Parents' Guide to

Ironside (1967)

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 12+

Classic police drama is more brains than brawn.

TV Hulu Drama 1987
Ironside (1967) Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

  • Ironside TV Show: Scene #1
  • Ironside TV Show: Scene #2
  • Ironside TV Show: Scene #3

Community Reviews

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age 12+

Based on 1 parent review

Rudy H.
Rudy H. Adult
November 10, 2017
age 12+

Not up to Perry Mason standards

Ironside is too caustic, with no warmth in the early episodes. His helpers mostly stand behind him, showing little detective intelligence, which he often points out to them. The female detective looks and dresses like a chic executive secretary, somehow just not like a policewoman. His Afro-American "helper" is not too bad, but has not shown any special street sense either. A fairly clean show, but sometimes the color gets too complicated in panoramic scenes of San Francisco. I hope some human warmth will emerge, or I will quit watching the series.
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

The classic TV series IRONSIDE (1967-75) stars Raymond Burr as Robert T. Ironside, the former chief of detectives with the San Francisco police. After a sniper's bullet leaves him paralyzed, he becomes a private detective and special consultant to the police. Now working from and living in the attic of San Francisco police headquarters, he is assisted by ex-con turned-bodyguard Mark Sanger (Don Mitchell). Helping him work cases are plainclothes officers Ed Brown (Don Galloway) and Eve Whitfield (Barbara Anderson). From serial killers to police corruption, Ironside stays focused on solving cases using his brains and thoughtful attention to detail to get criminals off the streets.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

This series offers smart, story-driven drama that relies more on Ironside's ability to think about the details of a case rather than simply chase after criminals. As a result, the fact that he is active in law enforcement despite being in a wheelchair (which makes his character unique, even by today's standards) becomes an ever-present, but secondary, issue.

Ironside isn't the most action-packed of shows, but it's still entertaining. Ironside himself is pretty likable, too, despite his tough, surly, and often-humorless approach to life. Despite being set in the late 1960s and early '70s, many of the stories are still as interesting today as they were back then. Fans of the classic police procedural will definitely find it worth watching.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what makes certain pop culture characters unique. Is it their personalities? Their life stories? Their personal attributes?

  • How does showing characters who have something that makes them "different" contribute to how people see the world? How can these characters be used to diffuse stereotypes?

TV Details

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