Parents' Guide to Fakes

TV Netflix Drama 2022
Fakes TV show: poster

Common Sense Media Review

Stephanie Morgan By Stephanie Morgan , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 16+

Fast-paced, funny teen forgery caper will surprise you.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 16+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

age 14+

Based on 2 parent reviews

age 14+

Based on 2 kid reviews

What's the Story?

FAKES follows two teenagers who are best friends and accidentally build one of the largest fake-ID empires in North America. What could go wrong?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say ( 2 ):
Kids say ( 2 ):

Shot with a lighthearted yet frenetic energy, this quasi-true tale of high school girls creating one of North America's largest ever fake-ID operations goes by in a flash. The upbeat music, punchy graphics, zany characters, and breaking of the fourth wall will all successfully draw viewers into Fakes and Becca (Jennifer Tong) and Zoe's (Emilija Baranac) stories. As the show progresses, though, it's the subtle examinations of the meaning of friendship, family, and obligation through a teenage lens that will keep viewers coming back. In much the same vein as The Affair, the dueling narrators allow viewers to see the same story multiple times, from multiple perspectives. It's a format that aptly explores how often people process the same experience in vastly different ways. That lesson is especially salient to teens and young adults still figuring out how to navigate relationships and, by the season's conclusion, it's one Becca and Zoe have learned well.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about underage and binge drinking. What are some of the real-life consequences of these behaviors?

  • Do Becca and Zoe have a healthy relationship? How does Becca take advantage of Zoe? What part does Zoe play in their dynamic? Talk about ways to be a good friend and have healthy friendships.

  • Fakes uses multiple unreliable narrators who break the fourth wall and talk directly to the viewer. Do you like those aspects of the show? Why, or why not?

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

Fakes TV show: poster

What to Watch Next

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