Body of Proof
By Kari Croop,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Gutsy heroine with strong values rises above a so-so script.
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.
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Based on 1 parent review
Lot of cleavage!
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What's the Story?
When a debilitating car accident compromises her precision on the operating table, top-rated Philadelphia neurosurgeon Dr. Megan Hunt (Dana Delany) loses a patient -- and then her job. She eventually finds work as a city medical examiner, using her vast knowledge of the human body and its systems to discern how victims died and produce a BODY OF PROOF. But while she's solving crimes with her colleagues, she's also trying to repair her own fractured personal relationships.
Is It Any Good?
Body of Proof isn't the only show about a female medical examiner on television. But unlike, say Rizzoli & Isles -- a Cagney & Lacey-esque buddy drama about a medical examiner who works closely with a homicide cop -- it feels more rooted in realism, thanks in large part to Delany's strong showing in the driver's seat.
That's not to say she's got great material to work with; at times, the dialogue feels overly schmaltzy and somewhat contrived, which takes away from her winning performance. But Delany is still able to rise above it, delivering a smart character we'd like to know better.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the role that violence plays in the show's plot and compare that with the noticeable absence of gory scenes. Are graphic scenes necessary to make fictionalized crimes seem real? Do you miss them here?
Are the obstacles that Dr. Hunt faces as a woman working in a stressful professional environment any different than those a man might face? When it comes to stereotypes, does her character challenge any assumptions about women in her particular line of work -- or even women in general?
How does this show compare to other TV crime dramas? Is Dr. Hunt a believable character? Do you think she's a positive role model?
TV Details
- Premiere date: March 29, 2011
- Cast: Dana Delany, Jeri Ryan, Nicholas Bishop
- Network: ABC
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: Great Girl Role Models
- TV rating: TV-14
- Last updated: October 14, 2022
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