Lisey's Story
Parents say
Based on 1 review
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Lisey's Story
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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 Lisey's Story is a mature mystery-drama series based on the 2006 Stephen King novel of the same name. It contains violence, including characters being shot and beaten with a shovel, as well as some blood and gore. There's a focus on mentally ill characters inflicting self-harm, including cutting themselves. Characters also suffer from grief and other emotional traumas. Foul language includes frequent use of "f--k" and its variations, as well as "bitch" and "Jesus." A male character threatens a female character with sexual and physical violence. Potentially scary imagery includes glimpses of a monstrous creature and a character in a catatonic state. A couple in bed, covered by sheets, are intimate. Characters appear drunk, and pills and prescription medicines are shown.
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What's the Story?
Based on the 2006 Stephen King novel of the same name, LISEY'S STORY blends a number of genres, including drama, psychological horror, romance, and mystery. Its title character, played by Julianne Moore, is dealing with a number of problems in the wake of her husband's death, played in flashbacks by Clive Owen. In addition to grieving her spouse's untimely demise -- and piecing together the mystery he left behind -- Lisey helps care for her mentally ill sister (Joan Allen). Lisey's husband was a successful author, and an obsessed, unhinged fan will seemingly stop at nothing to get his hands on the late novelist's unpublished works. Lisey's Story is a favorite of King's, and he penned the scripts for the entire series.
Is It Any Good?
Stephen King's passionate followers have had no shortage of TV adaptations of the author's work to dig into lately; sadly, they may wish to leave Lisey's Story at the bottom of the pile. But as 2020's The Outsider and this year's The Stand proved, not all of these small-screen takes are created equal -- while the former was one of the better King adapts in recent memory, the latter left many fans disappointed, as Lisey's Story is likely to do.
The series is beautifully shot, features stellar performances and production values, and oozes with haunting atmosphere. That said, its story rarely achieves the high bar set by these other elements. While it generally does a decent job balancing its various genre influences, the narrative relies too heavily on disjointed, sloppily placed sequences that often switch between dreams, nightmares, alternate realities, flashbacks, and even flashbacks within flashbacks. Toss in a meandering pace that fails to keep the series' stretched-thin mysteries compelling, and Lisey's Story is best left to the pages of King's original novel.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Lisey's Story use of dreams, nightmares, and flashbacks. How does it use these narrative devices to tell its story? Do you think these elements add or take away from the quality of the story? What other series use this type of storytelling?
How does the series portray mental illness? Do you think its portrayal helps bring positive attention to it or is its portrayal purely for entertainment purposes? Is it disrespectful for an actor to portray a character suffering from mental illness?
How does the main character deal with her grief? Does the series handle grief and grieving in a realistic way?
TV Details
- Premiere date: June 4, 2021
- Cast: Julianne Moore, Clive Owen, Joan Allen, Jennifer Jason Leigh
- Network: Apple TV+
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: Book Characters
- Character Strengths: Perseverance
- TV rating: TV-MA
- Last updated: March 2, 2022
Our Editors Recommend
-
The Outsider
Dark Stephen King adaptation is violent, slow.
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Mr. Mercedes
Graphic serial killer drama shocks with violence, sex.
-
Castle Rock
Tense Stephen King spin-off fun for fans, has some violence.
For kids who love horror and fantasy
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