Parents' Guide to

Jesse James Is a Dead Man

By Will Wade, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 12+

Stunt show has some intelligence amid spills and thrills.

TV Spike Reality TV 2009
Jesse James Is a Dead Man Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

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

Is It Any Good?

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

Though James is an experienced driver and veteran thrill-seeker, most of these activities are new to him and require some specialized skills. To prepare for the main event, he approaches his stunts with a well-developed action plan. To get ready for the powerful acceleration on the speedy nitro bike, for example, he goes for a spin in a jet fighter ... and then he lets himself be set aflame, just in case he needs to know what it's like to be covered in burning fuel.

Sure, a lot of this is for show, but it also reveals some intelligence. The series uses computer graphics to carefully explain what's going on, from the physics involved in a multiple G-force acceleration to the mechanical failure that can make a high-performance engine blow up. Overall the show is definitely more thoughtful than some stunt spectacular shows; it would work just as well on the "how does it work?" Discovery Channel as it does on all-action testosterone network Spike.

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