Parents' Guide to

Perception

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Drama series mixes bloody crimes and mental illness.

TV TNT Drama 2012
Perception Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

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age 13+

Based on 2 parent reviews

Phil91
Phil91 Parent
April 11, 2014
age 15+
I absolutely LOVE this show! While it is not particularly violent, i do think that older viewers will understand more of the show. For me the one of the best parts of the show is all the amazing information you get about the brain and the psychiatric disorders which i think many young children will not understand. So while it is not inappropriate for younger viewers, I would wait to show children this show until they are a bit older so that they may fully understand and learn from this show.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
hershey1234
hershey1234 Parent of 11-year-old
March 5, 2014
age 11+

Amazing

Me and my 11 year old daughter have been watching this and we love it. It's really, I suppose you could say smart. It's not as gory as some of the other detective shows. Not saying you should let your 5 year old watch it, mature tweens.
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

PERCEPTION is a dramatic series starring Eric McCormack as Dr. Daniel Pierce, a forensic neuroscientist who assists the FBI with solving crimes in between teaching at a Chicago university. When former student and colleague, Special Agent Kate Moretti (Rachael Leigh Cook) hires him as a consultant, the eccentric Pierce uses his expertise in human behavior to help crack some of Chicago's most complex cases. But throughout the process he finds himself relying more and more on his schizophrenia-induced hallucinations for guidance. Sometimes his best friend Natalie Vincent (Kelly Rowan) helps him think his cases through, while others, like his teaching assistant Max Lewicki (Arjay Smith) and Dean Paul Haley (played by LeVar Burton) help him see the difference between reality, and what only he perceives as real.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (2):
Kids say: Not yet rated

The dramatic series offers an interesting interpretation of what goes on in the mind of someone who relies on schizophrenic hallucinations to make sense of things that the conscious mind cannot decipher. It also offers some limited insight into how the mind works, and how we understand human behavior.

It's not as edgy as some crime solving shows, and its focus on the challenges that come with living with a mental illness creates some sensitive moments. But the series also features plenty of sympathetic and lighthearted moments, too, thanks to Pierce's eccentric, but approachable, character. The interactions with his hallucinatory guides also make for some interesting moments. All in all, if you're looking for an entertaining crime drama, this one certainly fits the bill.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the way mental illness is depicted on television. Do you think this series offers an accurate portrayal of someone who is schizophrenic and not on medication?

  • What kinds of stereotypes exist about mental illness and the mentally ill? How does the media perpetuate these generalizations?

TV Details

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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 suggesting a diversity update.

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