Parents' Guide to

On Children

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Black Mirror-esque show has universal themes, violence.

TV Netflix Drama 2018
On Children Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

  • On Children Series: Confronting mother about her actions.
  • On Children Series: Leaving for school.
  • On Children Series: Mourning the death of a teenager.

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What's the Story?

ON CHILDREN is a Taiwanese miniseries about young people coping with the sad, strange, or just plain weird consequences of living in a dysfunctional society. Each of the five installments, which include English subtitles, tells an individual story that revolves around children, and highlights some of the personal and societal pressures they deal with. From a mother using technology to access her deceased daughter's memories to understand why she died, to a family whose course in life becomes connected to a private school peacock mascot, each story offers strong statements about parenting, education, peer pressure, and other things that kids might face every day.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

This creative and purposely thought-provoking series takes on a Black Mirror-esque quality as it tells stories that range from quirky to frustrating and sad. While the cultural foundations of these narratives are embedded in Taiwanese culture, many of the themes they address are universal, making the overall anthology relevant to this side of the world.

On Children has a lot to offer, but some of the tales are decidedly better than others, and the storytelling style in each the approximately two-hour episodes sometimes feels too drawn out. Some viewers may not like the way adults, particularly parents, are portrayed here, despite the larger social context. Nonetheless, it's an entertaining series for those who are willing to commit to it.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about some of the themes addressed in On Children. What kinds of statements are being made about overparenting? Conforming? Peer pressure?

  • What themes or actions featured On Children contain are specific to Taiwan? How do the show's producers ensure that Western audiences still understand what's happening?

TV Details

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