Parents' Guide to

Scandal

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Political thriller mixes sex with violence and murky ethics.

TV ABC Drama 2012
Scandal 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 11 parent reviews

injahwetrust
injahwetrust Adult
July 31, 2022
age 17+
CSMContentDefault
CSMContentDefault Adult
May 4, 2020
age 2+

Good show

See all 11 parent reviews

What's the Story?

SCANDAL is a dramatic series starring Kerry Washington as former White House communications director Olivia Pope, who's now running a successful Washington, D.C., crisis-management firm designed to help high-profile clients protect their public image while keeping their scandalous secrets under wraps. Along with an eclectic team of experts -- including womanizing defense attorney Stephen Finch (Henry Ian Cusick), lawyer Harrison Wright (Columbus Short), computer hacker Huck (Guillermo Diaz), investigator Abby Whelan (Darby Stanchfield), and new hire Quinn Perkins (Katie Lowes) -- the fast-thinking and quick-talking Pope works day and night to help her clients, including a decorated Iraq War veteran accused of murder and a Supreme Court nominee who has allegedly dealth with prostitutes. But while the team commits itself to fixing other people's problems, Pope's relationship with her former boss, U.S. President Fitzgerald Grant (Tony Goldwyn), causes problems of its own, especially when his chief of staff, Cyrus Beene (Jeff Perry), is monitoring her every move.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (11):
Kids say (21):

Although Scandal is a work of fiction, it's hard to ignore the thinly veiled parallels between the show's plot lines and some of the real-life scandals that have rocked the United States' political elite throughout the country's history. Because Scandal focuses on attempts to hide these incidents rather than judging or absolving people for them, the events' ethical implications are often overlooked.

Scandal is well written, but some viewers may find the content exploitative of some of the worst stereotypes about politicians and other leaders. Those looking for a character with a strong moral compass won't find it here, either. But others may simply enjoy the show as a guilty pleasure. Regardless, it's a series best left for mature audiences.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about politicians being role models. Should political leaders be held to a higher standard of behavior because of their role in society? Does featuring their negative behavior as fictional TV entertainment reinforce real-life stereotypes about politicians?

  • The media often associates sex with scandal, especially when it has to do with politicians, celebrities, and other public figures. Is it necessary for the public to know these details about them, regardless of whether they're true? How do we benefit from having this information? What's the down side? Does the media go too far when reporting these incidents?

  • Is the main character a role model? What are her admirable qualities? What are her not-so-great traits?

TV Details

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 suggesting a diversity update.

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