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Crossing Jordan
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Kids say
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A lot or a little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this crime drama follows the work of a medical examiner and therefore focuses intently on death and the circumstances (mostly violent) that lead to death. Scenes depicting dead people or the aftermath of violence can be very graphic (including shots of dead children and babies), and storylines are always emotionally intense. Subplots surrounding intimate adult relationships run through the series.
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User Reviews
- Parents say
- Kids say
Why, NBC?
Swell Drama!
I'm surprised.
What's the story?
In CROSSING JORDAN, Jill Hennessy plays Dr. Jordan Cavanaugh, a medical examiner who goes above and beyond her job description to solve the crimes perpetrated on the victims who \"cross\" her table. Jordan is smart, sexy, and complicated. Before getting her current job, she'd been fired several times for being too gutsy (or inappropriately overstepping her job's bounds, depending on how you look at it). But after she returns home to the comfort of her retired-cop father's arms, she starts breaking cases all over town.
Is it any good?
While the idea of a strong female lead in a traditionally male role is appealing, the writing is unfortunately treacly. ("Working so close to death must make you really appreciate life." "Every day ... every day.") Mix the corny sentimentality with the graphically brutal violence of the weekly storylines, and the result is ugly.
Clearly the show is not appropriate for younger viewers, and new parents and pregnant women may want to avoid it as well. Not all episodes are as graphic as the one described above, but many storylines focus on children and other vulnerable folks. The series is so full of clichés and hackneyed storylines that it blends in with the rest of the genre's more mediocre shows.
Talk to your kids about ...
Families can talk about the often-violent nature of the show's intense subject matter. How do you feel after seeing depictions of dead bodies, even though you know they're not real? What factors make you feel more or less disturbed by seeing images of death? Families can also discuss the kinds of careers that drive people to devote their lives to their work. What are the benefits and drawbacks of being so immersed in your job?
TV details
- Premiere date: September 24, 2001
- Cast: Jill Hennessy, Mahershala Ali, Miguel Ferrer
- Network: NBC
- Genre: Drama
- TV rating: TV-14
- Available on: DVD, Streaming
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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.