American Vandal
By Joyce Slaton,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Language, high school sex jokes in wry true-crime satire.

A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
American Vandal
Community Reviews
Based on 5 parent reviews
Demoralizing
Report this review
As long as their mature
Report this review
What's the Story?
A heinous crime has rocked the quiet California high school of Hanover: Who stole into the parking lot and spray-painted a row of teachers' cars with phallic symbols, causing $100,000 worth of damage? AMERICAN VANDAL digs into whodunit. Was it high school senior Dylan (Jimmy Tatro), the ne'er-do-well known for drawing penises around the school, and who's already been expelled for the crime? Was it Alex Trimboli (Calum Worthy), the honor student who says he witnessed Dylan in the act? As Dylan's Hanover High Morning Show colleague Peter Maldonado (Tyler Alvarez) follows the case, the more he learns, the less he's sure of. In its second season, American Vandal's key sleuths Peter and Sam (Griffin Gluck) focus on a new school -- a private Catholic academy -- and take on a new misdemeanor (the "brownout" caused by laxative-spiked school cafeteria lemonade) and possibly unfairly accused miscreant, Kevin McClain (Travis Tope).
Is It Any Good?
Clever, deadpan, and instantly quotable, this mockumentary pries some knowing laughter from a genre that typically takes itself very seriously: true crime. American Vandal starts in on the ironic imitation right in the credits, with (school paper!) headlines about the graffiti crime dissolving into grimly lit photos of the crime scene and portentous yearbook photos. There are talking-head interviews and close-ups of ominous-looking official paperwork; there are cork boards with string connecting photos and clues. And there is always the fact that the crime in question is a row of spray-painted penises.
Dylan, too, makes an appealing lead, his oafishness lightened a bit by scenes in which he talks about how much he loves his girlfriend and how disappointed he is that his life-goal plans (going to college with his girlfriend, opening up a surf shop) are disrupted by his expulsion. Before long, the boy we hear repeatedly described as a "f---ing idiot" and "the stupidest kid I ever met" emerges as something of a henpecked hero: He might have spray-painted the penises, because it's a laugh. But he didn't. And so we, along with Dylan, and Peter, and everyone else, slowly pick through the clues to find out who did. And why. Or maybe not. Because what does it matter what the answer is, when the search for it is so much fun? Update: In the show's second season, Peter and Sam investigate a new, more bodily function-related crime at a different school after the mockumentary the duo supposedly made in the first season became a viral sensation. This adds another layer of satire and complexity to the surprisingly clever comedy, which makes plenty of points about gossip, digital life, the reputation you make for yourself -- and the one that others pin on you.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about satire. What type of series is American Vandal making fun of? Would this show be as funny if it, like typical true-crime shows, centered on murder?
Why is it so difficult to figure out who committed crimes, both in this silly satire and in real life? What do you think about the process traditionally used to convict people?
TV Details
- Premiere date: September 15, 2017
- Cast: Tyler Alvarez, Jimmy Tatro, Camille Ramsey, Karly Rothenberg
- Network: Netflix
- Genre: Comedy
- TV rating: NR
- Last updated: February 18, 2023
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.
Suggest an Update
Where to Watch
Our Editors Recommend
Comedy TV Shows for Teens
Best Satire Sites and Shows for Teens
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