Common Sense Media Review
By Kari Croop
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Cautionary tales scare kids straight with dire consequences.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
One Bad Choice
What's the Story?
Via real-life interviews and dramatic reenactments, ONE BAD CHOICE spotlights the stories of young people whose poor decisions -- from drunk-driving to burglary to murder -- lead to unimaginable consequences.
Is It Any Good?
"Dramatic reenactments" are rarely as dramatic as they claim to be, particularly in the realm of television that's aimed at younger viewers. The actors can be amateurish, the dialogue can be cheesy, and the tone can be downright stagy. But as it turns out, One Bad Choice isn't actually all that bad, and the acting, at least, is respectable -- at times even effectively chilling.
The episodes feel longer than they need to be, but the message rings loud and clear: Some choices are a matter of life and death. Of course, whether One Bad Choice will do what it sets out to do -- that is, discourage impressionable teens from making iffy choices by showing the real-life repercussions of poor decision-making -- is a much murkier question.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about One Bad Choice's use of dramatic reenactments. How do actors help set the tone and put the storyteller's words into context? Would the show be more or less effective without them?
Are real-life stories such as those reenacted on One Bad Choice a real deterrent to teens and 20somethings who might be struggling to make the right choices? To what degree are young people actually influenced by what they see on television?
Who is One Bad Choice's target audience? How can you tell?
TV Details
- Premiere date : February 25, 2015
- Network : MTV
- Genre : Reality TV
- Topics : Friendship , School ( High School )
- TV rating :
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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