Shining Girls
Kids say
Based on 1 review
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Shining Girls
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Shining Girls is a mature crime thriller about a serial killer and his female victims, including a survivor suffering from severe PTSD. The killer stabs and cuts his victims before placing objects inside their bodies. Blood and gore is generally kept to a minimum, but there are ample references, conversations, and photographs that explore and detail the graphic, disturbing subject matter. The killer removes a bee's wings in front of a child.The protagonist, while physically and emotionally scarred, is strong, brave, and courageous. Language includes "f--k," "s-t," pr--k," and "whore." Social drinking and smoking is depicted, and one of the main characters is an alcoholic. A "Class A possession" is referenced.
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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: TV-MA
- Last updated: February 17, 2023
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