Impulse

TV review by Joyce Slaton, Common Sense Media
Impulse Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 16+

Intense, downbeat teen superhero series deals with assault.

YouTube Premium Drama 2018
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Parents say

age 17+

Based on 2 reviews

Kids say

age 13+

Based on 1 review

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  • Impulse Series: A teen girl lies on her back on the ground with a disturbed expression on her face.
  • Impulse Series: Closeup of a woman's face as she talks to someone offscreen; she looks upset and angry.
  • Impulse Series: A teen girl has her arm lifted in an odd, contorted position as her eyes roll back; the car's windows are shattered.

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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 Impulse is a drama about a young woman who finds she has supernatural powers after a sexual assault. This assault is pictured in the show's first episode: two teens in a car kiss and then the boy forces his hand down the girl's pants as she cries and screams for him to stop. A violent occurrence forces him to stop, and the effects of the assault are realistically experienced by its victim throughout the course of the series. A main character smokes frequently, though it's unclear whether she's smoking cigarettes or marijuana. A man's naked rear is visible as he gets into a shower. Language includes "ass," "s--t," "a--hole," "f--k," "goddammit," and "p---y."

Community Reviews

awesomeperson53
awesomeperson53 Adult
August 30, 2019
age 17+

Very addictive, but deprived

I might be a little biased after reading the book, however, I watched this with my family and had to continually mute the TV and fast forward the video. We finished the series and I'm craving the next one. Too bad the producers thought sex and drugs would draw an audience. In the book, Cent (Henrietta in the show) was raised by two loving and committed parents. She was taught manners and respect for authority. Her mom, Millie, and her dad, Davy were good parents and were invested in her well being. They were faithful to each other. When Cent began using her powers, she used them to avoid attacks and help others. She wasn't sexually assaulted in the book. In the series, Millie left Davy when Davy was abducted, taking Henrietta with her. Millie went from man to man looking for a committed partner. Henrietta didn't have a capable loving parent watching over her. In the first episode, Henrietta was sexually assaulted. The entire series seems to be based on that incident. Henrietta is an unhappy, untrusting adolescent surrounded by ignorant foolish adults. There's not a satisfactory hero or role model in this series, unlike the book. So, why the high rating? The writers are good with suspense. Henrietta learning to use her powers is fascinating. Even though she uses pot and profanity, she tries to be a good person.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
Daniel P.
Daniel P. Adult
June 13, 2018
age 16+

3 episodes in. Mature teens and adults

Only 3 episodes in. The sexual assault in the first episode does not show nudity but grotesque actions. Forcing of the young girl to be sexually assaulted (not technically raped) does give context to the story line. Regular smoking of Pot by the main character but does not specify if its related to her siesures and neurological health problems. Its shown recreationally too. Corrupt family in town has 3 different guys forcefully abuse her in different ways, 1sexually 1 physically 1 psychologically (the dad). Getting into understanding her powers and transitioning to the superhero part of the story. Also in A second story line there is kidnapping , murder, torture, and another character with similar powers..(also a naked man ass scene l.I already figured out the connection but won't spoil anything. Language isn't tame but isn't overtly vulgar.
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In IMPUSE, Henry (Maddie Hasson) and her mom Cleo (Missi Pyle) have led a pretty reckless life so far, between Henry's acting out (AKA criminal misdemeanors) and Cleo's string of unreliable boyfriends in different towns. But now they've landed in a good place, living with Cleo's newest boyfriend (Matt Gordon) and his resentful teen daughter Jenna (Sarah Desjardins). Their new town is small and not that friendly; nonetheless popular football star Clay (Tanner Stine) seems interested in Henry. But when Clay's interest turns malicious -- and when Henry discovers at a terrifying moment that she has equally terrifying powers -- a series of events is launched that even Henry's newfound powers can't control.

Is It Any Good?

Anchored by sensitive lead performances, this oddball series is an interesting and dark character study wrapped in superhero-drama packaging. Young people coming into their (supernatural) power is a classic superhero plot, of course -- you need look no further than shows like Flash or Smallville, or more modern entries like Runaways or Marvel's Cloak & Dagger to find super powers used as a metaphor for puberty. But though Henry discovers her power to teleport in Impulse's very first episode, it takes a lot longer for her to figure out just how she pulls off the trick. In the meantime, drama is milked from more typical teen-angst plotlines: what it's like to be the new girl in town, the pitfalls of building (step) family relationships, the pain of being ignored and overlooked -- except by people who want to do something bad to you.

A slightly ludicrous plotline involving Henry's connection with a Mennonite-dominated opioid empire gives this sad-eyed girl yet another reason to feel conflicted, and intense, natural Hasson is great at playing all the colors of her misery. If only the discovery of her powers lent the same bit of joy that we see in other dramas about fledgling heroes, a Peter-Parker-swinging-through-the-skyscrapers scene where all the slings and arrows of her life became fuel for an exultant release. Hasson is terrific, but her ever-present dark cloud, and even the cool blue tone of the show's cinematography adds up to kind of a bummer. It's not that Impulse isn't good. It's that it's not a lot of fun to watch.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Parents can talk about whether Henry is a hero or an antihero in Impulse. What's the difference? Can audiences love either? Are flawed heroes a typical main character? What other examples can you name?

  • Superhero dramas are experiencing a moment on TV and at the movies. Why? Why do average people want to watch people who have extraordinary abilities? What about these stories are appealing to viewers?

TV Details

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