Parents' Guide to

A Gifted Man

By Matt Springer, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Smart supernatural drama involves mature themes.

TV CBS Drama 2011
A Gifted Man Poster Image

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What's the Story?

In A GIFTED MAN, the titular character is Dr. Michael Holt (Patrick Wilson), known for his talent as a gifted neurosurgeon. He comes to realize that he possesses a far more unusual "gift" when his dead ex-wife, Anna (Jennifer Ehle), appears to him as a ghost and begins offering instructions on how to help the patients at the inner-city free clinic she founded. Michael must come to terms with the presence of this ghostly apparition even as he deals with the ways in which she upends his life and encourages him to overcome his selfish, cold behavior.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

A Gifted Man is certainly a series with an extraordinary pedigree -- executive producer Jonathan Demme is an Oscar-winning director, and star Wilson has been nominated for Emmy and Tony awards. The talent on hand keeps this high-concept drama from becoming too cliche too frequently. The story of a cold, distant, brilliant surgeon who learns to care again from the ghost of his dead ex-wife has the potential to be incredibly cheesy, but the series avoids maudlin missteps, thanks largely to the talented cast and crew.

It bears repeating -- A Gifted Man is saddled with a concept that has Hallmark Movie of the Week written all over it. But as Michael Holt, Wilson remains edgy and irascible even when confronted with the opportunity to repent and do the right thing. His relationship with his spectral ex is played with complexity as well; the idea that he could be suffering a brain-induced hallucination isn't left entirely off the table. By finding the moments of reality in an unreal premise, A Gifted Man rises above its high-concept peers.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the show's characters. Did you notice anything stereotypical about them? Anything unexpected?

  • Do the show's supernatural elements help or hinder the story's emotional impact? How does the use of the supernatural compare to other series'?

  • Does this show avoid cliches and sentimentality? If so, how does it manage to steer clear of these elements? Or, if not, what makes it fall victim?

TV Details

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