Last Resort

TV review by Kari Croop, Common Sense Media
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Common Sense says

age 14+

Effective drama raises thoughtful questions amid violence.

ABC Drama 2012
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Kids say

age 11+

Based on 2 reviews

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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 Last Resort concerns a crew aboard a U.S. ballistic missile submarine that's loaded with nuclear weapons. But while violence -- and the ongoing threat of violence -- is a major theme, the violence you see isn't overly graphic. Characters carry guns, and there's some blood associated with injuries and deaths, but most characters are highly ethical and seek to do the right thing. Language mainly includes words like "damn" and "bitch," along with some body part slang like "balls" and "rack," and there's some sexual content (making out, shots of women in lingerie, etc.) and mild innuendo. Some characters drink alcohol to deal with stress.

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What's the Story?

When Capt. Marcus Chaplin (Andre Braugher) and XO Sam Kendal (Scott Speedman) of the U.S. submarine Colorado question orders to unleash nuclear missiles on Pakistan, their vessel becomes a moving target -- and the crew is treated like enemies of the state. With nowhere else to turn, they seek refuge on a tropical island of LAST RESORT, take over a NATO station, and try to discern who's igniting a nuclear war.

Is It Any Good?

Even those who don't fancy themselves fans of the submarine genre could get hooked by Last Resort's well-penned pilot, which starts out with some hammy, ho-hum dialogue but quickly morphs into an effectively engrossing thriller about a rogue crew and the advent of nuclear war. There are plenty of subplots to follow, too, but you're definitely left with the sense that they're leading somewhere with a satisfying payoff.

The plot is admittedly out there, but it works. And another interesting angle is the show's exploration of co-ed quarters below sea level, a recent development stemming from the end of a Pentagon policy that banned women from serving aboard Navy submarines. Though some of the male-female tension feels exaggerated, it's certainly rooted in powerful truths that make great fodder for parent-teen discussions.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Last Resort's premise and whether such a scenario could actually happen. Is the show's take on the U.S. government and those who are part of it overly negative, overly positive, or somewhere in between?

  • Women living and working alongside men on U.S. submarines is a relatively recent development. How does the show portray the relationships between the men and women serving aboard the Colorado? What are some of the conflicts that arise between the characters? Are there inherent challenges men and women face when working together in general?

  • Do you trust most of the information that elected officials funnel to the public through the news media? How important is it to question authority? Is there a fine line between questioning authority and being disrespectful?

TV Details

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