Common Sense Media Review
By Ashley Moulton
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Tween sci-fi anthology has creepiness and suspense.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Circuit Breakers
What's the Story?
CIRCUIT BREAKERS is a sci-fi anthology series about kids attending Newton Middle School about 10 years in the future. Each episode features different characters and a self-contained storyline. The show's plots revolve around relatable middle schooler problems that turn into big trouble when futuristic technologies get out of hand. One story follows Jacob, a middle schooler who agrees to enroll in a sketchy medical trial so he can grow taller and compete with other boys trying out for the track team. He ends up with microscopic medical robots inside his body, and it seems like he may be stuck with them for the rest of his life. Other storylines include a kid swapping bodies with the school principal, a girl using a memory device to escape unpleasant memories of her parents' divorce, and siblings using a remote control to control their parents.
Is It Any Good?
With its focus on the overreach of futuristic technologies, Circuit Breakers is sort of in the vein of Black Mirror for kids. The stories are just close enough to our modern realities that they're believable to kids. Also, each technology is employed to solve relatable tween problems like being short or disagreeing with parents. That said, the writing is just okay. The storylines end unfinished, which the creators probably mean to feel creepy but instead can make episodes seem unsatisfying. Tweens into sci-fi may get into this show, but the writing makes it overall lackluster. Just Beyond, a similar anthology-style series based on R.L. Stine's work, may be a better alternative for kids into this genre.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how in each episode of Circuit Breakers, a technology goes wrong. What point do you think the show's creators are trying to make about technology and its potential?
Families can talk about sci-fi shows like this one. Do you think it's creepier when stories are close to real life, or when there's more fantastical elements like monsters?
How do you think the kids handled all the weird stuff that happened in the episode? Do you think you would act differently if you were in their situation?
TV Details
- Premiere date : November 11, 2022
- Cast : Callan Farris , Kate Moyer , Alexander Elliot
- Network : Apple TV
- Genre : Science Fiction
- Topics : School ( Middle School )
- TV rating :
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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