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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 this crime drama digs deeply into the motives behind violent acts. Younger kids will find the pacing slow but the content very disturbing. From a role model point of view, this isn't an age-appropriate show for kids, since each episode dwells on aberrant behaviors.
Community Reviews
This is OK for 10 years old and up
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Great instalment, but not as good as SVU.
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What's the Story?
LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT is the second spin-off of the popular Law & Order. It features detectives from the NYPD's Major Case Squad. This show is more of a police procedural drama than a courtroom drama: It takes viewers into the minds of the criminals who perform a range of dastardly and often gruesome crimes. Playing the lead detectives are Vincent D'Onofrio (who plays the eerily intelligent Detective Robert Goren) and Kathryn Erbe (who is Goren's partner, Detective Alexandra Eames).
Is It Any Good?
Criminal Intent is the most cerebral of the Law & Order shows. It purports to take viewers into the minds of the criminals who perform a range of dastardly and often gruesome crimes and, while intriguing for adults, is a pretty iffy choice for younger viewers.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how the detectives follow the clues. Ask your teens how realistic they think the show is. Parents can also reassure their kids that these crimes aren't likely to occur to them.
TV Details
- Premiere date: September 30, 2001
- Cast: Courtney B. Vance, Jamey Sheridan, Vincent D'Onofrio
- Networks: NBC, USA
- Genre: Drama
- TV rating: TV-14
- Last updated: April 23, 2022
Our Editors Recommend
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Law & Order
Dead bodies + courtroom drama = mature teens only.
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Law & Order: SVU
Grisly, sensationalized sex crimes; not meant for kids.
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CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
Science prevails in mature, long-running crime procedural.
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CSI: Miami
Lesser cousin of mature, top-rated crime show.
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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