For the People

TV review by Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media
For the People Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 14+

Slightly soapy legal series set in NY federal court.

ABC Drama 2018
Rate TV

Parents say

age 16+

Based on 1 review

Kids say

age 15+

Based on 2 reviews

Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.
Rate tv

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.

A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that For the People is a legal drama. As is common with shows created by Shonda Rhimes, it features a young professional cast navigating their careers, and sometimes blurring the lines between personal life and workplace. Legal cases deal with terrorism, fraud, etc., and attorneys aren't always ethical when trying to win. There's some occasional strong language ("damn," "hell"), and social drinking is visible.

Community Reviews

Helen M.
Helen M. Adult
May 23, 2018
age 16+

Legal Drama has ethical intrigue with occasional steaminess

Parents should know this Shondaland legal drama isn't like law programs in the past; unlike the Law and Order series' which emphasize violence and criminal activity, and unlike Shonda's other legal works which stressed political intrigue, this series focuses on the ethical, moral, and social issues that often arise in 'post-racial' America. As such, issues like immigration, police brutality, legal profiling, and the broken justice system are frequently addressed topics and sometimes are the only driving plot behind an entire episode. As is typical of Shondaland shows, FTP also boasts diversity of race, gender and sexuality, while leaving such topics relatively unaddressed by the characters. That being said, sex may be an issue for some parents; it doesn't often arise, but when it does it can get fairly steamy. This includes loud breathing, panting, moaning....certain facial expressions, and some discussions of the acts just completed. Parents should note that such scenes include both straight and gay couples [s1 actually has more homoerotic scenes than hetero]. Violence is of little to no concern here as most sensitive images from more graphic cases are often 'reserved' only for the eyes of the lawyers, however content is addressed [one such case involved a woman who was raped and strangled; the lawyers go into detail of the event via dialogue]. The characters, especially the defense attorneys, are more or less shown to be in touch with their humanity and often try to do the right thing and help the little guy. The prosecutors, are often shown to be antagonistic [especially for the first half of s1], but are gradually shown to simply be doing their job; and the sometimes uncomfortable situations such a position can put them in. Essentially, the message is: though flawed and in positions of presumed villainy, anyone can be a 'good person' if they try.

This title has:

Great role models
Too much sex
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

Co-executive-produced by Shonda Rhimes, FOR THE PEOPLE is a dramatic series about a group of talented attorneys working federal cases in one of the oldest, most prestigious high-profile trial courts in America. Defense attorneys Allison Adams (Jasmin Savoy Brown), Jay Simmons (West Keesh), and Sandra Bell (Britt Robertson), along with prosecutors Leonard Knox (Regé-Jean Page), Seth Oliver (Ben Rappaport), and Kate Littlejohn (Susannah Flood) are sworn in to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, known among lawyers as "The Mother Court." They immediately find themselves working criminal cases, some of which force them to face each other in court. In some instances, it also requires them to negotiate their personal lives. As they navigate the tough, often no-win world of federal criminal law, they're mentored by federal public defender Jill Carlan (Hope Davis) and Roger Gunn (Ben Shenkman), the chief of the criminal division of the U.S. attorney's office.

Is It Any Good?

This dramatic law procedural blurs the line between professional and personal worlds as characters fight to win cases and prove themselves, often by any means possible. Adding to this are characters like the no-nonsense clerk of the court Tina Krissman (played by Anna Deavere Smith), and federal judge Nicholas Byrne (Vondie Curtis-Hall), both of whom personify the tradition and culture of the Mother Court. But much of the show focuses on the lawyers' inner conflicts, as well as the relationships developing between them as they learn the difference between enemies and adversaries.

The series highlights some aspects of the federal court system, in which prosecutors, who represent the U.S. government, are expected to keep the upper hand, while public defenders spend much of their time trying to find compromises that will serve their clients to some extent. Some of the fictitious cases discussed are interesting and complicated, while others are predictable and reflect current political and cultural discussions. Overall, For the People offers sanitized, melodramatic narratives that should entertain viewers who love a legal drama.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the difference between federal and state courts. Federal courts are established by the U.S. Constitution to hear disputes involving the Constitution and congressional laws. Are there other differences between the two systems?

  • What are some of the stereotypes about lawyers? Do series like For the People reinforce or challenge these generalizations?

TV Details

Our Editors Recommend

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