Parents' Guide to

Retribution

By Mark Dolan, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Dark Scottish mystery miniseries rewards patient viewers.

TV Netflix Drama 2018
Retribution Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

  • Retribution (One of Us) Series: Scene #1
  • Retribution (One of Us) Series: Scene #2
  • Retribution (One of Us) Series: Scene #3

Community Reviews

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age 16+

Based on 1 parent review

Leaper
Leaper Adult
September 10, 2018
age 16+

Twists upon twists !

Great show about how a family handles a crisis and how different people react to a stressful situation. Delves into how even normal, everyday people are willing to 'cross' a moral line. Mild swearing, one graphic sex scene with moaning, grunting and thrusting but both partners are covered with a sheet. Not sure why it was in there as it didn't add to the story line. But all in all a good program.
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

In RETRIBUTION, after married childhood sweethearts Adam and Grace are murdered in their Edinburgh apartment, their two families back in rural Scotland must cope with the tragedy. When a strange coincidence puts them in contact with the suspected killer, grief, vengeance, and the fragile bonds between family members begin to tear the mourners apart. As police get closer to solving the murder mystery, more secrets get revealed and numerous relationships come into question.

Is It Any Good?

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

A somber suspense drama, this series' mystery unravels slowly but intensely. As more characters get introduced and more secrets get revealed in Retribution, new motivations become clear and the story grows to an unexpected breadth. Credit the directors for keeping the ever-expanding web of mysteries clear and easy to follow, and credit consistently strong acting from the large ensemble cast for keeping the story grounded in believable emotions. Teens with patience enough to stick with an unfolding mystery that takes its time paying off certain plot threads will discover a nuanced study of loyalty and trust wrapped inside a surprising whodunit.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about loyalty. Loyalty comes up often in Retribution: between brothers and sisters, husbands and wives, parents and children, and even workers and employers. Do certain relationships deserve more loyalty? Can you point to instances in the show where it was OK for someone to be disloyal?

  • Marriage plays a large part in the lives of characters. How do you think the creators of the show view the institution of marriage?

  • Do you think the resolution to the mystery is satisfying? What makes a good mystery for you? Is it the buildup, the characters, the conclusion, or something else?

TV Details

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