Parents' Guide to

Inspector Gadget

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 5+

Fun remake of '80s classic has multigenerational appeal.

Inspector Gadget Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

age 10+

Based on 11 parent reviews

age 16+

Not appropriate!

Like the other reviewer i’m a bit shocked at the mention of ‘thong’ twice in the first episode. It was unnecessary & would question the creator’s motives. Don’t remember the old version being like this!
1 person found this helpful.
age 16+

Inappropriate

I was completely caught off guard when the man that was trying to pick out a new uniform for Inspector Gadget put him in a pink thong. The man, looked embarrassed and pleased and started sweating on the forehead. It was a blatantly sexual reference. How inappropriate and horrible to slide this in a children's show. This was in the very first episode.
1 person found this helpful.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (11):
Kids say (7):

Age has done nothing to lessen this dimwitted detective's incompetence, but that doesn't mean that his adventures are any less comical as a result. No matter how many times Penny and her multitalented canine sidekick, Brain (Scott McCord), save the day from Inspector Gadget's ill-fated efforts to do the same, you still want to root for the perpetually optimistic gumshoe. The good news is that her brilliance and humility make Penny a slick female role model, and the new-fangled gadgets -- including a portal transport -- and CGI animation give the show a modern flair. The bad news is that her oblivious uncle continues to take credit for success that isn't his.

This classic good-vs.-evil struggle is a harmless way to introduce youngsters to the idea of cartoon villains, since Dr. Claw rarely gets the upper hand on the heroes and we never see any more of him than his infamous hand. What's more, the series often uses Talon to poke fun at Dr. Claw's flawed logic that sabotages his own schemes, such as his creating an ignition system with only one key or setting a countdown clock with excessive time. Much of it will go over young kids' heads, but parents who grew up with the original will pick up on the little jab in the ribs to bungling TV villains overall.

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.

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