Wild at Heart

Review

Common Sense Media says

UK family drama features tense animal encounters.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this British show's adult characters often carry shotguns for protection from wild animals, and hunters occasionally shoot and kill wildlife for sport. A veterinarian uses a tranquilizer gun to sedate injured animals from afar, and their injuries (bone breaks, puncture wounds, etc.) are shown up close. A young boy also uses the weapons -- in one case, he opens fire on hyenas that are trying to kill a monkey; in another, he draws a tranquilizer gun on school bullies. The parents' attempts to create harmony in a newly blended family is an ongoing theme of the series. Violence and tense encounters with wild animals make this one iffy for young tweens.

  • Positive messages0
    A newly blended family struggles for cohesion. Both parents are devoted to creating a positive atmosphere for their kids, but the difficulties wear on them at times, and the dad especially shows frustration. In one scene, a boy takes a tranquilizer gun to school to wield at bullies who are tormenting him, and he suffers nearly no repercussions. A teenage girl makes an obscene hand gesture at her stepmom.
  • Violence3
    The series centers on an animal hospital, so scenes of injured, bloody animals are common. Guns are also prevalent: Adults carry shotguns for protection in the wild, and the veterinarian uses a tranquilizer gun to sedate animals. In one scene, a boy draws a tranquilizer gun on bullies at school; in another, he shoots at hyenas killing a monkey.
  • Sex0
    In one scene, a woman tells a man that hunting wild animals implies that he's compensating for a small penis.
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What's the story?

Newlyweds Danny (Stephen Tompkinson) and Sarah (Amanda Holden) Trevanion live in Bristol, where he has a successful (but slightly unfulfilling) veterinary practice and she's helping their three kids ease into their new, blended family life. Danny's teenage daughter, Rosie (Lucy-Jo Hudson), is still sorting out her emotions after her own mom's death, while Sarah's son, Evan (Luke Ward-Wilkinson), has troubles with bullies, and his younger sister, Olivia (Rafaella Hutchinson), just wants a balanced, happy life. When Evan's difficulties at school escalate, Danny and Sarah don't how to reach out to him -- but Evan finds a friend in an African monkey that Danny is nursing back to health. Danny and Sarah decide a trip to Africa might be just the thing for their struggling family -- as well as the rehabilitated monkey, who hopefully can adapt to life in the wild.

Is it any good?

 

Suddenly these city slickers must adjust to life where the wild things are. Filled with emotional family drama and some tense encounters with wildlife, WILD AT HEART will appeal to adults and possibly teens (though some may find the storyline a bit far-fetched for their taste). But be wary of sharing it with young tweens and littler kids: Guns are prevalent (even Evan uses one occasionally), animals' injuries are shown up close, and the family's tension might be too much for them.

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What families can talk about

Families can talk about guns and gun violence. Teens: What are your feelings about gun ownership? What are the pros and cons of allowing citizens to have guns? Does your family own firearms? Who has access to them? Do you feel safer or less safe with them around? How does the media affect your feelings on this issue? Does TV violence help create a violent society? Families can also discuss the Trevanions' attempts to blend their family -- is this a realistic depiction of stepfamilies?

This review was written by Emily Ashby

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This review was written by Emily Ashby
TV rating:TV-PG
Network:BBC America
Cast:Amanda Holden, Lucy-Jo Hudson, Stephen Tompkinson
Genre:Drama
This review was written by Emily Ashby
 

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About our rating system
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.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.
Our child development rating guidelines

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