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Believe
By Kari Croop,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Inspiring young heroine lives in a violent, dangerous world.
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Believe
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What's the Story?
When wrongfully imprisoned inmate Tate (Jake McLaughlin) accepts an invitation from a mysterious stranger (Delroy Lindo) to escape from death row, he finds himself forever bound to Bo (Johnny Sequoyah), a 10-year-old girl with remarkable powers, and sworn to protect her from forces who want to use her gifts to destroy the world. But learning to BELIEVE again -- in both humanity and himself -- will take every shred of faith Tate has left.
Is It Any Good?
Believe has some big names attached to it -- from executive producer J.J. Abrams to Oscar-nominated director Alfonso Cuarón (who's also one of the show's cocreators) -- which translates into great expectations. And maybe that's why this potentially addicting drama doesn't feel quite as habit-forming as it could be, simply because we're expecting so much more. For in spite the show's title, McLaughlin's portrayal of troubled hero Tate ironically isn't that believable, and he and his young co-star lack believable chemistry.
On the plus side, Believe gives us a compelling story, along with characters whose shadowy backstories promise seasons full of surprising revelations -- at least, we hope. And by centering the series on a 10-year-old girl with unimaginable abilities, it also gives younger viewers a positive role model who stays surprisingly centered amid very real -- and very dangerous -- adult realities.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Believe's premise. Would you classify the series as sci-fi, fantasy, or something in-between? Does Believe get it right when it comes to the danger Bo would face if certain factions knew about her powers?
Would you consider Believe to be a family drama? Who's the intended audience? Specifically, how young do you think is too young to watch this?
Does the level of violence surprise you for a show that's centered around a child? Can a show's positive messages counteract the violent world in which its characters live?
TV Details
- Premiere date: March 10, 2014
- Cast: Johnny Sequoyah , Delroy Lindo , Jake McLaughlin
- Network: NBC
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy , Great Girl Role Models
- TV rating: TV-14
- Last updated: February 26, 2022
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