Parents' Guide to

October Faction

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Violence, strong language dominate books-inspired series.

TV Netflix Drama 2020
October Faction Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

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age 17+

Based on 4 parent reviews

JFGgirl
JFGgirl Adult
July 16, 2020
age 18+

Disjointed, Nonsensical - Watch Grimm Instead

This confused show can’t decide if it’s about teenage angst or monsters or conspiracies. The overarching organization the parents work for is never really explained, the monsters are never described, and there are too many conflicting plots and storylines to keep track of. The swearing is gratuitous - with frequent “Jesus” and “Jesus Christ” from all characters - and there’s no moral foundation ever shown. The teen characters are grating and don’t talk like teenagers. Most of the adults have unclear motives, not because its building suspense or intrigue, but because they’re poorly crafted. The actor who plays the father looks zoned out and delivers most of his lines as though he can’t wait to get off the stage. There is nothing funny or very entertaining here. “Grimm” did a MUCH better job with this type of secret human-looking creatures - watch it instead.

This title has:

Too much swearing
BlackParent
BlackParent Adult
May 14, 2020
age 18+

Just a really bad show

This is just a really bad show. The concept is okay, but it is poorly executed. They seem to add swearing, casual gay sex, etc to try to be edgy but it just comes of as desperate. Tamara Taylor's acting in the show is the best thing about the show, but it isn't enough to save it.

This title has:

Too much sex
Too much swearing
See all 4 parent reviews

What's the Story?

OCTOBER FACTION tells the story of the Allen family -- globe-trotting monster hunters Fred (J.C. MacKenzie) and Deloris (Tamara Taylor), and their twin teens, Geoff (Gabriel Darku) and Viv (Aurora Burghart), who are totally unaware of what their parents do and believe them to be insurance representatives. The series opens with the family returning to Deloris and Fred's hometown after the death of Fred's father, Samuel (Stephen McHattie), who also was a hunter for Presidio, the clandestine corporation that employs the main characters. As Fred wrestles with personal demons from his past, outside trouble follows the hunters there and long-held secrets are revealed, yielding consequences for the family as a whole. As the fallout builds, the Allen family legacy as monster hunters hangs in the balance.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (4 ):
Kids say (2 ):

This high-drama series has all the ingredients for a gripping TV addiction for mature sci-fi fans, but it falls short of the mark on several counts. The cumulative acting is surprisingly clunky for a cast of individual talents such as they are, but that presents as more of an issue of imprecise writing than anything else. And speaking of writing, while the overall edginess of the violent, gritty content certainly warrants some salty language in parts, October Faction interjects excessive and unnecessary amounts of cursing that don't feel at all organic in some cases, ultimately compromising the intensity of some of the scenes.

That's not to say that this well-produced series won't garner a following. There's enough intrigue and tantalizing drama bridging the episodes to ensure that viewers who power through the show's misfires will want to come back for answers on a slow reveal. What's more, the Allens are a likable kind of character in how they ride the fence between heroes and renegade justice seekers. And just how and where Geoff and Viv fit into the picture remains to be seen as the October Faction story plays out for those who are willing to weather the show's considerable rough patches.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how October Faction presents the idea of good and evil. Which characters fall into each category? Would you consider some to be both good and evil? Can good intentions help forgive actions like killing or torture? On the flip side, can evil intentions (monsters hunting humans, for instance) be understood as survival instincts, given what you see of the characters in this series?

  • How does this show define "family?" Does it have to do with blood? Shared experience? Simple affection? Where do biological family ties suffer in the story? How has our definition of family changed over the past several decades?

  • Is it possible to admire character strengths like integrity and self-control in villainous and otherwise unsavory characters? How do characters like Alice challenge our impressions of these kinds of positive traits when they present in such negative ways?

  • Is the violence in this series excessive, or does it serve the show well? How does a show's target audience determine what kind of content is acceptable?

TV Details

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