Meltdown: Three Mile Island
Absorbing, disturbing docu has cursing, radiation effects.
Parents say
Based on 3 reviews
Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.
Meltdown: Three Mile Island
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.
Suggest an Update
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 Meltdown: Three Mile Island is a docu-series about the near-catastrophic events that took place at a Pennsylvania nuclear power plant in 1979. It deals with themes that some viewers may find upsetting or frightening. There's some occasional swearing and cursing ("pissed," "s--t," "f--k"). In one installment drinking is visible, and pot is briefly shown and discussed, but in a specific historical context.
Community Reviews
Exceptional
Report this review
Exceptional
Report this review
What's the Story?
The docu-series MELTDOWN: THREE MILE ISLAND offers a detailed account of the bungled response to the 1979 commercial nuclear plant accident near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and the subsequent efforts to cover it up. With the help of interviews, archive footage, and reenactments, it discusses what happened on the morning of March 28, 1979, when, thanks to a valve malfunction and human error, one of the cores at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant began melting down. In addition, a bubble of hydrogen gas that had the potential of exploding and contaminating the surrounding area was also released into the cooling tower. The series reveals how, during the five-day alert, the utility company tried to downplay the problem while local government officials struggled to handle the situation. It also shows how distributing conflicting information to the public led to a panic. What happened in the years that followed, including how Bechtel Corporation and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission attempted to cut corners during the cleanup operation -- and how whistleblowers Rick Parks and Larry King kept that from happening -- is also addressed.
Is It Any Good?
The informative but disturbing four-part docu-series reveals how close the Three Mile Island accident came to becoming a horrific catastrophe. While some of the information about what happened on the day is well known, Meltdown: Three Mile Island offers a lot of behind-the-scenes details about what transpired, highlighting the problematic political and economic issues associated with the use of nuclear power in the United States. It also underscores the important role whistleblowers Rick Parks and Larry King played in protecting the public from what could have been a second disaster, and introduces viewers to the community activists who fought to protect their town. The series will be especially interesting to those who remember what happened. But regardless of whether the events are before your time, chances are that what you learn from Meltdown: Three Mile Island will leave you feeling unsettled.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about nuclear power. How much of the world relies on nuclear power as an energy source? How many nuclear power plants are there in the U.S.? What are the benefits to relying on nuclear energy? The risks?
What is the China Syndrome? How does Meltdown: Three Mile Island link the entertainment industry to the way people thought about nuclear power in the 1970s?
TV Details
- Premiere date: May 4, 2022
- Cast: Rick Parks, Larry King, Lake Barrett
- Network: Netflix
- Genre: Reality TV
- Topics: Activism
- Character Strengths: Courage
- TV rating: TV-14
- Last updated: May 24, 2022
Our Editors Recommend
-
Downfall: The Case Against Boeing
Aircraft builder's alleged role in fatal crashes; violence.
-
Silkwood
Disturbing tale of corporate greed, nuclear danger, courage.
-
The Insider
Fascinating whistleblower story for older teens.
-
Erin Brockovich
Legal drama based on a true story has lots of cursing.
-
Chernobyl
Drama based on Russian disaster is brutal but relevant.
For kids who love documentaries
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.
See how we rate