Hooked
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A lot or a little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that although this fish-centric educational series includes some good information, the over-hyped narration makes it clear that the show's emphasis is on the animals' deadly predatory powers and the fight between angler and fish, rather than on science (even though most of the anglers are trying to capture the fish to study them, rather than just for trophy purposes).
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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?
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
- Premiere date: June 29, 2009
- Network: National Geographic Channel
- Genre: Educational
- TV rating: TV-PG
- Available on: DVD
- Last updated: October 17, 2020
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