Parents' Guide to Get Even

TV Netflix Drama 2020
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Common Sense Media Review

Joyce Slaton By Joyce Slaton , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 14+

Edgy British teen mystery series deals with murder.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 14+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

age 8+

Based on 3 parent reviews

age 11+

Based on 36 kid reviews

Kids say this TV show is a mix of suspenseful drama and social issues, appealing primarily to teens and tweens due to its lighthearted handling of serious themes like murder and relationships. While some criticized it for mature topics, most agree that it's a captivating watch filled with positive messages about standing up for oneself and others, making it suitable for viewers aged 10 and up, depending on parental discretion.

  • mature themes
  • positive messages
  • suitable for teens
  • suspenseful drama
  • binge-worthy experience
Summarized with AI

What's the Story?

When people act despicably at elite private school Bannerman, a quartet of classmates vows not to get mad, but instead to GET EVEN. The DGM (Don't Get Mad) crew doesn't have much in common, except a desire to expose wrongdoers: Kitty (Kim Adis) is an all-around super student who's beloved by students and administrators alike, Bree (Mia McKenna-Bruce) is a punkish outsider from a wealthy background, Margot (Bethany Antonia) is a math and tech whiz whom other students consider a bit of a geek, and Olivia (Jessica Alexander) seems perfect and popular on the surface but has more problems than her it-girl status would suggest. All DGM wants to do is bring bullies to justice. But when someone at Bannerman winds up murdered, it's up to them to figure out who's responsible, all the while staying under the radar of the law enforcement officers investigating the case.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say ( 3 ):
Kids say ( 36 ):

Teen mystery shows are a dime a dozen, but this British-made series nails the mystery part: You may not be able to resist zipping through the whole series to find out who done it and why. With episodes that are each under 30 minutes and a simple and clear (yet interestingly twisty) plot arc, Get Even just speeds by. Where it falls down is in the characterizations. Kitty, Bree, Margot, and Olivia seem more like types than real people, and they don't deepen greatly as the series goes on. Get Even is also full of the kind of unrealistic contrivances that figure so often in teen dramas but not in real life: parent-free parties in elegant mansions, for instance, and confrontations that take place in front of the whole student body in the cafeteria.

Still, buzzy dramas like Gossip Girl, Riverdale, and Pretty Little Liars also leaned hard on said contrivances and paper-thin characters and succeeded due to their compelling mysteries, and Get Even easily reaches their levels plotwise. Characters have dark secrets, past misdeeds are uncovered, and twists are doled out at just the right pace to keep you watching. It may not be great art, but it's good television, particularly for viewers who have a yen for teens caught in involving mysteries.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about bullying. What instances of bullying exist in Get Even? What different forms can bullying take? Is any one form more or less harmful than another? What role does technology play in bullying in real life, and on the show?

  • Teens: Do you think this series paints an accurate portrait of teen life? Are the characters' troubles relatable to you? Why or why not? What kinds of stereotypes does this show reinforce or challenge? How does what you see of teen life on TV or in movies influence your own life? Parents: Talk to teens about the role models and messages in shows like this.

  • Parents: Ask your kids how the issues and conflicts on the show are similar to and different from those in real teens' lives. Who are the "good" characters, and what makes them different from the "bad" ones?

TV Details

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