 | 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. |
One Tree Hill
Common Sense Media says
Teen soap has all the questionable ingredients.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this teen drama features all the expected storylines of a primetime soap, including sex, divorce, death, parenthood, and murder. Watch for salty language ("bitch," "ass"), gun violence, and themes pertaining to addiction in later episodes.
What's the story?
ONE TREE HILL is a dramatic primetime soap opera featuring a premise borrowed from Dickens: Brothers who grew up separately, their father denying the existence of one, end up as stars of the same high school basketball team. Lucas (Chad Michael Murray) grew up poor, raised by a sweet but downtrodden single mother. Nathan (James Lafferty) grew up wealthy and pampered. They compete for athletic stardom, girls, and the right to wear the family name "Scott," even though they both hate their overbearing father. Caught between the two is Peyton Sawyer (Hilarie Burton), while boy-obsessed cheerleader Brooke (Sophia Bush) and Lucas' best pal Haley (Bethany Joy Lenz) also get caught up in the romantic drama. As the characters get older, they struggle with problems brought on by adulthood, and by the new love triangles that they find themselves in.
Is it any good?
The series offers a variety of dramatic plots that range from the romantic to the violent and slightly bizarre. Early episodes focus on more teen-related issues, like premarital sex and coming from broken homes, but later plots feature an older cast dealing with marriage, parenthood, and careers, as well as stalkers, murders, and other mature themes.
The grittier storylines, as well as the departure of some of the main characters in later years, may not appeal to fans of the show’s earlier seasons. But One Tree Hill still has the potential to appeal to a new generation of teens. As a result, parents may want to consider tuning in with them -- and using some of the topics for a conversation starter.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the various subjects touched on throughout the series, including sex, the emotions and responsibilities associated with being in romantic and familial relationships, forgiveness, and how much slack you should allow a person in a relationship.
How are TV shows able to appeal to viewers over the years? What shows, aside from this one, have remained popular after the main characters have departed?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
Life lessons are a major part of the script of each episode, well worth allowing preteens to watch
I think that sometimes people who see this will automatically assume that this is not age appropriate for young teens or preteens. However, if you really listen to the script, the show is good at saying more about the world. In particular, the opening and closing monologues/statements are really meaningful. Also the characters may deal with mature stuff, but it is time that people stop automatically deeming a show inappropriate because it has less than ideal life situations. Life is not ideal. Nothing is perfect. Teenagers have sex. Teenagers drink. It happens, it will continue to happen whether or not tv continues to portray it. The important thing is that the show handles it well. The characters do not drive, they drink responsibly. You (as much as I remember) don't see them doing out of control drunk things. As for sex, there are characters that save themselves for marriage. The show even has a group of teens called the clean teens who don't believe in sex before marriage. As for people who said it gave negative messages because of divorce, that is harsh. Divorce is very prevalent in society today. We shouldn't ignore it in the media. If anything shows like one tree hill give children somebody to relate to. It makes them realize that others out there are in their situation.
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AGE
Perfect for older teens, iffy for young teens.
This is a great show for teens who are in highschool. I am 14 and in high school and I find this show is somewhat inappropriate because of the sexuality. This is a show that I watch with my older siblings, but never with my parents, and I make sure that when they come into the room I pause it for you never know when two characters will start to have sex. So its good for teens, but iffyfor the younger teens.
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Kid, 12 years old
April 19, 2011
AGE
I think this show is suitable for ages 11+
I love One Tree Hill and it is one of my fave shows. My fave character is Brooke Davies, played by Sophia Bush because I think she's a good role model. She always puts everyone else first and never thinks of herself before others. However, I think some of the messages are a bit unpossitive and thats why I've rated One Tree Hill 11+
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AGE
LOVE IT
i honestly love this show. its so relatable, all the talk about true love, growing up, and family issues. although its not completly realistic, its still really nice to have that feeling you can turn on the show, and almost feel like you can escape your life and become a resident of Tree Hill.
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AGE
Great show!
I personally love One Tree Hill. I think it's a great show for tenns and preteens. All of the characters do some bad things but they have consequences. Haley is especially clean. She doesn't drink, smoke, cuss,etc. She my favorite and I think shes a good role model for teens. Charactors like Brooke are definently fun but a little more free. She likes to get wasted continuosly. Brooke has her consequences though and learns from her mistakes. It's a great show in which there is friendship, love, and tragedy. Unlike most soap operas it has a good storyline with GREAT actors and actresses. They fight, forgive, and forget. People like Dan are not such good role models but show what to avoid in life. One Tree Hill has positive messages and role models for all ages. The actors do bad things but regret them. They get consequences and it let's you know that nobodys perfect and don't do things you know you'll regret later.
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AGE
OTH
Although it has sex, violence, language, etc, the show does have good characterization, story lines, and good role models.
I recommend seasons 1-6 because 7 and beyond are ridiculously boring
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AGE
Good show, stupid parents
I'm 16, live in Denmark, and I really don't see what all the drama is about younger kids watching this show. So they drink, they IMPLY that they have sex, there's occasional drug references-really? The truth is TV isn't going to make kids do any of these things and it's not that big a deal if they do. Ok, obviously harder drugs are a problem but Americans need to get over this whole drinking and sex phobia. If you actually taught kids over there responsibilty with these things, then it wouldn't be a problem.
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AGE
great show for anyone with some form of maturity
lucas is a great role model, especially in the more recent episodes. there is always a great message
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AGE
IT IS THEEE BEST TV SHOW EVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
im 13-15 years old(i wont give my age)
and i have been watching ONE TREE HILL since it started and i love it im litterally in love with it
i never really thought it was not
age appropriate although
well this is what i think kids grow up earlier these days and i bet your kids know more than you think they do
i think the age appropriate for one tree hill is probably 11 or 12 as kids would have already known
about most of the subjects in ONE TREE HILL already at that age
ONE TREE HILL is the best tv show out there it really resembles things that go on in everyday teenagers lives like being pregnant or whoes parents are divorcing or on drugs or having single parents
i brought all of the boxsets at a point in my life where it was really hard for me and i could really relate to the characters in ONE TREE HILL
there is nothing like ONE TREE HILL i think that everyone should know about it it is amazing i cant wait for season 6 !!!!!!!!!!!! I HOPE YOU FOUND THIS HELPFUL AS YOU CAN SEE I CAN EXPRESS HOW MUCH I LOVE ONE TREE HILL VERY WELL I NOW HAVE TO WRITE A REPORT ON ONE TREE HILL
THANK YOU
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| TV rating: | TV-14 |
| Network: | CW |
| Cast: | Chad Michael Murray, James Lafferty, Sophia Bush |
| Genre: | Drama |
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