Common Sense Media Review
By Sierra Filucci
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Smart, quirky detective procedural -- with ghosts.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
RAINES stars Jeff Goldblum as the titular Los Angeles homicide detective with some unique investigation methods that include discussing the case with the apparition of the murder victim. Though he sometimes believes he's on the verge of losing his sanity, the process of working through his theories with the victim's ghost proves enormously helpful in solving the crime. In one episode, for example, after a young woman is murdered, the clues initially point to a boyfriend or abusive father. But as Raines puts the case together, his image of the woman changes -- literally. When he finds out she was involved in a shady enterprise, her ghost appears with a cigarette and cocktail in hand; her clothes shift from innocent cotton dresses to risqué costumes and back again as clues to her personality and lifestyle emerge. The ghost never offers information that Raines doesn't already have -- instead, she serves as devil's advocate, pushing the detective to test his assumptions and interrogate his evidence.
Is It Any Good?
Though the series' premise has the potential for Ghost Whisperer-type cheesiness, it's classed up by Goldblum's quirky persona and tight writing. Fans of crime procedurals will find familiar elements dressed up in fun new duds. Smaller roles are punched up by clever casting, like Raines' assistant, Carolyn, who's played by MADtv's Nicole Sullivan.
As with most crime-oriented shows, shots of dead bodies and details of criminal exploits are part of every episode. But in Raines, the emphasis in on the investigation rather than the crime, so tense stakeouts and looming peril are mostly absent. Teens familiar with Law & Order will see nothing more shocking than what they'd find there.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about ghosts. Do you think people can communicate with the dead? Who would you talk to if you could -- someone in your family or a historical figure? What would you say? What's the appeal of ghost stories, both traditional ones and modern twists like this, Medium, and The Sixth Sense? How is this show similar to or different from other crime dramas?
TV Details
- Premiere date : March 15, 2007
- Cast : Jeff Goldblum , Matt Craven , Nicole Sullivan
- Network : NBC
- Genre : Drama
- TV rating :
- Last updated : September 20, 2019
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