Jo
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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 Jo is a smart police procedural that follows French veteran detective Joachim "Jo" Saint-Clair (Jean Reno), a member of the Parisian unit of the elite Criminal Brigade as he tackles murder cases. The Canadian-French series features mature themes that range from sexual assault and addiction to murder. Guns and bloody assaults and corpses are featured; drinking and drug use is shown. There's some mild language, including "damn" and "ass." The only thing that sets Jo apart from standard crime shows is its beautiful backdrop, but it's entertaining enough for older teens and adults.
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What's the story?
JO is a police procedural that follows French veteran detective Joachim "Jo" Saint-Clair (Jean Reno), a member of the Parisian unit of the elite Criminal Brigade, as he tackles murder cases. From Notre Dame to the Eiffel Tower, he works hard to solve cases with the help of his rookie partner Marc Beyard (Tom Austen), Nick Normand (Celyn Jones), and forensic scientist Angelique Alassane (Wunmi Mosaku). Overseeing operations is Béatrice Dormont (Orla Brady). As Jo investigates, he battles his own demons and tries to build a relationship with his estranged adult daughter Adele (Heida Reed). Helping him through the process is nun and advisor Karyn (Jill Hennessy).
Is it any good?
The English-language, Canadian and French production offers viewers a traditional crime-solving procedural with an international flair thanks to an array of Parisian landmarks that are connected to each story in some way. Veteran French actor Jean Reno's solid performance also helps embody the show's gritty-but-cosmopolitan vibe.
Stateside Francophiles certainly will enjoy watching the lovely backdrop. But the show is true to its formula and doesn't offer anything particularly unique or original in the way it tells its stories. Nonetheless, folks who like this sort of thing will find the plot lines interesting enough to follow.
Talk to your kids about ...
Families can talk about TV shows that are in English but feature stories and characters set in other countries. Does this make the story less believable?
What do you think makes crime shows so popular?
TV details
- Premiere date: January 17, 2013
- Cast: Jean Reno, Jill Hennessy, Tom Austen
- Network: Hulu
- Genre: Drama
- TV rating: NR
- Available on: DVD, Streaming
- Last updated: September 29, 2020
Our editors recommend
For kids who love police procedurals
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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.
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