Common Sense Media Review
By Matt Cabral
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Mind-bending serial killer mystery has violence, language.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Shining Girls
What's the Story?
Based on the 2013 novel The Shining Girls, Apple TV+'s SHINING GIRLS takes place in early '90s Chicago and stars Elisabeth Moss as Kirby, a Sun-Times' archivist who barely survives a serial killer's assault. Suffering from PTSD and experiencing different realities, she's determined to find her attacker (Jamie Bell) and prevent him from claiming more victims. Kirby teams with troubled reporter Dan Velasquez (Wagner Moura) to find the killer and uncover the secret behind the time-shifting mystery that's allowed him to avoid capture.
Is It Any Good?
Like any good crime thriller worth its salt, this latest effort starts with a fresh corpse and the hunt for a serial killer. But Shining Girls quickly separates itself from the pack, injecting some multiverse-inspired twists into its storytelling. The sci-fi trappings do stumble a bit, but overall make for a murder mystery that nicely subverts the usual genre tropes.
As Kirby, a character navigating shifting realities, PTSD, and the prospect of pursuing and facing the person who previously tried to kill her, Elisabeth Moss delivers a stellar performance. Jamie Bell, as the occasionally charismatic, but mostly just creepy Harper -- a killer with the seeming ability to travel through time -- is equally captivating. Additionally, the series' dreary, early '90s setting, complete with landlines, chunky computers, and a welcome lack of smartphones and social media, is as compelling to watch as the excellent cast. The narrative can get a bit muddled, too often mixing Kirby's altered realities with the time-hopping twists and turns without enough context or explanation. Still, if you're craving a gripping crime yarn that's more Dark than Dexter, Shining Girls is well worth the cerebral gymnastics.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the series' early '90s setting. How did the world seem different back then? How was it similar to the world we live in today? How has technology evolved over the years?
What mechanisms and tools does the protagonist use to cope with her trauma? Do these help her at all? How could she better help herself?
How does the series play with time? Does its shifting timelines make it more interesting or confusing? Does this sci-fi element make for better storytelling?
TV Details
- Premiere date : April 29, 2022
- Cast : Elisabeth Moss , Jamie Bell , Wagner Moura , Phillipa Soo
- Network : Apple TV
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Book Characters
- Character Strengths : Courage , Perseverance , Teamwork
- TV rating :
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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
Suggest an Update
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