Parents' Guide to

City on a Hill

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Gritty, violent crime drama explores racial tensions.

TV Showtime Drama 2019
City on a Hill Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

  • City on a Hill TV Series: Jackie Rohr and Decourcy Ward.
  • City on a Hill TV Series: Jackie and his wife.
  • City on a Hill TV Series: Jackie and Decourcy

Community Reviews

See all
age 18+

Based on 1 parent review

martineque
martineque Parent of 14-year-old
November 29, 2020
age 18+

gratuitous female nudity and violence

I watched first two episodes because i thought the stortyline was good, but unfortunately the violence is too much and the exploitative female nudity is uncomfortable to watch with my wife! AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH EPISODE IT SAYS QUOTE”THIS PROGRAMME CONTAINS VIOLENCE” at at no point did it mention nudity, so be warned for those who can’t cope! You see Kevin Bacons nude chest, but it is mainly his girlfriend you see totally naked riding him from his viewpoint, for a few minutes, whilst snorting coke. Another time he goes down on her, whilst the camera is focusing on a close up of her nipples!!!

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
2 people found this helpful.
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

CITY ON A HILL is a dramatic series about race, class, and the criminal justice system in early 1990s Boston. Months after a high-profile murder case, during which the police knowingly arrested an innocent black man for the crime, racial tensions across the city are at an all-time high. It is within these circumstances that Jackie Rohr (Kevin Bacon), an uncouth but talented FBI agent, finds himself dealing with ADA Decourcy Ward (Aldis Hodge), a prosecutor known for his tough stance against unethical police officers. The two are immediately at odds but soon realize that they're better off working together.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

This gritty, well-written series is inspired by the real-life events following the murder of affluent tax attorney Carol Stuart in 1989, which intensified the existing racial tensions throughout the greater Boston area at that time. It highlights how these events challenged the existing culture within law enforcement, and the resistance to these changes. Each storyline, which ranges from marital and family dynamics to theft and murder, is set against this backdrop, highlighting the different and sometimes subtle ways the sociopolitical climate impacts each character. But while City on a Hill is set in the past, many of the discussions surrounding race, class, and police misconduct feel as relevant today as they were back then. Given the troubling subject matter, it's not always a comfortable series to watch, but it's always entertaining.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the Carol Stuart case. How was it resolved? In what way did the media fuel the racial stereotyping that took place during the investigation?

  • What does City on a Hill tell us about the history of racism in Boston? Why is this socially relevant today?

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.

See all recommended tv lists

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