Common Sense Media Review
By Emily Ashby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Racy British 'toon sends iffy messages to teens.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
British animated series BROMWELL HIGH centers on the antics of three troublemaking teen girls at an impoverished high school in London. The streetwise trio consists of tough-talking ringleader Keisha (voiced by Gina Yashere), dimwitted Latrina (Nina Conti), and Natella (Jo Wyatt), whose intellectual abilities lose out to poor decision-making when she's around her friends. The girls roam the school's dilapidated, graffiti-covered halls, smoking and wreaking havoc on their fellow students and the indifferent teaching staff -- most of whom are too engrossed in their own extracurricular activities to notice the students' misdeeds. Since winning the school in a poker game, Headmaster Iqbal (Simon Greenhall) spends his working hours plotting ways to suck money out of his acquisition, and teachers Ms. Dickson (Tracy-Ann Oberman) and Ms. Jackson (Doon Mackichan) regularly troll the campus on the hunt for romantic assignations.
Is It Any Good?
Mature viewers who understand the intricacies of British society might enjoy this series' dark humor, but for just about everyone else, it's really not worth the effort it takes to watch it. Overall it's little more than a celebration of bad behavior with little consequence. Racial, socioeconomic, and intellectual stereotypes run rampant, strong language is constant, and unimpressive characters send negative messages about education and hard work.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how and why shows like this stereotype teens, races, socioeconomic groups, and social outsiders. Do you find this kind of humor entertaining? Why or why not? What other shows is this one similar to? Families can also discuss how the show compares to real-life high school experiences. Teens: What aspectsb of Bromwell High, if any, are like your school? How does the teaching staff compare? What about the students themselves?
TV Details
- Premiere date : February 1, 2005
- Cast : Gina Yashere , Jo Wyatt , Nina Conti
- Network : BBC America
- Genre : Comedy
- TV rating :
- Last updated : November 21, 2022
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