Common Sense Media Review
By Marty Brown
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Star-studded mystery resorts to exploitive, violent clichés.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
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Where to Watch
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Scarpetta
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
SCARPETTA refers to Dr. Kay Scarpetta (Nicole Kidman), the once and future chief medical examiner whose career has been defined by a serial killer case that has just resurfaced. But it also refers to the Scarpetta family—specifically to Kay and her sister, Dorothy (Jamie Lee Curtis), who find themselves co-parenting Dorothy's adult daughter. The serial killer case takes over Kay's career, but it also threatens to shatter her personal life.
Is It Any Good?
All the ingredients of a blockbuster are here: a stacked cast, a well-known director, and a big-name producer in Jamie Lee Curtis. Unfortunately, for all its star power, Scarpetta fails on the most basic level: It's just not any fun. The central mystery is about mutilated women, one of the hoariest and offensive clichés in television, and the series seems to focus on it only when it wants to show naked dead bodies. Otherwise, the series spends its time with Scarpetta's dysfunctional family, with Jamie Lee Curtis attempting to do a one-dimensional version of her renowned guest role on The Bear. Despite the dearth of actual police legwork involved, Scarpetta is absolutely exhausting.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the mystery. How does Scarpetta compare to other serial killer stories? What makes the doctor a unique detective protagonist? Where do you think the story is headed?
How does the series depict the violence committed by the serial killer toward his victims? How do you think the series wants viewers to feel about the crimes?
What are the family dynamics at work in the Scarpetta household? How does this affect how the doctor performs her job? How does the family's story intertwine with the murder investigation?
TV Details
- Premiere date : March 11, 2026
- Cast : Nicole Kidman , Jamie Lee Curtis , Simon Baker
- Network : Prime Video
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Book Characters , Family Stories ( Moms , Siblings )
- TV rating :
- Last updated : March 26, 2026
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