Parents' Guide to

Good Behavior

By Joyce Slaton, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

A woman is drawn to dark choices in quality crime drama.

TV TNT Drama 2016
Good Behavior Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

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age 17+

Based on 5 parent reviews

Stephanie T.
Stephanie T. Adult
August 19, 2023
age 17+

LOTS of drugs, language, sex and nudity

This is a well made show portraying the raw lifestyle of an alcoholic and drug addict fighting for a life with her son, all while getting caught up in the whirlwind of a contract killer. There is A LOT in this show that is very inappropriate for kids and teens. Lots of F-words as well as other cussing, lots of crass language such as P*ssy and D*ck. Innuendo and talk about “f*cking”. There are plenty of scenes where the female lead has sex with different people, and the scenes (were) graphic by way of sounds and body movements. (Nudity later) You can see thrusting and shaking and hear moaning, panting, and climaxing. Several scenes where the female lead is in her bra and underwear. There is a scene where side boob is shown, and another where a man is naked but covering himself with his hands. A LOT of scenes where female lead is drunk, high, or smoking cigarettes/weed/meth. starting in episode 10 of season one, there is nudity—multiple butts are seen. I thought maybe they’d put just the one scene in there in episode 10 where 3/4 of their butts are seen, but then the following episode contained more nudity and full butt shots. I stopped watching there.

This title has:

Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
dfilmpro
dfilmpro Adult
December 13, 2020
age 18+

A hard "R" TV show. not for kids, and some adults.

The CSM review is incorrect. I watched on hulu. There’s sex, violence, language, and some dialog that is straight from a porn movie (seriously). Too bad, the acting, writing, and production value are great. Garbage is not necessary to make great shows.

This title has:

Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
See all 5 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Letty Dobesh (Michelle Dockery) was released early from a prison sentence for GOOD BEHAVIOR, but that parole board didn't know what was coming next. With her life decimated by her past, Letty can't see much of a future. She passes the time trying to stay away from alcohol, lying to her parole officer, and committing petty thievery at a hotel where an accomplice gives her a master key. But her minor crimes lead to major ones when she overhears a man hiring hit man Javier (Juan Diego Botto) to kill his wife. Hoping to save her, Letty attempts to intercede. Before she knows it, she's in over her head with Javier, on the run, and on the road to even more trouble.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (5 ):
Kids say (1 ):

Though its characters and setting read as clichéd, this crime drama scores with excellent writing and high-caliber acting. As a not-so-good woman caught in the clutch of circumstance, Dockery is electric and compelling, worlds away from Downton Abbey's superior Lady Mary. "I'm a piece of s--t," she moans after a series of twists have landed her in a cheap motel room with a supply of crack and $18,000. "Kill me," she begs of the man who's come to find her to seek revenge. "I'm not letting you off that easy," he growls back. "You work for me now." In an instant, a dreamed-of future in which Letty is clean, sober, successful, and reunited with her young son crumbles, and a new path opens up for her -- one in which she's beholden to a man who's a bringer of death and clinging to her last shreds of humanity.

Sounds depressing, and in less sure hands it could be. Instead, Good Behavior keeps you guessing as to what's coming next. You're not sure you like Letty -- and you definitely wouldn't want to meet her in a dark alley -- but she's so dismally appealing that you can't help wanting to know what she'll do next.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about dysfunctional characters in Good Behavior and discuss why writers so often turn to them for good material. Why is a person with serious problems a more compelling character than one with a calm, "normal" life?

  • Is the audience supposed to sympathize with Letty? How can you tell? How are we supposed to regard her many transgressions? How is a sympathetic character presented, and how is that different from an unsympathetic character?

  • Criminal enterprises are often the setting for dark dramas. What other examples can you name? How does the show keep you invested in characters who do bad things?

TV Details

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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.

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