Parents' Guide to

Golden Boy

By Joyce Slaton, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Intriguing premise enlivens violent cop procedural.

TV CBS Drama 2013
Golden Boy Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

See all
age 18+

Based on 1 parent review

kodystar
kodystar Adult
April 25, 2013
age 18+

just for the grown ups

i don't see anything wrong with this show its different and thats what i love about it, i like when the story goes back to how it all started keep up the good work love the cast, and if you don't agree with it change the channel don't try and take away from us who love the show different strokes for different folks, somes shows come on at a certain time because thats grownfolkes time when kids should be in the bed

This title has:

Great messages
Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

Walter William Clark Jr. (Theo James) is the GOLDEN BOY of this show's title, the youngest police commissioner in history. "It's been a quick ride," says a reporter interviewing Clark. "But it cost you." What did it cost him exactly? We flash back seven years to find out, meeting up with Clark just after an act of heroism landed him a spot in Homicide about a decade before he could have gotten there otherwise. He's tasked with handling cold cases but soon elbows himself onto more high-profile work. His partner, veteran Detective Don Owen (Chi McBride), counsels him to have patience and maturity and despairs of Clark's ruthless ambition, while colleagues like mercurial Detective Christian Arroyo (Kevin Alejandro) wait around to see if Clark will implode under pressure. Meanwhile, Clark's sister Agnes has taken up with an abusive "smack peddling drummer junkie" and doesn't look like she's going to be done with him anytime soon.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

Another cop show, really? Yet Golden Boy boasts a terrific cast, including the gravitas-laden Chi McBride in a lead role, and compelling Theo James (you may recognize him as Lady Mary's fateful Turkish suitor from Downton Abbey) at the center of the action.

The show's flashback premise is also not unique; viewers will recall the gimmick from shows like The Nine and Lost. The formula is oft-used, because it works: Viewers will be particularly intrigued by the hints dropped about mayhem to come, and want to know how Clark got from where he was to the "big chair at the 1PP." And thus despite being nothing new, the show works.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Is the character of William Walter Clark supposed to be a hero or an anti-hero? What is the difference? Can a character be aspects of both?

  • Compare Golden Boy to some other police dramas you may have seen, like Law & Order or Cold Case. How is Golden Boy like these dramas? How is it different?

  • What type of audience do you think Golden Boy is trying to attract? Is their viewer male, female? Young, old? Rich, poor? College-educated or not? What brings you to these conclusions?

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.

See all recommended tv lists

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