Parents' Guide to

Major Crimes

By Joyce Slaton, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

A strong female lead anchors gripping crime drama.

TV TNT Drama 2012
Major Crimes Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

age 15+

Based on 5 parent reviews

age 12+

Best acting and writing out there

I love this show. The writing, character development, depth of work relationships, and acting are superb. I love Mary and I think the parenting of Rusty over the seasons is some of the best I've seen in any drama. Although the crimes are tough they are handled with reverence and sensitivity and are superb dramas across a broad spectrum. Just cannot say enough good about the show which in essence is a well-written family drama and the family is the Major Crimes division.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
age 16+

One of my favorite shows....

When I heard Kyra Sedgwick was leaving I was very upset... Because I was not crazy about mary mcdonnell roll on the closure... But boy was I wrong... It is even better than before.... And I'm so glad the rest of the crew stayed!!!!! There's only one thing I'm not crazy about and that is Rusty... But I guess I can tolerate him because major crimes is so good.. Sorry Rusty but you don't add anything to major crimes.....

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (5 ):
Kids say (3 ):

TNT could hardly have found a more magnetic and compelling lead in Mary McDonnell, who is altogether more fun to watch than The Closer's Kyra Sedgwick. As viewers of cult favorite Battlestar Galactica discovered a few years ago, McDonnell makes a powerful center to build a show around, and she's utterly relatable as a strong woman doing her level best in a very difficult job.

The rest of the cast is as uniformly excellent as they were on The Closer, though young viewers in particular may be confused by the fast-moving dialogue and the zippy plot, which doesn't slow down to explain complex legal concepts. Those who don't have a basic understanding of the law and criminal cases will be a bit lost, though fans of police procedurals will be able to keep up just fine. Also excellent: Unlike other cop shows, the crimes being committed are heinous, but not exploitative, i.e. no rape victims shown in torn clothing with the camera lingering lasciviously over exposed body parts. Crime is not glamorized on Major Crimes, nor is police work. Though in real life, Captain Raydor's hair might not look so perfectly blown-out after a long day on the job.

TV Details

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