Parents' Guide to

Law & Order: Los Angeles

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Violence, crime follow courtroom drama to City of Angels.

TV NBC Drama 2010
Law & Order: Los Angeles Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

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age 11+

Based on 3 parent reviews

WestDundeePolice
WestDundeePolice Adult
November 23, 2020
age 11+

Law and Order Drama + Courtroom Drama = Young Teens, Older Teens, Adults and Seniors

Yes It Think is Suitable for Young Teens and Up.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Sargent Comerford
Sargent Comerford Adult
June 30, 2019
age 11+

LAPD Spin on original, Not as good

This title has:

Too much violence
See all 3 parent reviews

What's the Story?

LAW & ORDER: LOS ANGELES, the West Coast-set installment in the Law & Order franchise, follows the investigation and prosecution of robberies and homicides in Los Angeles County. L.A.P.D. detectives Rex Winters (Skeet Ulrich) and Tomas "T.J." Jarusalski (Corey Stall) head up murder investigations under the direction of Lt. Arleen Gonzales (Rachel Ticotin). After they've collected enough evidence to make an arrest on a case, it's up to Deputy D.A. Ricardo Morales (Alfred Molina) and his assisting Junior Deputy D.A. Evelyn Price (Regina Hall) to build a case strong enough to win in court. Also prosecuting cases are Deputy D.A. Joe Dekker (Terrence Howard) and his junior deputy D.A., Lauren Stanton (Megan Boone). As they work within the boundaries of the criminal justice system, both sides must contend with the unique problems posed by the City of Angels' diverse culture.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (3 ):
Kids say (1 ):

Like the original series, L&O: L.A. pulls details from news headlines to create stories with interesting plot twists. But these stories are told with a distinct L.A. flair and often revolve around the unique Hollywood culture. There are also some differences in the way the courtroom drama unfolds in each episode thanks to having two teams of district attorneys.

The show is well written, but it lacks some of the grittiiness that fans have come to expect from the franchise. While that may result from a conscious effort on the part of the producers to match the over-styled culture that Los Angeles is sometimes known for, it takes away from the series' edigness. Courtroom drama fans may enjoy it, but diehard Law & Order fans may find be a little disappointed.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the show's "ripped from the headlines" theme. How does a true crime change when it's scripted for television?

  • What are some of the differences between East Coast culture and West Coast culture? Do you think that the media is accurate in the way it portrays each?

  • Is the show's violence necessary to its storylines? What kind of impact does it have on viewers?

TV Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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