Parents' Guide to

Hooked

By Anne Louise Bannon, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

Fish-centric show is more sensational than educational.

TV National Geographic Channel Educational 2009
Hooked Poster Image

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What's the Story?

HOOKED showcases the tales of intrepid anglers going after unusual and dangerous fish around the world -- from super-sized stingrays to great white sharks and even a vampire fish. In many cases the goal is to study the captured creatures, but other anglers are on the hunt for trophy purposes.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

The show loses points for its narration, which is over-hyped. The voice over constantly refers to fish teeth as weapons, talks about the "the chomping ground," and uses a host of other hyperbolic adjectives to emphasize the predatory powers of the featured fish.

Other than that, it's mostly a show about fishing, something that's far more interesting to do that watch. Yes, it's an intense experience to feel a great white at the end of your line -- but it ain't much to look at. The show does include some solid information about the fish and their dinosaur-era antecedents, but it comes across as mostly padding. What gets the most energy is the "fight between man and fish."

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about whether the show successfully promotes its stated message of conservation. Does it ever glorify violence and predeation?

  • Families can also discuss whether the scenes showing the anglers fishing were actually televised or were re-enactments. Does that matter? Why?

TV Details

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