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The Secret Saturdays

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 6, age appropriate for kids over 8; suggested age 8.
  • Is it any good?

    3.0
  • Common Sense says

    Strong family is at heart of action-packed 'toon.

Themes in this show include:   family relationships

Why We Rated This on for Ages 8 and Up

The good stuff

  • Educational value:

    The series is intended to entertain, not educate.
  • Messages:

    The series centers on a strong family whose members are respectful of and affectionate toward each other. Expect plenty of standard cartoon struggles between the "good guys" and the "bad guys," with the good guys triumphing in the end.
  • Role models:

    The Saturday parents are protective of their 11-year-old son and always mindful of his safety, but they allow him enough freedom to test his limits and learn from his mistakes. As a team, the Saturdays willingly risk their own lives to battle evil forces seeking world dominance, which naturally leads to many physical confrontations, since violence seems to be the only means of conflict resolution.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence & scariness:

    This action-packed show is full of cartoon violence, including explosions, missiles that take down aircraft, gunfire (though not aimed specifically at people), fistfights, and weapons that shoot fire or knock victims unconscious. Even so, realistic injuries are rare. A villain trains animals and insects to attack, bite, and sting his enemies on command. Occasionally characters are assumed to die in explosions or from falls, but the details aren't shown, and little mention is made of the deaths.
  • Sexy stuff:

    A married couple is affectionate and often hugs. In one scene, a man tells a woman she's "looking hot."
  • Language:

    Not an issue.
  • Consumerism:

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

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About The Secret Saturdays

Parents need to know that this series has plenty of the animated violence you'd expect from an action/adventure cartoon (explosions, fire power, fistfights, high-tech weapons), but it also has a surprising amount of positive content surrounding the family at its center. The superhero-like parents are patient with and respectful of their 11-year-old son, often expressing their love for him but at the same time setting clear rules to ensure his safety. The fact that he tags along with his globetrotting mom and dad on dangerous missions does seem to fly in the face of responsible parenting, but the show's tween viewers aren't likely to notice the contradiction in light of the action.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about how this show is similar to and different from other current TV cartoons. Does it feel more like older shows? Why or why not?
  • Do you think the characters could resolve their differences in nonviolent ways?
  • What legendary creatures have you heard of? How plausible do you think such stories are? Do you believe there are things in this world that science can't explain? Speaking of which, what aspects of science interest you? How do people use science in their everyday lives?

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Our Members Say

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. I rate this title on for age 8 and give it 1.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

  2. Kid Reviewer Age 10
    Lives in Pennsylvania
    I rate this title on for age 5 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    For 5+.

    This show is a good show for 5+. It has violence though, but WHO CARES!!!!

  3. Kid Reviewer Age 10
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    Great entertaining show for all ages!

    It's action packed and at times humorous. The plot is certainly not intricate and some of the "mysteries" in the show are easy to solve. But the plot is still beleavable (if cryptids exsisted of course)! Doc and Drew kiss a few times in each episode but it's more cute love then something you don't want your kids to see. It's like an Indianna Jones cartoon for kids!

  4. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    Lives in Pennsylvania
    I rate this title off for age 17 and give it 2.0

    An adventure series that is NOT for kids

    I do not like this show at all. Of course, all episodes have violence in it. Doc and Drew are the ones who get injured and it's all Zak's fault, and this James Bond meeting Indiana Jones show is nothing but violence. It also has kissing, which is small sex, but what is major is the violence. It also mocks James Bond and Indiana Jones. DON'T LET YOUR CHILDREN WATCH THIS.

  5. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Connecticut
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 1.0

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