Parents' Guide to

Hart of Dixie

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Quirky medical drama has heart -- and mature themes.

TV CW Drama 2011
Hart of Dixie Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

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age 14+

Based on 13 parent reviews

kbartrip
kbartrip Adult
November 30, 2020
age 16+

I loved watching it with my mom!

I am 18 and my mom has loved this show for years! I had never fully watched it until this year and now I love it! There are scenes that we skipped but other than that I would recommend it. Don't watch unless you are mature.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Too much sex
Bibliotecario
Bibliotecario Adult
October 25, 2020
age 18+

Bad, bad, bad Definitely not a PG movie

Complete lack of morals Drinking going on constantly Frequent trading of sex partners I don't think it is appropriate for any age, let alone teens or young adults Do you really want your kids to think this behavior is healthy? Do you want them to think that getting drunk is a good way to deal with problems? Sad, sad day when movie makers/parents/netflix promote movies like this as cute and romantic! Positive messages or role models....absolutely not!

This title has:

Too much sex
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
See all 13 parent reviews

What's the Story?

HART OF DIXIE is a quirky medical drama about a talented surgical resident who's learning how to relate to her patients. Zoe Hart (Rachel Bilson) is an aspiring heart surgeon who wants to follow in her father's medical footsteps. But after failing to secure an elite training fellowship in New York, she moves to Bluebell, Alabama, to take over a general medical practice that she unexpectedly inherited. The Gulf town is full of some interesting people, including its mayor, former NFL champ Lavon Hayes (Cress Williams), and Wade Kinsella (Wilson Bethel), her rowdy and flirtatious neighbor. She finds some common ground with New York-trained lawyer George Tucker (Scott Porter), who happens to be engaged to local Southern belle Lemon Breeland (Jaime King). Also making life interesting is Wade Kinsella (Wilson Bethel), Zoe's rowdy and flirtatious neighbor. It's hard to convince the locals that she belongs, but little by little she begins to feel at home in her new community...and begins to uncover their secrets.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (13 ):
Kids say (18 ):

The series combines drama and humor in order to tell the story of a young woman who is rediscovering who she is while learning to become a better doctor. It contains some interesting plot lines about her patients, but most of the show's focus is on the romantic tensions and illicit relationships between various members of the community.

It's pretty mild compared to other doctor-centered shows, but it contains themes -- like unexpected pregnancies, infidelity, and racism -- that may not be appropriate for younger viewers. It definitely has some heart, and teens who like this kind of drama will find it very entertaining.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the cultural differences between the North and the South in the United States. Do you think the media portrays these cultures realistically, or do they rely on stereotypes to highlight their distinctions?

  • How is this show different from other TV medical dramas? How is it similar?

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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