Common Sense Media Review
By Emily Ashby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Adult-targeted British drama has mature themes.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Cold Feet
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Set in Manchester, England, critically acclaimed drama COLD FEET chronicles the joys and sorrows of three thirtysomething couples. The series follows the lives of Rachel Bradley (Helen Baxendale) and Adam Williams (James Nesbitt), who are newly dating; Jenny (Fay Ripley) and Pete Gifford (John Thomson), who are trying for their first child; and Karen (Hermione Norris) and David Marsden (Robert Bathurst), the parents of a young son. The couples' six-way friendship is a source of strength for all as challenges arise. In later seasons (spoiler alert!), Karen and David expand their family, hire a live-in nanny (Jacey Salles), and find their marriage tested by infidelity. Rachel and Adam marry and pursue adoption after they encounter fertility problems, and Jenny and Pete's relationship reaches a breaking point.
Is It Any Good?
While the basic content of Cold Feet isn't all that eyebrow-raising -- by today's primetime standards, anyway -- the series does delve into heavy topics like miscarriage, marital strife, balancing career and family, and death, all from mature points of view that teens probably won't be able to relate to. But adults will find that Cold Feet has an enticing realism.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about coping with family problems. What kinds of challenges has your family faced? How has the experience affected you? Did it draw your family closer? Where do you turn for strength in difficult times? Teens: What worries you? How do you handle stress and anxiety related to those worries? Do you talk to your parents about your worries? If not, why? Families can also discuss why this kind of material makes for compelling TV. Does watching other people (even TV characters) deal with their problems make viewers feel better about their own? Is there a voyeuristic appeal?
TV Details
- Premiere date : December 11, 2000
- Cast : Helen Baxendale , James Nesbitt , John Thomson
- Network : BBC America
- Genre : Drama
- TV rating :
- Last updated : March 16, 2020
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
Suggest an 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