Parents' Guide to

Side Effects

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Edgy musical series sends odd message about medication.

TV Online Drama 2013
Side Effects Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

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age 15+

Based on 1 parent review

Sierra A.
Sierra A. Adult
February 21, 2017
age 15+

The good points

This show is good to give kids the idea that there is hope when real life hard ships happen, it can create a stronger bond in lifting each other up in love know your all going threw the same thing even if your not going threw a similar sicrumstance you would still be going threw a hardship. And the music and songs bring a tie to there bond .

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Great messages
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

The online series SIDE EFFECTS features a group of siblings trying to cope with whatever life throws at them. After the death of their mother and being abandoned by their father, Whitney (Meg DeLacy) is prescribed medication meant to help her endure the loss of her parents, her home life, and the constant bullying she faces at school. As she watches her siblings Lexi (Lulu Antariksa), Sam (Cade Canon Ball), and Jason (Finn Roberts) fall apart alongside her despite the best efforts of eldest brother and former medical student Keith (Chester See), her life becomes a musical fantasy thanks to hallucinations caused by the medication's side effects. Life isn't easy, but Whitney is trying to get through it one song at a time.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1):
Kids say: Not yet rated

The teen-oriented series, which runs on YouTube and led to a television movie, offers a quirky, edgy story that combines the sibling angst of the 1990's hit Party of Five with Glee-like musical numbers. Rounding out the family-focused story are plot lines driven by the presence of friends such as Zac (Keli Price) and Whitney's loyal friend Susan (Lia Marie Johnson).

The show's premise, which attributes the musical numbers to medicine-induced hallucinations, is socially irresponsible -- especially when you consider the audience. But it's fun and colorful, and the adaptation of popular songs throughout the series makes it too easy to look past this. No doubt teen-musical fans will enjoy watching.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the differences between TV series and Web series. What are some of the benefits of producing an online series vs. a regular TV series? What about the risks? What kind of content can be shown on a Web series that can't be shown on TV?

  • YouTube has a lot of content for all ages. How can kids be protected from things that are available online but that they shouldn't really be watching? What are some of the good things that come from using YouTube and other social media?

TV Details

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