Common Sense Media Review
By Kari Croop
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Nostalgic take on air travel plays like schmaltzy melodrama.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Pan Am
What's the Story?
Set in the early 1960s, PAN AM chronicles the glamorous lives of stewardesses and pilots of "the jet age," a time when air travel was luxurious and exclusive. The Pan Am crew includes Maggie (Christina Ricci), a rule-skirting beatnik who loves seeing the world; Laura (Margot Robbie), a blonde beauty who's running away from others' expectations; and Laura's older sister, Kate (Kelli Garner), who pulls double duty as an international agent for the CIA.
Is It Any Good?
For a while, Mad Men was the only TV show capitalizing on the look and feel of the 1960s, and it did so with sleek sophistication and a devilish wink. But in light of its success (and multiple Emmy Awards), other lookalikes began to emerge, including The Playboy Club and Pan Am. The only thing the three series really have in common, however, is their time period. Because the truth is, each show's attitude and approach is entirely different.
With a sweeping soundtrack and dreamy shots of sun-streaked skies, Pan Am takes the clear position that the 1960s was a golden era -- a time when air travel was still stylish and glamorous, before passengers were cranky and cramped. It was also a time when women were still expected to look and act a certain way, and these characters are all too happy to conform -- in a near-Stepford Wives fashion -- in exchange for the freedom of seeing the world. But instead of acknowledging and exploring that intriguing slice of women's social history, the series simply glosses over it with broad, sappy strokes.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about sexism and the way that women are portrayed on the show. What role does gender play in these characters' lives? Who generally seems to be in charge, and who's generally taking care of others -- or taking orders? How have society's views about women's roles changed since the 1960s?
Would you consider the show's female characters to be "empowered," in spite of the era's blatant sexism? How were these women more independent than other women of the same period? How are they less independent than working women today?
In terms of consumerism, how does this show help promote a brand that no longer flies? Does Pan Am stand to gain -- or lose -- from the show's success?
TV Details
- Premiere date : September 25, 2011
- Cast : Christina Ricci , Kelli Garner , Mike Vogel
- Network : ABC
- Genre : Drama
- TV rating :
- Last updated : February 11, 2026
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
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate