Common Sense Media Review
By Melissa Camacho
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Overdramatic 911 caller unscripted series lacks story.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Emergency Call
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
EMERGENCY CALL is a docudrama featuring 911 call operators from around the United States taking emergency calls. Hosted by Luke Wilson, the series shows how call centers work, and the process by which they dispatch the appropriate first responders. From a child kidnapping in Austin, Texas, to a hiker being stalked by a grizzly bear in on an Alaskan mountain trail, each call requires them to stay calm and do everything they can to ensure the person in danger will receive the help they need in time.
Is It Any Good?
This absurd unscripted series allows viewers to watch first responders take calls from people dialing 911. It's unclear whether these individuals are actors or actual emergency staff, and if the calls are edited or recreated. Meanwhile, viewers aren't given the opportunity to see the emergency event, or the rescue.
Outside of listening in on the phone calls and watching the reactions of emergency staff, there isn't much of a story here. Much of the drama feels manufactured, including Luke Wilson's deadpan demeanor while highlighting the importance and difficulty of a 911 operator's job. As a result, Emergency Call is hard to take seriously.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the kind of skills a person has to have in order to be a good emergency responder. What kinds of things do the staffers on Emergency Call do to help each individual situation?
What is the difference between an unscripted reality series and a docudrama? If a series doesn't indicate which of the two it is, how can you tell?
TV Details
- Premiere date : September 29, 2020
- Cast : Luke Wilson
- Network : ABC
- Genre : Drama
- TV rating :
- Last updated : September 15, 2023
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