Common Sense Media Review
By Melissa Camacho
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Southern funeral family reality is upbeat, has cursing.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Buried by the Bernards
What's the Story?
BURIED BY THE BERNARDS is a reality show about the antics of a family that owns and runs a funeral home in Memphis, Tennessee. Ryan Bernard is the owner and one of the funeral directors at R. Bernard Funeral Services, known for being one of the first funeral homes to feature "drive-thru viewing," which allows people to pay their respects to the deceased through a drive-through window. Along with his overbearing mother, Debbie, and his two daughters, 18-year-old high school senior Raegan and 24-year-old Deja, he makes sure that he does the best he can to support grieving clients. Also joining them is Ryan's colorful uncle, Kevin Miller, who works as the facilities manager, and Tavion, a funeral home assistant with aspirations of his own. It's a family full of strong personalities, but they never stop loving or supporting each other.
Is It Any Good?
This upbeat series features Ryan Bernard and his extremely tight-knit family working to serve their clients during difficult times, while also negotiating their own family dynamics. It features lots of reality show antics, like forcing the resistant Raegan and Deja to work directly with the deceased, and clueless family members trying to throw a baby shower. There's also lots of bickering, usually due to Debbie's attempts to control everything that is happening around them. Meanwhile, Kevin Miller's exuberant personality leads to some fun and lighthearted moments.
These events don't overshadow the show's positive messages, which include loving and supporting family. The business itself is important to them, and the fact that they work with death doesn't bring down the overall mood. Instead, they think about the importance of teaching and supporting future generations -- and with the impending birth of a new Bernard grandchild, celebrating the cycle of life and what it takes to be successful in it. It might take place in a funeral home, but Buried by the Bernards is an all-around happy show.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the way the Bernard family handles working alongside death. How are they able to separate their discomfort from their professional obligations?
Does Buried by the Bernards offer an accurate picture of what it's really like to work in a funeral home? Given the different things they do every day, would you be willing to work in one?
TV Details
- Premiere date : February 12, 2021
- Cast : Ryan Bernard , Debbie Bernard , Kevin Miller
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Reality TV
- Character Strengths : Communication , Teamwork
- TV rating :
- Last updated : August 16, 2021
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