Kyle XY (ABC Family)

Kyle XY decidedly contains material parents should look over and probably discuss before allowing their own children on board. My thought is that the series meets some issues head-on that parents just plain fear (Unsurprisingly, the kids are generally fine). Maybe this is, in part, because of our own past shaky judgments and willfully bad choices as we came of age. To parent is to project. My feeling is that the show is suitable for older teens on up; younger, if accompanied. That caveat being noted, when I watched this show, the overarching themes I saw were love, acceptance, understanding, and redemption. The concept of someone wandering into life tabula rasa, yet fully-grown, is not new but I think the show's writers, producers and cast did a superb job with it, especially given the time, budgetary and competitive constraints of network television. What happens when a baby's innocence collides with the real world? In Kyle's case, he ends up in the loving arms of a wonderful family. Kyle grows to be responsible and protective. He is sensitive and loving, caring and concerned for those who gave him a home and a life and they likewise for him. This is the central message of Kyle XY and, I think, one that may encourage real-life teens to question their sometimes needlessly mean, self-indulgent tendencies when dealing with their peers and families alike. Kyle's running narrative of his lessons learned is, for me, one of the most charming and thought-provoking features of the series. So what happens when the baby's innocence collides with the real world and the child ends up in the arms of the ruthless? For my own part, I found myself constantly pulling for Jessi XX, whose environment was the exact opposite of Kyle's. Born out of destruction, shaped into a weapon and pitilessly used as a tool with no choices and no defences against her self-seeking handlers, Jessi's story of her search for identity, redemption and a place to belong I found the most touching and the most heart-breaking. Twisted, used and rejected over and over again, Jessi XX still reaches for something better and tries to be someone better. The story of her fight, in fits and starts, to exceed her environment and nature is one worth hearing, even if it's uncomfortable at times. Although certainly not conventionally so, I feel this show is inspirational and carries messages which are both positive and real-world. I hope you enjoy Kyle XY as I have (at 55 - so far outside the target demographic I'm on Mars). If you happen to be passing by, I would also like to take a moment to offer my thanks to all the people who helped bring it to life. You slipped in some real depth on a teen soap - no mean feat. I'm saddened your time is over. June, 2011.