Common Sense Media Review
By Emily Ashby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Blended-family show mixes drama and nature.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
LIFE IS WILD (adapted from the British show Wild at Heart) follows a blended family's struggles to embrace one another and their new home. Veterinarian Danny Clarke (D.W. Moffett), decides to uproot his family from New York and transplant them to the wilds of South Africa for a year. Danny is thrilled to be working with the native wildlife instead of spoiled Manhattan pets, and he and his wife, Jo (Stephanie Niznik), hope the change will bring their four kids some sense of family unity. But that's easier said than done for the constantly bickering teens Katie Clarke (Leah Pipes) and her stepbrother Jesse (Andrew St. John) and their younger siblings: Jo's daughter, Mia (Mary Matilyn Mouser), and Danny's son, Chase (K'sun Ray).
Is It Any Good?
Life Is Wild is an endearing drama about the struggles to blend two families. Its setting in the wilds of South Africa gives it an aesthetically beautiful quality, and the native background music and wildlife footage are a real treats for viewers. But it's not quite a "fun for all ages" family show. Jesse's rebellious nature leads him to disobey and disrespect his parents, drink, and steal. Guns are prevalent (although they're intended for protection from dangerous wild animals), there's some teen flirting, and language can be strong on occasion ("damn," "bitch," etc.). Last but not least are some suspenseful wildlife-encounter scenes that may be too much for younger viewers.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about whether this show is more realistic than other primetime shows featuring teen characters. Why or why not? Do you think the kids on the show behave in ways that real teens might? What consequences would there be for that behavior in the real world (particularly drinking)? Why do you think some of those consequences aren't shown here? Families can also discuss the challenges of combining two families. What struggles do the Clarkes have to overcome? How are they addressing them? And, for fun, how do you think you'd react to moving halfway around the world? Would it be scary or an exciting adventure? If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
TV Details
- Premiere date : October 7, 2007
- Cast : Andrew St. John , D.W. Moffett , Leah Pipes
- Network : CW
- Genre : Drama
- TV rating :
- Last updated : September 20, 2019
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