Parents' Guide to

Dirty John

By Jenny Nixon, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

True crime podcast turned drama is creepy to the max.

TV Bravo Drama 2018
Dirty John Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

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age 18+

Based on 1 parent review

Mar2345
Mar2345 Adult
May 21, 2020
age 18+

Really good for who is going from that problem not good for kids because of the trauma it causes and bad behaviour and makes believe some what that its ok to do what he did when in reality its really not they should be more justice in thesse maters

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much swearing
Too much consumerism
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

DIRTY JOHN follows the plight of Debra Newell (Connie Britton) -- mother, quadruple divorceé and successful interior designer -- as she dips her toes back into the world of online dating in her fifties. After one dud meetup after another, she hits romantic paydirt when she links up with John Meehan (Eric Bana), a handsome doctor with a knack for saying all the right things. Though he can be awkward at times and not everything about his backstory checks out, the love-struck Newell is nonetheless quickly enraptured by her new beau, who becomes her husband after only two short months. None of this sits right with Debra's suspicious adult daughters Veronica (Juno Temple) and Terra (Julia Garner), who anxiously dig through their new stepdad's past, an investigation that ends up having deadly consequences.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1):
Kids say (3):

The story's transition from true crime podcast to TV series is mainly a smooth one, even if the adaptation does trade a bit of the original story's suspense for a fluffier, Real Housewives-type vibe. The cast is Dirty John's greatest strength, with Bana perfectly capturing the dead-eyed, hot-and-cold "charm" of a career criminal and master manipulator. Britton is his ideal mark as affluent, oblivious Debra, a romantic at heart who is all too willing to overlook the multiple warning signs that are instantly obvious to viewers at home.

The story may have all the trappings of a Lifetime-style "stalker of the week" flick, but the series itself doesn't ever tip that deeply into camp, perhaps due in part to it being a true story that started as a piece of investigative journalism. The closest it comes to feeling like one of those guilty pleasures is in watching Debra's headstrong daughters, all blonde hair and vocal fry, who -- at least in Veronica's case -- seem equally angry at her mom for shifting her focus off her and onto a new man, and for being so frustratingly heedless of John's very real sketchy side. A nuanced portrayal of abusive men and relationships this isn't, but the principals involved make it worth giving a shot.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about why women sometimes feel trapped in relationships that turn violent. What methods does John use to isolate and manipulate Debra? What makes her daughters able to see through his act, something Debra couldn't initially do?

  • Do you know anyone who's been stalked in real life or online? What steps can people take to protect themselves from obsessive suitors?

  • What role does technology play in the plotof Dirty John? How might certain aspects of dating apps and social media make it easier for people to con one another about their true identities?

TV Details

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