 | ON: Content is age-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. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Drive
Common Sense Media says
Tense Lost wannabe chases high-stakes race.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that the characters in this action-packed racing thriller drive very fast and sometimes recklessly. Some use their cars aggressively against their competitors, leading to potentially scary moments. Other tense and/or violent scenes include physical attacks (a man is hit on the head with a wrench, etc.) and a confrontation between a man and his frightened wife. Some characters are compelled purely by greed, and many are cut-throat in their attempts to win. Meanwhile, good characters are asked to do bad things as part of the competition.
What's the story?
Tense action thriller DRIVE follows a diverse cast of characters who are competing in a mysterious, illegal cross-country race for a giant cash prize. Each character also has something personal at stake in addition to the money, from a loved one's life to a shot at redemption. But Drive doesn't reveal everything up front -- what is new mom Wendy Petrakas (Melanie Lynskey) running from? Who's responsible for Alex Tully's (Nathan Fillion) wife's disappearance? Mixed in with the character development is lots of fast, hard driving, like when an Iraq War veteran and his girlfriend try to outrace a trio of Hurricane Katrina survivors -- calling in the help of troop-supporting truck drivers -- while Tully and parolee Winston Salazar (Kevin Alejandro) push their vehicles to the limit, trying to beat each other by swerving, bumping, and even creating their own roadways.
Is it any good?
The darker elements are what keep Drive compelling -- like when Petrakas is faced with the choice of murder or staying in the race. And with so many unknowns, curiosity compels viewers to watch. (Whether or not the show can stand the test of time and weed out its occasional cheesy moments is one of its unanswered questions.) Teens might be lured in by Drive's mysteries, as well as its focus on cars and driving. Parents may want to preview the show to see whether the violence, peril, and greed are appropriate for their kids.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about what this show has in common with popular car-chase video games like Grand Theft Auto. Do you think shows and games that feature aggressive, reckless driving affect the people who watch and/or play them? (Here's a hint.) Families can also discuss the ongoing popularity of America's "car culture." Why are so many people obsessed with cars and racing?
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| TV rating: | TV-14 |
| Network: | Fox |
| Cast: | Kristen Lehman, Melanie Lynskey, Nathan Fillion |
| Genre: | Drama |
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