Parents' Guide to

Jekyll

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Chilling Brit take on classic is for adults only.

TV BBC America Drama 2007
Jekyll Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

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age 16+

Based on 1 parent review

NojEsco
NojEsco Adult
January 7, 2021
age 16+

A Mostly Brilliant Reimagining for Young Adults and Up Only

Jekyll, starring James Nesbit and written by Steven Moffat, is a chilling, atmospheric, smart and surprisingly funny (in a very dark humor style of way) miniseries, that only really falters in the sixth and final episode; while the twists in it do ultimately make perfect sense and the final-twist is creative (without breaking its own rules), but the final part did, from a story perspective, leave me unsatisfied somewhat. But I cannot deny that the series up to that point, in particular Parts 2 & 3, were genuinely excellent. I could mark this as having too much violence or too much alcohol, as there are lots of those, but since this intended only for mature viewers, and in terms of the story they are exactly the right amount. HOWEVER, if you were planning on showing this to anyone 15 or under, I would advise you keep things such as intensely mature themes, some brutal moments of violence, and some strong sexuality (albeit no actual nudity) in mind, as they are present. The good thing for anyone below the recommended age watching this is that the story, while it certainly glorifies things like sex, violence and alcoholism, it also acknowledges that these are very much self-destructive, and that operating purely via the Id ultimately ends in a very undesirable way. The performances, editing and cinematography are all top-tier for 200X television, the dialogue is fast and sharp, and the themes are very explicit while not being told in an overly direct (let alone preachy) way. For adults: Very strongly recommended.
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What's the Story?

In this modern-day version of Robert Louis Stevenson's famous dual-personality tale, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Tom Jackman (James Nesbitt) is struggling to keep his violent alter ego's rising power in check and is determined to keep his family a secret from Hyde. Tom has set up a regimen of safe havens (including a body-binding chair that he can strap himself into when he feels Hyde's presence surging), hiding places for clues to his real life (away goes the wedding ring and other traces of his wife and kids), and high-tech tracking and communication devices that allow him to relay messages to and monitor the movements of his other self. But despite Tom's efforts, Hyde continues to gain control over his host. Meanwhile, Tom's wife, Claire, has hired a private investigator to look into her husband's unexplained disappearances, and a team of mysterious strangers tediously watches his every move. Tom is at a loss for someone to help him. That is, until the shocking truth emerges from an unexpected source.

Is It Any Good?

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

With so many works already spawned from this one short novella, one would expect the creative well would be bone-dry by now, leaving little content from which to draw enough new material worth watching. But in the case of JEKYLL, a masterful team of writers, producers, and actors prove that a little ingenuity can go a long way. Jekyll blends a classic tale with equal amounts of psychological and conspiracy thriller; the final product is a captivating series that will keep you guessing with its multiple character and plot twists. Nesbitt is superb in the polar-opposite roles of family man Jackman and malicious, narcissistic Hyde, and suspense is the name of the game here, as surprises really do lurk around every corner.

That said, the show's violent and emotionally disturbing nature means that it's not for tweens, and it's worth a good look before allowing even teens to tune in. The same suspense that promises to entertain you may frighten them, and Nesbitt's mastery of Hyde's character and superb delivery give the show little of the hokiness that makes lesser-quality thrillers palatable for sensitive viewers.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the prevalence of violence on TV. Why are so many primetime shows violent in nature? How does the violence vary between shows? What does this tendency say about society? Are we becoming immune to violence's shock value? And why do we enjoy dramas that delve into the disturbed psyches of deviants and criminals? Families can also discuss how this show compares to Stevenson's original novella. What liberties did the producers take in rewriting the tale? How was the story modernized? Does the show improve upon or detract from the original story? How do you think Stevenson would view this adaptation? How does it compare to others you've seen?

TV Details

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