Parents' Guide to

I (Almost) Got Away With It

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Ex-fugitive docuseries is violent and exploitative.

TV Investigation Discovery Reality TV 2010
I (Almost) Got Away With It Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

See all

There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.

What's the Story?

I (ALMOST) GOT AWAY WITH IT is a reality series about the crimes former and current inmates from around the world committed and the various ways they were temporarily able to avoid getting caught. Each episode features dramatic reenactments of criminals committing crimes ranging from bigamy and money laundering to drug trafficking and murder. Details about how they eluded authorities, including information about the people who helped them, also are provided. Amid the reenactments are real interviews with the ex-fugitives, the law-enforcement officials who hunted them down, and notable people connected with the recovery.

Is It Any Good?

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

I (Almost) Got Away With It seeks to entertain viewers by describing some of the strange and creative ways people try to get away from law enforcement. It also highlights the mistakes they make that lead to their capture. Adding to the drama are extremely violent reenactments, specific scenes of which are replayed throughout the entire episode.

People who like this sort of thing will find it interesting, but the nonchalant and unapologetic way most ex-fugitives talk about their crimes is disturbing. Discussions about the mistakes that law enforcement make and the loopholes in the system that make it easier for criminals to hide are frustrating, too. Ultimately, the show is less of a morality tale and more of an exploitation.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the reasons ex-fugitives agreed to be featured on a reality show. What do they get out of it? What are viewers supposed to gain from their stories?

  • Is showing (and repeating) violent images on TV and in movies appropriate, even when it's done in an informative context? What's the impact of doing so? Are there ways to tell violent stories without showing so much violent content?

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.

See all recommended tv lists

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate