Parents' Guide to

Past Life

By Will Wade, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Sometimes-iffy crime show reincarnates familiar formula.

TV Fox Drama 2010
Past Life Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

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age 13+

Based on 1 parent review

Zardogz
Zardogz Adult
June 3, 2010
age 13+
I like the show's premise. The directing, cinematography and acting are well done, while the stories have been interesting and engaging. A possible limitation might be found in the fact that (so far) the subject character's 'Past Life' is always that of a person who had died shortly before the character was borne. A story where the past life incarnation was from several hundred years in the past might give the team a wider venue.

This title has:

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What's the Story?

After a personal tragedy forces him to leave the force, NYPD detective Price Whatley (Nicholas Bishop) takes a job helping Dr. Kate McGinn (Kelli Giddish) investigate mysterious deaths. The catch? McGinn is an expert in reincarnation, and their only clues come from her clients -- ordinary people who are beset with strange visions that seem to come from a PAST LIFE and often include details about how someone died. Whatley's skepticism is tested by situations that seem to have paranormal explanations.

Is It Any Good?

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

Past Life plays much like other police procedurals. There's a case, usually involving death, and just a few tiny clues. Whatley and McGinn are forced to trust their instincts, even when others think they're following outlandish hunches. Whatley, always a pragmatic cop, is reluctant to believe in McGinn's theories about reincarnation, but he's slowly won over after clients continue to uncover long-hidden crimes using knowledge that could only come from the victim.

But without the twist that the tiny scraps of information may come from beyond the grave, this show doesn't really stand out from the procedural pack. Watching Past Life could give viewers the sense that sometime, somewhere, they've already seen this show.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how the violence in this show compares to other crime procedurals. What is shown and what is just implied?

  • What do you think about reincarnation? Do you believe people are reborn after death? What do you think happens to the spirit after death? Do the past-life memories presented on this show seem realistic?

  • Does detective Price Whatley believe in reincarnation? How do his investigations affect his views? How does his pragmatic mind reconcile his doubts with his experiences? Have you ever had an experience that seemed to have an otherworldly explanation?

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