Deadliest Catch (Discovery Channel)

common sense media says

Action-packed reality show OK for older tweens and up.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that while this reality series about fishermen on the Bering Sea is educational, there are suspenseful and somewhat scary moments that might frighten younger viewers. The salty seamen are a good-natured, hardworking bunch.

Positive messages: The men work very hard and very well together, promoting teamwork and a strong work ethic.
Positive role models: The featured fishermen are a realistically rough and tumble lot, but they mean well and work hard. All of the featured crew members are men, which is a reflection of what life on these ships is really like.
Violence: Giant waves crash into the boat and onto the fishermen, who are frequently in peril.
Sex: Not applicable.
Language: Some bleeped strong language.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.

More on Deadliest Catch

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
  • Families can talk about what it would be like to be part of the show's crew. Does any part of the fishermen's job/life appeal to you? Why or why not? Are the risks worth it?

  • How do you develop a good work ethic? Why is it important to finish a job you've committed to?

What's the story?

What's the story?

In the Discovery Channel's reality show/documentary DEADLIEST CATCH, viewers hop aboard several fishing boats as seasoned seamen struggle to make a living hauling fish during King crab season off the coast of Alaska. The captains and crew of five fishing boats are the series' stars. Viewers see -- in excruciating detail -- the risks and rewards involved in crab fishing. For just a few months' work, a successful fisherman can earn enough to support his family all year. But that means braving freezing waters, enormous waves, and bone-chilling temperatures while battling Mother Nature -- and other boats -- to haul the best catch in the least amount of time.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

Viewers will get a kick out of watching the fishermen -- many are father/son teams -- navigate the rough seas in search of the crabs. The majority of the men have an intense work ethic and are very dedicated to their craft, a lesson kids can learn from. In their downtime, they horse around on deck, which is sure to draw laughs. Yet there are dramatic moments as well. In one episode, a seaman, fed up with the difficult days spent aboard ship, threatened to jump overboard; meanwhile, one of his colleagues, in an attempt to relieve his stress, flew through the air on a rope and injured himself as he crashed against the side of the boat.

TV themes & details

TV Details
TV Rating: TV-PG
Network: Discovery Channel
Cast: Edgar Hansen, Mike Rowe, Phil Harris
Genre: Reality TV
Where to watch: Discovery Channel

This review was written by Lucy Maher
 
 

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What parents & educators say

9

Most useful reviews by all members

WVUgurl
teen, 14 years old
 
AWSOME!!
This show is THE BEST SHOW EVER!!!!!!! It's educational and fun all at the same time! You can sit down and be entertained for the WHOLE ENTIRE SHOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 
Real Men Doing Real Fishing.... ADVENTURE
Howling wind, crashing waves,pots that can smushya like a bug. This is tv my friends.Strap on your rain gear and batten down yuor hatches and lets catch some crab. Best reality tv show ever made.

Candy Girl 101
teen, 16 years old
 
a Great, action-packed show filled to the brim with suspense!
Deadliest Catch is a show that we found one night on Discovery Channel. We were flicking through channels when my dad spotted it. He selected it and we sat down to watch. We really like it now. We try to watch every new episode. In fact, I'm watching it right now! There is some swearing, but all the really bad stuff is bleeped out. They play some pracitcal jokes, too. It's really funny. This is a great show for 9 year olds, too, if they're with their parents.

 
The Best Show on TV!
I watch very little TV but this show is good enough that I'll watch any episode anytime. It never seems fake or made up, is always exciting, and it has made me look at crab in an entirely different way. It seems a miracle to me that more men aren't hurt or killed in this extreme profession. Also, it amazes me that more boats don't go down in the dreadful weather in the Bering Sea. This is a fantastic show and I hope it runs forever. I have already bought the First Season DVD set and will buy any others as soon as they come out.

Casino
adult
 
Great Show
The show is great I give all the guys credit, Hope they make new episodes

gwrober
adult
 
Excellent show
Even the Deadliest Catch episode about the film crew was excellent! This show is the best "reality" show out there - there is some drama, some censored swearing, etc. But the show has real people, real hard working Americans, and the trials they go through in a particular field. The show clearly demonstrates the importance of teamwork and camaraderie, and the edginess of someone out of the fold. The humor is well-natured. One of the crew members was in trouble with the law, and when he returned to the ship, the rest of the crew celebrated (with him) by torching his old gear to symbolize his past was behind him. I think that's great! Mike Rowe does a great job narrating, and the film crew gets incredibly difficult shots in the midst of four story waves. I watch this show so much that my wife gets upset! "Not this show again!!" :P

9001
teen, 15 years old
 
Off for anyone under 13.
This show sometimes contains strong (bleeped) language. Once, I was watching an episode with the f word in it that was barely bleeped, and it still only got a PG-L. Off for anyone under 13.

lynnlaw
adult
 
I LOVE THIS SHOW!!!!

 
the best.

SupremeCommand ...
teen, 15 years old
 
Contains censored strong swearing.

fezzihair100
kid, 9 years old
 
good
this is a very good show.

van ly
teen, 15 years old
 
its a really cool show its a lot of action and stuff

challenger
teen, 15 years old
 
Good pots for this one!
All the men are hard working good role models that show that good work pays off. Violence includes waves, splashes and, on rare occasions, deck fights. Fishermen sometimes get rowdy when their pots are low on crabs. The fishermen go on a diet that capt. Sig Hansen describes as "The tradishional Norwegian fisherman's diet" which consists of chocolate, cigarettes and coffee. Only mild alcahol refrence, but plenty of smoking.

purplemoon
parent of 11 year old
 
Enjoyable to watch!
We enjoy watching this show together. The only thing to watch out for, imho, is some of the language ~ but they *do* beep it out. Some of the crew members smoke, but, again, certainly not the most horrible thing kids could be seeing! My son knows that smoking isn't a good thing. We focus on the teamwork and the hard work and discipline of the crew!

becca1206
teen, 15 years old
 
amazing show; iffy language
the show is really good, but the language is what pushes buttons. even though it is bleeped out, d--n is said so many times. and for the action; it all depends on the kids maturity. yep!

Themaxieriddle
parent of 17 year old
 

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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