Common Sense Media Review
By Kari Croop
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Cop drama's leading lady is sexy, strong, and morally shady.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Shades of Blue
What's the Story?
In SHADES OF BLUE, Brooklyn detective Harlee Santos (Jennifer Lopez) seems to have a good thing going, pocketing the bribe money she shares with a tight-knit pool of dirty cops (led by Ray Liotta) and using it to pay for her teenage daughter's expensive private schooling. But this single mom's corrupt web of loyalties catches fire when the FBI makes her an informant with no choice but to work against her friends.
Is It Any Good?
Though it sets its sights above standard police fare by focusing on cops and their moral complexities, Shades of Blue shoots itself in the foot every time it tries to push its female star's sex appeal. At times, it's almost comical, such as when a sweaty Lopez finishes up with her boxing instructor by straddling him and stripping off her shirt to make out with him ... while they're still in the ring. At other times, it's just plain annoying, like when she coyly points out to a male colleague that a flower can be "bisexual" (insert eye roll).
Thankfully, Lopez's hotness isn't an important part of the plot, and she delivers a strong performance that rises above the so-so script (and her low-cut tops). The series also sets up a compelling conflict between Lopez's character and her corrupt mentor, Liotta, a seemingly decent man who groomed her to rationalize their side business but shows a different side when he smells a rat that he vows to trap and kill.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Shades of Blue's title ties into its major themes. Are the cops in Harlee's circle wholly good, wholly bad, or somewhere in between? Is there any real justification for breaking the law when it's your job to uphold it? Is an officer who takes bribes any better than a common criminal?
How does Harlee measure up as a role model? Does the fact that she's taking payoffs to make her daughter's life better make her a more sympathetic character than someone who's simply pocketing the cash? How do her motivations compare to those of the other cops she works with?
How does Shades of Blue use sex to sell itself and its female lead -- and is it even necessary? Would the series look the same if Harlee were, say, a single dad named Harlan?
TV Details
- Premiere date : January 7, 2016
- Cast : Jennifer Lopez , Ray Liotta , Warren Kole
- Network : NBC
- Genre : Drama
- TV rating :
- Last updated : October 17, 2022
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