Parents' Guide to

Ravenswood

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Compelling Pretty Little Liars spin-off is darker.

TV Freeform Drama 2013
Ravenswood 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 3 parent reviews

Phil16
Phil16 Adult
October 19, 2014
age 14+

A little creepy but better than Pretty Little Liars

Not a bad show, think it had some potential. A little bit creepy but much better than pretty little liars for young children, although unfortunately it is more enjoyable if you understand a bit of the history of the main character which would require watching petty little liars.

This title has:

Too much violence
jcq
jcq Adult
January 29, 2014
age 13+

Pretty demonic, honestly...

As an adult, I love the show. However, it has a lot of occult and esoteric subject matter, i.e., curses, deals with the devil (I wish I was joking), communication with the dead, murder, ghosts, lucid dreaming, etc. I wouldn't want to let my child see that unless she (or he) was already a Pretty Little Liars fan. I don't watch any scary movies at all, but Ravenswood totally scares me. The show isn't as good as Pretty Little Liars as far as plot and complexity. It takes risks, for example, one of the main characters dies in the very first episode. For the remainder of the series, she is a ghost. The characters aren't necessarily role models. Rather, the show is about how a few very unlucky kids are dealing with their problems...likely no problems your child will ever experience, though. I think its brilliant that shows are taking this turn. Instead of teaching children how they "should be," they are teaching children that everyone has problems, and that's okay, and you simply need to solve your problems with as much integrity and perseverance as you can...do that, and you'll find success. To me, that is the ideal role model for a child.
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What's the Story?

Caleb Rivers (Tyler Blackburn) and Miranda Collins (Nicole Gale Anderson) are newly acquainted when they arrive in Ravenswood, each hoping the town holds answers to questions about their respective families. Instead they find further mysteries around every bend, starting with cemetery markers that bear their names and likenesses, and a thorough rebuffing from Raymond Collins (Steven Cabral), Miranda's uncle and only living relative. When their paths cross with three local teens –- siblings Luke (Brett Dier) and Olivia (Merritt Patterson), who are coping with their mother's suspected murder of their father; and Remy Beaumont (Britne Oldford), whose mother's return from active duty holds some mystery of its own –- all five find themselves connected to a decades-old curse that's interwoven in the town's history.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (3):
Kids say (4):

Eerie, sinister RAVENSWOOD is a proper extension of the teen thriller Pretty Little Liars, and creators definitely knew what they were doing when they tapped Caleb's character to be the linchpin...not to mention its comely poster boy. His serpentine demeanor suits the goth-style series perfectly, and his sardonic charm never fails to lighten even the heaviest mood. Despite being a newcomer to Ravenswood, he immediately makes friends (plus a few enemies), which sets off a chain of events that throw him and Miranda into a brand-new mystery teens will love. Also, for those who might worry that this spells the end of Caleb's ties to neighboring Rosewood and the Liars, crossover content and characters imply this won't be the case.

As to whether Ravenswood is suitable for your teens, it's all about knowing their sensitivities, since this show is noticeably darker than Liars in both its setting and its tone. Then there's the added element of a fatal curse and a visible, haunting ghost who often startles the audience and spells doom for the characters at every turn. Most teens today likely can handle these kinds of scares, but if your younger ones are on the fence, give it some careful consideration before letting them watch.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how this show portrays adults. Are they at all helpful to the teens when they turn to them for answers or help? Does the fact that the teens are forced to face the mystery themselves make the show more exciting? How does this attitude compare to your experiences with adults?

  • Teens: Have you seen Pretty Little Liars? If so, why do you think Caleb's character was chosen to star in a new series? Do you think the show stands a better chance of success because of its ties to another already popular one? If you haven't seen Liars, are you inclined to want to watch it because of Ravenswood?

  • A common theme in this series (and in its predecessor) concerns the dangers of keeping secrets. Is honesty always the best policy, regardless of the issue? What, if anything, should we keep to ourselves? How can some secrets escalate beyond their original threat?

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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