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Law & Order: SVU

(Rated TV-14, Drama, Starring Christopher Meloni, Mariska Hargitay, Richard Belzer, Where to watch: NBC, Syndicated, DVD, Online)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 16, age appropriate for kids over 18; suggested age 16.
  • Is it any good?

    4.0
  • Common Sense says

    Grisly, sensationalized crimes; not meant for kids.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 16–18

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    The criminals are generally very bad people doing very bad things. But good often triumphs over evil.
  • Violence:

    The show specifically focuses on violent (and often sensational) crimes that also involve sex in some way. There's some gunplay as well. Scenes can be graphic.
  • Sex:

    Many types of sexual crimes are perpetrated against women, kids, and other victims, including rape, incest, mutilation, and more.
  • Language:

    A few "damns," "asses," and "bastards."
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Drugs often figure prominently in the plotlines.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Law & Order: SVU

Parents need to know that this is the most sensationalized of the Law & Order franchises. Graphic, unusual crimes are the norm, and victims are frequently women and children -- making the show potentially upsetting for younger teens coming into their own sexuality.

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Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the natures of the crimes. Parents can reassure their children that these crimes, while very real, probably won't happen to them. But families can also discuss the psychological consequences of some of the show's frequent themes.

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Our Members Say

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See all 31 member reviews

Most Recent Reviews

  1. Parent Reviewer
    I rate this title on for age 17 and give it 4.0

    There was wrong infromation given out about Hepatitis C on a recent episode - It is not transmitted mainly by sexual contact or dirty needles - Main way to be infected is blood transfusions before 1993, sharing cocaine paraphanalia, body piercing, tatooing and dirty needles would be in this catagory, but according to my research it is not normally passed by sexual contact- if it were my husband would be infected and he is not - A infected pregnant woman usually gives birth to a child who is not infected - I don't think that misinformation is a good thing and writers should have done research - There are several types of Hepatitis - A, B, C, D, E, F, NONSPECIFIC AND AUTOIMUNE - I am not sure they really know what it is, but to just give out that kind of wrong information is not a good thing - Hep C is not Hep B

  2. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Texas
    I rate this title off for age 13 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Negative message

    Defiinitely not for young teens and younger

    I had been watching the original Law and Order since I was eight or nine without issue, so my usually very cautious mother thought it would be okay for me to watch SVU starting when I was about thirteen. That was a big mistake - I was an innocent kid who didn't know much about consensual sex but I was seeing all this stuff about rape and molestation - and it kind of skewered my views on sex. It kind of messed me up for several years. My Mom could tell I was upset by it and made me stop watching it, and I'm glad she did. Now I watch it every now and then, but it is disturbing even now! Even the original Law and Order is getting darker and darker - rent the first few seasons of the good old original on DVD instead of watching on TV if you have kids or young teens.

  3. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    I rate this title on for age 10 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content

    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    Good for those without sexual inhibitions.

    With not much violence, language, or nudity, I cannot see why people complain about how bad it is. Granted, they may have vivid description of rape and sex crimes; but always in a negative manner. They mainly talk about natural bodily functions.

  4. I rate this title iffy for age 11 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Excessive consumerism
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative message

    • My highlights are:
    • Good role models

    not good for younger kids, oldies should be fine.

    I thik this show tops 'em all, but them I mean other cop shows like CSI and 24. Even Prison Break can't top this. But, too much rape and killing may be too much for children not mature enough, 8 and under, expect nightmares about sex and killing.

  5. I rate this title on for age 10 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Good role models

    My Husband And I Love This Show!

    I love this show. My husband and I record every eipsode and watch them after our kids go to bed. I started watching this the year it started. If I watch a certian eisode and don't think that its to bad my older kids might get to watch it.

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