Parents' Guide to

Saving Hope

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Lackluster (but bloody) medical drama does have heart.

TV NBC Drama 2012
Saving Hope 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 15+

Based on 1 parent review

Aqwalker
Aqwalker Adult
June 23, 2016
age 15+

Good but could make some changes to make it more realistic to we dress and do in the OR.

See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

SAVING HOPE is a medical drama set at the fictitious Hope-Zion Hospital in Toronto. The story centers on Alex Reid (Erica Durance), a general surgeon whose picture-perfect life shatters when her fiancé, Chief of Surgery Charlie Harris (Michael Shanks), slips into a coma after a car accident on the way to their wedding. Unbeknownst to Alex, Charlie's spirit still roams the halls of the hospital, watching over her and making contact with other patients teetering between life and death. As Alex presses on without Charlie by her side, it will take all her strength to keep hope alive, for his sake and for hers.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1):
Kids say (2):

This Canadian series plays out like a less sensational, more serene Grey's Anatomy, from its myriad of bizarre medical cases and injuries to spirit-form Charlie's voice-overs that lead in and out of each episode. But the similarities end there, and checking into Saving Hope after following an established American medical drama leaves a lot to be desired on the part of the underzealous, overacted Canadian series. At times it's hard to tell which is less compelling -- the relationships among the hospital staff or the brief glimpses of patients' life-and-death battles, which culminate quickly, if not always satisfactorily, to allow more time for the melodrama surrounding Alex's anguish over Charlie's state.

The series gives a subtle nod to various representations of faith, from the basic concept of an afterlife to the power of prayer and the role of religious beliefs in medical decisions. The story also dabbles in other discussion-worthy issues, like PTSD in veterans and the emotional fallout of divorce. The adult nature of these and other content reserves this show for mature teens and up.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the ethical issues that Saving Hope raises. How do doctors make life-saving decisions when their views conflict with those of the patients or their coworkers?

  • What messages does Saving Hope send about relationships in the workplace? Are they appropriate? What might be the fallout from a relationship gone bad when the parties work together? How might it affect patients?

  • Do you believe in spirits and an afterlife? Does believing in an afterlife make it easier to cope with loss?

TV Details

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