Parents' Guide to

Copper

By Kari Croop, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Violent crime drama paints a seedy portrait of the past.

TV BBC America Drama 2012
Copper Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

age 16+

Based on 2 parent reviews

age 17+

Could have been better

Swear words! The Lords name taken in vain, watch out, numerous times g**d***, common sense media seems to miss this word a lot in the ratings write-ups

This title has:

Too much swearing
age 14+

Definitly a Solid Start

I watched “Copper” at Dish Online while I was at the gym and it has everything you would expect a cop drama to have. They have a policeman with a broken past that plays by his won rules, prostitutes with a heart of gold, a team of cops that are at the beck and call of the lead, and corrupt business men. I enjoyed watching it. They really captured the despair of the time, but they didn’t just show five points. You actually get to tour the upper class neighborhoods of the time as well. The show has a lot of potential but as far as kids are concerned I would have them watch it with their parents if they are any younger that 14. My daughter is only 12 but I allowed her to watch it with me when she asked about it and I think it was healthy. I did it so I could answer any questions she had and so I could clarify anything that I think sent the wrong message. Some of my coworkers at Dish don’t think it is appropriate for kids at all, but I know they are going to watch stuff like this anyways. It might as well be under my supervision if I can help it.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking

Is It Any Good?

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

America loves a good crime drama, so BBC America played it smart by making its first-ever original series a twist on the popular format. On the plus side, Copper's intriguing historical premise injects some much-needed originality into a genre that's littered with uninspired spin-offs. The writers also succeed at keeping you interested with an ongoing subplot about Corcoran's own brush with personal tragedy and well-placed cliffhangers that suck you in to see what happens next.

Copper ultimately falls short of must-see status though, thanks to an uneven cast and a setting that, while packed full of historical eye candy, somehow doesn't feel wholly authentic. Weston-Jones does a serviceable job as Corcoran, but most secondary characters come off as two-dimensional and contrived, reading lines rather than truly embodying them. In the end, the allure of the series' premise might be good enough for some; for others, Copper might not make the cut.

TV Details

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