Parents' Guide to

Eureka

By Kari Croop, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Intriguing drama puts science in the spotlight.

TV Syfy Science Fiction 2006
Eureka Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

See all
age 12+

Based on 10 parent reviews

Treemagination
Treemagination Parent of 10-year-old
June 5, 2021
age 10+

Skip the first episode and it’s great

Have watched the series, the first episode Is not like the rest of the show. I suggest watching the first episode without kids, tell them the important information about the plot of the show, then watch the rest with your kid. I feel it compares well to once upon a time, I could usually sense when something might be getting a bit too intense and screen the next episode before showing it to my son. A ton of the episodes are appropriate and fun for kids under 10, just screen it first

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
sah777
sah777 Parent of 10-year-old
October 27, 2019
age 17+

Warning...

Has sinister murder in Ep 1. Ep 7 shows mutilated human body. Stopped watching at that point.

This title has:

Too much violence
See all 10 parent reviews

What's the Story?

There's a big secret in the small town of EUREKA, a picturesque place in the Pacific Northwest where kids idolize Archimedes, blow prism-shaped soap bubbles, and go to the Museum of Theoretical Physics for fun. The secret is big enough to convince Jack Carter (Colin Ferguson), a perceptive U.S. marshal who's passing through town with his delinquent daughter (Jordan Hinson) in tow, to stay a while and get to the bottom of it. Eureka's oddball citizens include a deputy with a chip on her shoulder (Erica Cerra), a leggy government liaison (Salli Richardson-Whitfield), a dogcatcher with unconventional tactics (Matt Frewer), and a B&B owner who dabbles in psychiatry (Debrah Farentino). There's also the matter of a secret government think tank, where the world's most brilliant minds (headed by Greg Germann) are always at work.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (10):
Kids say (13):

As a dramatic series, Eureka works well by teasing out a series of plot twists and turns that are bound to keep sci-fi fans interested -- and the special effects are, well, downright effective. There's also a lot to be said for the show's message, which subtly sexes up science and shows the wonderful -- and terrible -- things that can happen when the right elements come together.

Eureka's plot and characters are both titillating and interesting, and Ferguson, especially, proves a likeable and charming lead. The fact that the show isn't entirely appropriate for young children shouldn't discourage parents from watching along with their teens -- it's just another case of exercising caution.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about whether the oddities seen in the town of Eureka could actually happen in real life -- and if you're not sure, it's the perfect excuse to look it up. What exactly is quantum physics, anyway? And are top-secret, government-funded science programs merely the stuff of fiction, or is the show's plot partially based on fact? The sometimes-tumultuous father-daughter relationship between two prominent characters could also serve as a springboard for conversations about marriage, divorce, and the challenges of co-parenting.

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.

See how we rate