Teen Wolf

At times dark and suspenseful, Teen Wolf isn't a show for young kids or tweens sensitive to the concept of monsters striking close to home. Most of the violence is implied, but there are some scenes of bloody corpses (said to be victims of unprovoked werewolf attacks) and exchanges between humans and the beasts are obscured but still intense. There's a smattering of language ("hell" and "ass," for instance) from teens and adults alike, and the requisite teen romances occasionally turn physical (a couple necks at a party, and a teen sneaks a peek at a girl's bare back when she changes shirts), but none of it is off the radar for the show's teen viewers.

The show is clearly trying to cash in on tweens' and teens' Twilight-inspired appetite for mythological monsters and forbidden love, but it offers some substantial content alongside the teen angst. Scott's transformation is more than just a physical one. In his case, the change also boosts his popularity and affords him the spoils of being the school's star athlete, which raises questions about the nature of social identity and self-esteem among teens. At its most basic, this story is one of underdog redemption, lending itself to discussions about heroes and the impact their personal flaws have on their right to that title.