Parents' Guide to

Being Erica

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Soapy time travel series is a fun guilty pleasure.

TV SOAPnet Comedy 2009
Being Erica Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

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age 17+

Based on 3 parent reviews

Sinovuyo96
Sinovuyo96 Adult
May 12, 2020
age 18+

Reality

The therapy helps Erica understand herself, people and the world she lives in. Her life was a mess, lucky her, she was able to make someone and life worth living. She saw the people around her incapable of doing wrong but after the therapy she saw them as human beings with flesh and blood. She finally understands that life is not black and white. It fun, sad, emotional and great series. I loved it

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
1 person found this helpful.
jujee
jujee Parent of 14-year-old
April 2, 2022
age 18+
Should be rated MA. There is no way this is PG... Multiple sex scenes, treated lightly, drinking and drunkenness and not that great of a storyline. I would never let my son watch this.
See all 3 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In BEING ERICA, 32-year-old Erica Strange (Erin Karpluk) begins therapy to help change her life. But her sessions take a mysterious turn when, after meeting with rather mysterious Dr. Tom Wexler (Michael Riley), she finds herself traveling back in time to the moments in her life that she regrets the most. While in the past, Erica attempts to make better decisions in order to rewrite her personal history and improve her present situation. Her journeys also allow her to rework past and present relationships with her family, including sister Samantha (Joana Douglas) and brother Leo (Devon Bostick). She also gets the chance to reevaluate her relationships with longtime friends like Katie Atkins (Sarah Gadon), Judith Winters (Vinessa Antoine), and Ethan Wakefield (Tyron Leitso). As Erica weaves back and forth in time, she slowly discovers that she alone has the power to control her own destiny.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (3):
Kids say (1):

This quirky series explores the complexity of relationships through the eyes of a single woman who's in the process of reevaluating her own life. It also highlights the anxieties that some women face when they enter their 30s -- like being dissatisfied with their careers or being unable to find a suitable mate.

Like any soap opera, BEING ERICA has its fair share of dramatic moments. It also deals with some mature themes that make it too strong for tweens. But for teens and adults who are looking for a entertaining guilty pleasure, this one is sure to fit the bill.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about regrets. Are there things in your past that you wish you could change? If so, how would you change them? Do you think it's healthy or constructive to have regrets? Or is it better to forget about the past and move forward?

  • Talk about alcohol use. How would you characterize Erica's drinking in the past and in the present?

TV Details

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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.

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