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Parents' Guide to

Kidnapped

By Kari Croop, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Violent serial drama lacks real suspense.

TV NBC Drama 2006
Kidnapped Poster Image

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What's the Story?

In KIDNAPPED, appearances are everything for prominent Manhattanites Conrad and Ellie Cain (Timothy Hutton and Dana Delany), until their teenage son, Leopold (Will Denton), is mysteriously kidnapped on his way to school and held for ransom. With hopes of keeping the incident out of the papers, they hire former FBI agent-turned-assassin Knapp (Jeremy Sisto) to bring him back in one piece and ax his assailants. But when current FBI agent Latimer King (Delroy Lindo) gets suspicious and involved, all bets are off.

Is It Any Good?

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

draws obvious inspiration from the Emmy Award-winning drama 24, but it pales in comparison on almost every level. For one thing, the characters have potential but are ultimately vague and forgettable, and for another, the sluggish pacing fails to capture the sense of urgency the producers were shooting for. There may be salvation in the Cains' heavily guarded secrets, shocking truths that are kept from the audience and slowly parceled out as the series unfolds. But since Kidnapped doesn't do nearly enough to rope viewers in from the outset, there isn't much chance that they'll stick around to see how it all turns out.

Parents be warned: In addition to having adult themes, Kidnapped can also be very violent and bloody. The violence isn't constant, but when it pops up, it's graphic -- just one of the reasons this show is best for teens and up.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about whether they see any part of themselves in the dysfunctional clan at the center of the action. How can parents connect with teenagers on a meaningful level without driving them away or turning them off? Teens might want to think about what they would do if they were abducted. Would they wait for help or try to save themselves? And is it ever OK to break the law in pursuit of a positive goal -- i.e., saving your life or that of your child?

TV Details

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