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Parents' Guide to

Mercy

By Kari Croop, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Adult-driven hospital drama seems awfully familiar.

TV NBC Drama 2009
Mercy Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

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What's the Story?

In MERCY (named for its setting inside the fictitious Mercy Hospital), nurse Veronica Callahan (Taylor Schilling) is back from war in Iraq and adjusting to civilian life, which includes the day-to-day rigors of her job and a tenuous reconciliation with her estranged husband (Diego Klattenhoff), who cheated on her while she was away. Complications arise when a new doctor, Chris Sands (James Tupper), arrives at Mercy, forcing Veronica to work side by side with the very man she secretly had an affair with overseas. Good thing two other nurses (Jaime Lee Kirchner and Michelle Trachtenberg) are doing their best to keep her grounded.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say Not yet rated
Kids say (3 ):

If you lived under a rock and had never seen a medical drama, Mercy would seem fresh and new. Having the Paxil-popping Callahan come from working in Iraq is an interesting concept, and the other characters are well cast and likable. But the truth is, the series has so much in common with other hospital shows that are already on the air that it will probably have to fight for its life.

If you don't have access to Showtime's far-superior (and adults only) Nurse Jackie, the staff of Mercy Hospital will probably entertain you. Another plus is that you could technically watch it with younger teens, although it certainly isn't a "family show." But if you're already hooked on Jackie ... or Grey's Anatomy ... or, less likely, HawthoRNe ... it won't tear you away.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how nurses and doctors are typically portrayed in the media. Is their work as dramatic as it looks on television?

  • Do you think showing graphic procedures and other violent imagery -- i.e., inserting a makeshift breathing tube fashioned out of a plastic drinking straw -- makes the show more realistic?

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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