Parents' Guide to

Murphy's Law

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Tense British crime drama is too violent for kids.

TV BBC America Drama 2001
Murphy's Law Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

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age 18+

Based on 1 parent review

rlklaus
rlklaus Adult
January 13, 2012
age 18+

Way too much for the little ones.

While I thought Murphy's Law was a good series, I'd save it for after the kids are in bed. Find it hard to belive that the origional review was written buy someone that had seen the show. Language is to say the least intense, and when the story moves to strip clubs, the girls are not in swimwear. Violence is not sugar coated to our U.S. standards, this is not "Bang your dead" sanitary violence. One the other hand, if you have a teenager that you want to scare off of the criminal element, it might be worth a look. You all have to make up your own minds but, do review this series first.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

In MURPHY'S LAW, James Nesbitt plays an unconventional undercover cop whose violent past continues to haunt him and affect how he does his job. As a husband and father in Northern Ireland, Tommy Murphy (Nesbitt) was faced with an impossible decision when his family was taken hostage by IRA terrorists: They made him choose between killing himself and hundreds of innocent people or watching his young daughter be murdered. After he was released -- and his marriage fell apart over the little girl's death -- Murphy joined the British police force as an undercover agent, determined to do his part to bring justice to the worst criminals.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1):
Kids say: Not yet rated

On assignment, hardheaded Murphy is unconventional and tough, but his rogue methods usually translate into victories for the law. As he seamlessly moves from one new identity to another to infiltrate crime organizations and gain criminals' confidence, Murphy displays moments of brilliance that amaze his colleagues -- and often blindside his enemies. Through it all, his wry humor and penchant for witty one-liners keeps everyone around him guessing about what's to come. Early seasons of the series featured contained stories that placed Murphy in a new scenario in each episode. Later, the series took on more complexity, with each season following a continuous -- and often much darker -- storyline, revealing a sinister side to the troubled main character and focusing more on his inner turmoil.

The show's five seasons brought many cast changes (Nesbitt is the only constant through the entire run), so continuity may be an issue for some viewers. But the show itself is an intense dramatic thriller that adults will enjoy, and Nesbitt is masterful in a role that was written specifically for him. That said, the prevalence of graphic violence and mature themes like kidnapping, drug trade, murder, and suicide ensures that Murphy's Law isn't a good choice for young or sensitive viewers. And you'll probably want to check it out before giving teens the go-ahead as well, since Murphy's unique brand of humor sometimes puts an unrealistically light spin on life-and-death scenarios.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how the violence in this series compares to that of American crime dramas like CSI and Law & Order. Does it seem more or less realistic? What kind of impact does realistic violence have on kids? How is cartoon violence different? For more on violence in the media, click here.

TV Details

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