Aftermath

TV review by Edie Nugent, Common Sense Media
Aftermath Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 16+

Apocalypse tale is light on story, heavy on violence.

Syfy Science Fiction 2016
Rate TV

Parents say

age 14+

Based on 5 reviews

Kids say

age 13+

Based on 1 review

Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.
Rate tv

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Aftermath is a very violent depiction of a post apocalyptic world. In the immediate aftermath of several natural disasters, a family struggles to stay together and travel in their RV towards something approaching safety. Before they make it very far, their teen daughter is violently kidnapped. Authority figures like cops are compromised by a rabies-like fever that turns them murderous. Supernatural threats also exist: possessed humans who turn feral and violent.

Community Reviews

victor vee
victor vee Adult
January 23, 2019
age 2+

Money being poured into more rubbish

If you want your kids to grow up to think actors should have no acting ability, scriptwriters' should have no grasp of good dialogue and directors can be any bloke pulled of the street and paid a bag of Donuts, then this pile of garbage is for you.

This title has:

Too much violence
Sadaf H.
Sadaf H. Adult
August 15, 2018
age 18+

For scifi fans

This movie has some horror. Otherwise, it's an apocalyptic drama with a sci-fi background. It not only focuses on family relations ships but also the end of days signs and enigmatic messages throughout the series. Many puzzles were left unresolved as it ended abruptly.
See all 5 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In AFTERMATH, Karen Copeland (Anne Heche), an air force veteran, lives a quiet life with her husband Joshua (James Tupper), a university professor, and their teens Brianna (Taylor Hickson), Dana (Julia Sarah Stone), and Matt (Levi Meaden). When the apocalypse hits, the family hits the road in their RV in hopes of finding a military safe zone in nearby Yakima, WA. They soon encounter other people turned violent by a fever of unknown origin as well as supernaturally possessed humans. One of the latter kidnaps Brianna, who must fight her way through a world full of dangerous cops and outlaw bikers to reunite with her family in the safe zone. But is the safe zone itself really safe? Is safety even possible in a world where violent storms and earthquakes are an everyday occurrence and no one can be trusted?

Is It Any Good?

This series has all the trappings of a modern end-of-the-world tale, and the graphic gore and violence will titillate adolescent audiences -- the problem is, there's not much else going on. All the main characters play second fiddle to the bloody action scenes. Heche and Tupper put in solid performances, but it's not enough to transcend the two dimensional material. These tales of viral outbreaks or alien invasion require solid characters and innovative narrative to make all the violence and fighting for resources seem fresh and compelling. It won't take long for viewers, both young and old, to tire of Aftermath, a lackluster entry in the disaster genre.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about apocalyptic narratives in religion and popular culture. What are common features they all share? Why are stories like Aftermath so popular and powerful?

  • Families can talk about emergency preparedness. What kinds of crisis can we actually plan for in a way that would be helpful in natural disasters, like earthquakes or floods? How can our cities and homes be made safer?

  • Families can talk about when violence is appropriate on television. In what context is it important to a story? When does it cross the line and become gratuitous?

TV Details

Our Editors Recommend

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate