Serious
By Emily Ashby,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Teens roll up their sleeves for conservation.
Add rating
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.
Where to Watch
Community Reviews
There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
What's the Story?
SERIOUS chronicles the journeys of British teens into endangered environments around the world, where they roll up their sleeves and delve into the inspirational -- but often dirty -- task of conservation. The teams of adventurers include girls and boys ages 13 to 15 who are interested in the outdoors and saving natural resources. Team leaders and outdoor adventurers Ben Major and Polly Murray select the teens based on their personalities, passion for conservation, and ability to withstand the challenges they'll encounter on site, including extreme weather, manual labor, and (depending on where they're headed) face-to-face encounters with creepy-crawly dwellers. During their three-week trek into the wild (locales have included the desert, the jungle, and the Arctic), team members focus on helping endangered species indigenous to the area that the team is visiting. The groups also spend time learning about the native people and cultures in the locales they visit.
Is It Any Good?
Not unexpectedly among teens -- especially those under such extreme conditions -- arguments and power struggles occasionally pop up between members, but the team members' ability to resolve differences and form a cohesive unit to carry out their work is commendable and provides a good example for viewers.
Kids will enjoy the personality, humor, and excitement the relatable cast members bring to the show, and they may very well be inspired to pitch in for the conservation cause after seeing the difference eight kids can make. Serious is a great choice for parents to enjoy with adventure-seeking kids.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about traveling to new places. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be and why? What would you want to see and do there? Parents can also use this show to encourage conservation awareness in their kids. Why is it important to conserve our natural resources? What can we do at home to help? How do your kids think they'd do in a situation similar to the one on the show?
TV Details
- Premiere date: January 19, 2003
- Cast: Ben Major , Polly Murray
- Network: Discovery Family Channel
- Genre: Reality TV
- Topics: Adventures , Science and Nature
- TV rating: TV-Y7
- Last updated: September 19, 2019
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.
Suggest an Update
Where to Watch
Our Editors Recommend
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate