 | 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. |
The Event
Common Sense Media says
Muddled conspiracy thriller is all action, no explanation.
Parents say
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this conspiracy thriller has all the elements of an exciting suspense yarn -- including high-stress chase scenes, shootouts, secret government agencies, and unexplainable events. Expect flirting, kissing, and regular social drinking (sometimes to the point of tipsiness), as well as some intense action scenes and weapons use that might be too violent for younger viewers. Even viewers who are old enough to handle the content may be challenged by the plot, which jumps around in time and presents plenty of conflict without many explanations.
What's the story?
During a Caribbean cruise, Sean Walker’s girlfriend, Leila (Sarah Roemer), mysteriously disappears -- and the ship’s crew seems to have no record that either of them ever boarded the vessel. As he tries to find out what happened, Walker (Jason Ritter) is soon embroiled in a massive global conspiracy that reaches all the way to the highest levels of government and beyond.
Is it any good?
The show's premise certainly sounds like an interesting starting point for a high-stakes thriller, but THE EVENT needs more than that to become a fully-baked series. The story jumps back and forth in time: A week ago, Walker is snorkeling in the ocean; a few minutes ago, he’s trying to hijack a plane; a year ago, the president of the United States (Blair Underwood) learns that a government official has been hiding secrets even from him (they don’t say what those secrets are, but the official is played by Zeljko Ivanek, so you know it’s gotta be something shady).
But there’s nothing to connect all these dots. We jump right into Walker’s hijacking attempt but don’t know why he’s doing it, so why should we care? With whom should we sympathize? The best conspiracy shows start with something familiar to viewers and then diverge into unfamiliar territory, inviting us along. Lost began with a plane crash, something viewers could understand, before it all went screwy. But The Event jumps right into the craziness with no explanation and then gets even less comprehensible. Yes, the show seems intriguing, but it also asks a lot from viewers, and many won't be willing to wait for things to start making sense.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about conspiracies. Do you think the government might be hiding something? Many movies and TV shows seem to think so -- why is this theme so common?
How does this show compare to other conspiracy thrillers, including big hits like Lost (and near misses like FlashForward)?
How does the violence and action in this show compare to others you've seen? Is it necessary to the plot? Why or why not?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
Good for a mature teenager.
Maturity is sometimes an issue. There is not much foul language at all and the only sexual content is kissing. The main thing that is a problem with maturity is that it can be pretty bloody at times. This is a very entertaining show and is suspensfull with suprising twists at every corner. Definently my favoite show by far.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
BEST TV SHOW EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I CANT WAIT TIL MONDAYS beceuse of this show.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Awesome drama/mystery is cool if you're old enough.
I think the Event is a very interesting and intriguing show, and after 18 episodes we now have a better explanation for everything as well as some stuff common sense didn't catch because it aired later than this review was made. The show is a bit hard to follow at times, and you definitely need to watch all the episodes and in order or you won't get anything. There is violence, usually with a fair amount of blood, and on the newest episode (18) a pretty gory scene where a doctor cuts open the chest of a frozen, green, 90-something-year-old corpse and removes its lungs (the actual lungs are never shown [yet..]) and then cuts his suit with his surgical knife (uh-oh, the thing was infected with a disgusting virus and now you just let it get all over you!) and the disastrous results follow. One suicide of a major character also recently occurred. Also on the side of sickness, earlier in the show a group of people get infected with an un-curable disease that gives them discolored skin, bloody noses and mouths, and some weird brain trauma. A bus is blown up with passengers inside. There is a quite iffy scene where a man and a woman lie in bed together, and it's totally obvious they're having sex, but no explicit parts are shown (the woman wears a bra and the waist-area of both are covered by a blanket). Some smoking and drinking. Language consists mostly of "d-mn it!", "what/who/how the hell!", and "son of a
b--tch!" It is a very awesome show though!
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Good/exciting storyline
Good show.
I´m looking forward to the rest of the season.
I have to agree, that some scenes are to bloody.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
hard 2 follow 12+
wierd and actiony but very hard 2 follow
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Eh... Ok
Its ok I guess. Too much inappropriate stuff for me. Story line is hard to keep up with if you aren't watching it all season. Adults will like it more than teens.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
pretty good
I watch this show in place of 24 and its good. Nothing too special but the story is shaping up to be good and I will defientley watch through the end of the season
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
There is alot of violence and something that even the people i watch this with can't watch at night. I love the suspense and the plot. There is alot of violence (although some of it is implied). We're only on the 3rd episode but we seem to find it very good. If all the questions are answered by the end of the run then the plot is very far thought out and interesting. The show is rather complex and hard to follow, but you get used to it after a while.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Pay, Blades, and Shades of Gray
First of all, there is WAY too much gore. Bullet holes, nose bleeds, and knife stabs permeate the screen. But this is all lost in the fantastic writing. No one is truly good or bad, always a shade of gray. Everyone thinks they are doing the right thing. But it is done with a "The end justifies the means" mentality. You just don't know who to side with. Someone looks like a hero at one point, but then you see them killing countless in the next. Or someone looks like an evil BLEEP at the beginning, and you side with them in the end. I think this is right up there with Friends and Lost.
Was this review useful?
|
|
| TV rating: | TV-PG |
| Network: | NBC |
| Cast: | Blair Underwood, Jason Ritter, Laura Innes, Zeljko Ivanek |
| Genre: | Action |
Review It
Great alternatives handpicked by our editors
Already seen it? What do you think?
More from Common Sense Media
Top advice and articles
