Parents' Guide to

Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency

By Edie Nugent, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Quirky sci-fi comedy is fun but can be violent.

TV BBC America Science Fiction 2016
Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

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age 14+

Based on 10 parent reviews

WillBlacc
WillBlacc Adult
May 1, 2021
age 16+

Great fiction but not for kids

I watched the first episode on request of my 15 year old daughter who stopped watching because of the violence. She had some reservations because of the said violence. I looked at the series description and decided to watch, you know, Douglas Adams and all. Well, this is a good story, but definitely not for kids, at least 16 years and older. Dismemberment and a violent bloody machete killing does not inspire kid friendly content sorry.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much swearing
1 person found this helpful.
adult12
adult12 Adult
January 3, 2020
age 11+

great series

1 person found this helpful.
See all 10 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Based on the comedic novel by British writer Douglas Adams, DIRK GENTLY'S HOLISTIC DETECTIVE AGENCY introduces a new kind of detective-sideick relationship. Todd Brotzman (Elijah Wood) lives alone and works for a hotel where his boss doesn't appreciate him. At the end of a bizarre work day that sees Todd fired for discovering a multiple homicide in one of the guest rooms, Dirk Gently (Samuel Barnett) drops into his life. Claiming to be a "holistic detective," Dirk explains that his methods hinge on the "fundamental interconnectedness of all things" which are more complex than normal people might understand. Confused? So is Todd. But with his life in tatters, broke, and implicated in murders he didn't commit, Todd's reluctance to act as Dirk's sidekick wears down. Strange happenings and coincidences start piling up around him, and Todd begins to believe Dirk's claim that he is "meant" to assist the zany detective in solving the murders he's suspected of. Dirk assures him that as Todd takes control of his life, "interesting things will happen." And they do.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (10 ):
Kids say (14 ):

This series has all the energy and intrigue of Douglas Adams' original stories, and is bolstered by strong performances from Wood and Barnett.

Wood has appeal to kids and teens for his high-profile role in the Lord of the Rings series. The mystery and eccentric adventures of Dirk and Todd are engaging, fast-paced, and intermittently terrifying. A large cast of strange and well-acted characters populate this world, and they, along with a dash of time-travel and otherworldliness make this a compelling series for fans of smart, verbal, science fiction.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about funny science fiction like Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency. Why do you think this combination is popular?

  • Families can talk about characters that seem to get away with violent deeds with no consequences. Does this happen in real life? Is it fair? Why or why not?

TV Details

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