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Parents' Guide to

Drive

By Sierra Filucci, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Tense Lost wannabe chases high-stakes race.

TV Fox Drama 2007
Drive Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

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What's the Story?

Tense action thriller DRIVE follows a diverse cast of characters who are competing in a mysterious, illegal cross-country race for a giant cash prize. Each character also has something personal at stake in addition to the money, from a loved one's life to a shot at redemption. But Drive doesn't reveal everything up front -- what is new mom Wendy Petrakas (Melanie Lynskey) running from? Who's responsible for Alex Tully's (Nathan Fillion) wife's disappearance? Mixed in with the character development is lots of fast, hard driving, like when an Iraq War veteran and his girlfriend try to outrace a trio of Hurricane Katrina survivors -- calling in the help of troop-supporting truck drivers -- while Tully and parolee Winston Salazar (Kevin Alejandro) push their vehicles to the limit, trying to beat each other by swerving, bumping, and even creating their own roadways.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

The darker elements are what keep Drive compelling -- like when Petrakas is faced with the choice of murder or staying in the race. And with so many unknowns, curiosity compels viewers to watch. (Whether or not the show can stand the test of time and weed out its occasional cheesy moments is one of its unanswered questions.) Teens might be lured in by Drive's mysteries, as well as its focus on cars and driving. Parents may want to preview the show to see whether the violence, peril, and greed are appropriate for their kids.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what this show has in common with popular car-chase video games like Grand Theft Auto. Do you think shows and games that feature aggressive, reckless driving affect the people who watch and/or play them?

  • Families can also discuss the ongoing popularity of America's "car culture." Why are so many people obsessed with cars and racing?

TV Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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.

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