?
helped me decide (2) | had useful details (2) | read my mind (2)
funkybuddy82
adult
14
 
Great Program
DEA is a well produced show that depicts the real-life situations of being a DEA agent. While the show displays many drug dealers and the various narcotics that they sell, the overwhelming message is that illegal activity doesn't pay and you will eventually get caught. What I have a problem with though is how the descriptions says that "parents should talk to their children about why dealers are poor." Not all dealers are poor or from the projects. Take good long look into nice middle and upperclass suburban neighborhoods and peel back the white picket fence exterior and you can easily find drug dealers who are doing quite well financialy and want to make some extra dough from selling drugs.
Flag as inappropriate 
was this review useful?
helped me decide (2) | had useful details (2) | read my mind (2)
tinamarie11
adult
 
Flag as inappropriate 
was this review useful?
helped me decide (2) | had useful details (2) | read my mind (2)

More reviews ...

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

vote now

Will you see DEA?

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