Common Sense Media Review
By Joly Herman
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Survival tale charms visually, lacks poetry.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Keep Breathing
What's the Story?
In KEEP BREATHING, New York City attorney Olivia "Liv" Rivera (Melissa Barrera, In the Heights) is desperate to get to Inuvik, a remote town in the Canadian wilderness. Her flight is delayed, she's missed at work, but she's so determined to get to her destination that she bribes two men boarding a tiny propellor plane to allow her passage. Carrying a bag full of postcards and a mind full of memories, Liv manages to fall asleep on the noisy flight. She wakes up to find the plane plummeting to the ground, the pilot panicking, and few options for survival. How long can she stay alive? Will her memories keep her going?
Is It Any Good?
Visual charm and breathtaking scenery make a strong showing in this tale of survival and memories. The wilderness itself becomes a kind of character in Keep Breathing -- an Earth diva wearing an undulating green dress and a lake-shaped necklace with a sunken plane at its crystalline core. Wait, there's a woman at the shore who screams in frustration, who is so ill-equipped to survive that it's hard to watch her fumble. Is she a heroine? Or a distraction?
There are interesting themes of bounty and scarcity, past and present, plan and instinct. But some of the themes are so obvious they're annoying (flashbacks of surviving a fire while struggling to keep from drowning, for example). Teens will enjoy the element of suspense, and will want to uncover the mystery that Liv is carrying with her. Adults might find this show a little less intriguing, but might stick with it for the enticing camerawork and the stunning scenery.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the importance of cellphones and connectivity in Keep Breathing. At what point are mobile devices truly crucial? When are they just for fun?
The main character is forced to survive in the wilderness. How does she exemplify perseverance? When does she give up?
How would you react to being left in the wilderness with no food or water? Would you have the courage to face your deepest fears?
TV Details
- Premiere date : July 29, 2022
- Cast : Jeff Wilbusch , Melissa Barrera , Juan Pablo Espinosa
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Action
- Topics : Adventures , Animals ( Wild Animals )
- TV rating :
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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