Preteen girl looking at a cell phone with her parents

Personalized picks at your fingertips

Get the mobile app on iOS and Android

Parents' Guide to

Cities of the Underworld

By Pam Gelman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

Discover history underfoot, scary details and all.

Cities of the Underworld Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

age 2+

Based on 1 parent review

age 2+

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1 ):
Kids say (2 ):

Some information -- like discussions of bodies being buried, slaughtered, and tortured -- may be too violent, sad, or frightening for young or tender-hearted viewers. But the excitement that the hosts and the featured experts get as they uncover underground tunnels, caves, palaces, and streets is palpable for school-aged viewers and up.

The trick to holding the attention of kids this age for an hour-long history show is special effects. With its dramatic close-ups, fade-outs, and sharp angles -- accompanied by equally dramatic music -- Cities of the Underworld gets the job done well. Plus, helpful graphics offer more details on the structures being discussed: how they might have appeared when they were new, how they were built, how they're used today, and so on. For history buffs, young engineers, or any kids who like uncovering secrets, Cities of the Underworld is a good fit -- as long as you're comfortable with discussions of past violence.

TV Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate