Common Sense Media Review
By Melissa Camacho
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Extended family drama about illness is weepy, sentimental.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Council of Dads
What's the Story?
Based on the 2010 memoir of the same name, COUNCIL OF DADS tells the story of a family that changes and grows after an unexpected event turns their lives upside down. Scott Perry (Tom Everett Scott); his wife, Robin (Sarah Wayne Callies); and their kids, teenager Theo (Emjay Anthony), the brainy Charlotte (Thalia Tran), J.J. (Blue Chapman), adult daughter Luly (Michele Weaver), and new baby Hope, live an idyllic life in Savannah, Georgia. But when Scott is diagnosed with cancer, their lives are profoundly changed. Concerned about being unable to help his family, he calls on his oldest friend and chef Anthony Lavelle (Clive Standen), AA sponsor Larry Mills (Michael O'Neill), and Robin's best friend and colleague, Dr. Oliver Post (J. August Richards), to serve on the "Council of Dads," which is charged with stepping in and supporting the family as backup fathers. The very different men are more than happy to do it, and soon realize that this is one of the most important roles they will ever have.
Is It Any Good?
This dramatic series offers lots of heartwarming moments as the family copes with loss and embraces new members. However, it isn't very original, due to the formulaic storylines and painfully predictable dialogue already made popular by shows like This Is Us and Parenthood. The efforts made to portray a contemporary extended family are so obvious that it feels cliché. But the story is full of emotional moments, and despite being able to predict what's coming, you might shed a tear or two. Council of Dads is a positive, heartwarming series, and folks who like this sort of sentimental entertainment will probably find it worth the watch. But if you're looking for something original or refreshing, you might have better luck elsewhere.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Council Of Dads is adapted from a popular memoir. Do you think it works? What changes were made to make it suitable and entertaining for a TV audience?
Can dramatic TV shows like this one be used to teach young viewers life skills and help them build character strengths like compassion and perseverance? Or do you think these types of shows are really just meant to entertain viewers who like emotional drama?
What makes a TV series strike the right emotional tone? Can you think of any shows you've watched that have gone from entertainingly dramatic to over-the-top and mushy?
TV Details
- Premiere date : March 24, 2020
- Cast : Clive Standen , Michael O’Neill , J. August Richards
- Network : NBC
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Family Stories ( Siblings )
- Character Strengths : Compassion , Teamwork
- TV rating :
- Last updated : December 8, 2025
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