The Forgotten

Review

Common Sense Media says

Dark-toned crime drama has an inspiring purpose.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

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Kids say

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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this crime drama about volunteers dedicated to identifying nameless murder victims has some pretty dark themes -- but it also humanizes these victims and highlights the importance of victim advocacy. Because of the subject matter, expect frequent discussions about violent deaths, as well as scenes that include violent acts (punching, bludgeoning, etc.). Characters are shown drinking; drugs, drug dealing, and sexual assault are occasionally discussed, and there's occasional salty language.

  • Positive messages0
    Although the show deals with the circumstances and consequences of violent crime and has a dark tone overall, it does promote the importance of volunteerism, as well as the significance of serving as a victim’s advocate even after their death.
  • Positive role models2
    While their volunteerism isn’t completely selfless, the group commits their time and energy to helping homicide victims -- and, in some cases, their families. The volunteers try to be nonjudgmental about the victims.
  • Violence3
    Violent deaths provide consistent plot points throughout the show, and dead/decomposing bodies are sometimes shown at crime scenes and in photos. Punching, pushing, and bludgeoning are sometimes visible, although the blood and gore are minimal. Guns are shown being drawn. Some of the murder victims show signs of sexual trauma.
  • Sex2
    Not all that frequent, but can be racy when it occurs -- underwear-clad couples tussling in bed, kissing, etc.
  • Language2
    Words like “hell” and “damn” are occasionally used. 
  • Consumerism0
    Not applicable.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking2
    Investigations sometimes lead the volunteers into bars and clubs where alcohol is served and drinking is visible. Drug dealing is sometimes discussed.
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What's the story?

THE FORGOTTEN stars Christian Slater as Alex Donovan, a former police officer who heads up a Midwestern branch of a civilian network dedicated to investigating the murders of unidentified victims. His group of amateur sleuths includes science teacher Lindsey Drake (Heather Stephens), headstrong Candace Butler (Michelle Borth), phone company employee Walter Bailey (Bob Stephenson), and med student-turned-sculptor Tyler Davies (Anthony Carrigan), who's forced to join the team by court ourder. Donovan’s former colleague, Officer Grace Russell (Rochelle Aytes), acts as the group's link to the Chicago police department. Together they're committed to helping uncover the stories of the unchampioned deceased.

Is it any good?

 

The Forgotten sets itself apart from other crime dramas because it's committed to humanizing victims rather than simply solving the mysteries of their death. To do so, it gives the victims a voice in the storytelling process and allows them to tell their stories without judgment.

Although the subject of identifying the dead is rather dark, the show still succeeds in providing intelligent and, at times, emotional entertainment. It also pays homage to the thousands of volunteers who help police departments across the country keep crime victims and their families from being forgotten.

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What families can talk about

  • Families can talk about the impact of seeing violent images on television. Do you need these kind of images to tell a "good" crime story?

  • Why do you think people volunteer for victims' assistance and advocacy groups, even if what they have to deal with is very disturbing? How do they cope with some of the difficult and/or frightening details of a criminal case?

This review was written by Melissa Camacho
Teen, 15 years old
October 16, 2009
AGE
13
 
Great!
I think this show is great! I have no problem sitting and watching it for an hour with my family.
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Helped me decide (2) | Had useful details (2) | Read my mind (3)
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This review was written by Melissa Camacho
TV rating:TV-14
Network:ABC
Cast:Bob Stephenson, Christian Slater, Heather Stephens
Genre:Drama
This review was written by Melissa Camacho
 

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About our rating system
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.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.
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