Parents' Guide to

Highway to Heaven

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 11+

Michael Landon takes morals to a higher power.

TV Syndicated, TV Land Drama 1984
Highway to Heaven 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 8+

Based on 3 parent reviews

Holly R.
Holly R. Parent of 1-year-old
January 1, 2019
age 8+

Most episodes are good.

Most of the episodes are good but I seen a few that left me rather confused as to what I had just watched. I watched one episode about a Neo-Nazi raising his 12 year old to hate the "Jews" and after killing one Jewish youth which causes the youths halocaust survivor father to be hospitalized it shows the Neo-Nazi's son cheering about killing 2 for 1. And while it portrays this in a negative light, the Neo-Nazi winds braindead and on life support and his wife is encouraged by the angel to pull the plug so the Jewish man can have the Neo-Nazi's heart because he needs a transplant. The wife seems too eager to pull the plug and even the domestic abuse that it shows that she went through just doesn't feel quite right. Other than that it's a good show but there's a few that are just weird.
Cherith N.
Cherith N. Parent of 9, 11, 13 and 15-year-old
March 11, 2018
age 8+

My Primary school kids were hooked

A very pleasant surprise of a show, with old fashioned values, some heavy hitting issues, slow moving, that grips you gradually. I thought my kids might find it boring but they have been hooked and love the human drama and dilemma side of it. The emphasis on kindness, compassion and loving your fellow human is refreshing and delightful and there is plenty of scope for discussion during and afterward (we often have to press pause to discuss mid show) and lots of tear jerking moments (for Mum). The faith based bits are handled well for both people of faith and those without. A lovely show that leaves a 'great taste in your mouth' afterward.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
See all 3 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In HIGHWAY TO HEAVEN, an angel in human form and his very human companion follow orders from a higher power to help guide people through stressful times in their lives. Angelic Jonathan Smith (Michael Landon) and his friend, ex-cop Mark Gordon (Victor French), travel the country on assignment from God -- whom they call "The Boss." In each episode, they wander into the lives of men and women who need some help coping with grief, anger, or guilt. Jonathan and Mark establish relationships with their subjects (who never suspect that the duo are anything but drifters), gain their trust, and lend a hand (and a shoulder) when it's needed. Along the way, Jonathan offers some subtly divine intervention through lots of moralistic straight-talk that changes the lives of those he meets. Once they've completed their task, he and Mark head down the highway again, on their way to a new assignment.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (3):
Kids say (2):

Despite its title, Highway to Heaven's focus is on addressing moral issues rather than religious ones, so it appeals to a broad audience. References to God are uncommon (as mentioned, he's almost always called "The Boss"), and when Jonathan speaks in prayer, he rarely addresses anyone in particular, more often seeming like he's talking to the wind. The show tackles serious topics like family distress, unplanned pregnancy, the death of a loved one, and murder. Storylines are often emotionally charged, and depending on an episode's subject matter, both language and violence can escalate. For example, an episode that addressed racial bigotry and law enforcement's racial profiling included multiple degrading terms (like the n-word) and culminated in the shooting death of an African-American teen. While disturbing, the content was integral to the seriousness of the plot and the impact of the message.

Given the varying content of each installment, parents may want to at least scan episode descriptions before allowing younger kids to watch. But the show's overwhelmingly positive lessons are inescapable, and parents who watch with older tweens and teens will probably find themselves having interesting discussions about the many issues each episode raises.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the many questions inspired by each episode's topic. How would you respond if you were faced with the characters' challenges? How do kids react to difficult situations? From where and whom do they draw their strength? Families can also discuss their own spiritual beliefs. How can faith help in times of stress? Do you believe there are angels among us? What other ways have religion and faith been portrayed on TV? How do the media treat religion and faith in general?

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.

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