Parents' Guide to

Snapped

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Exploitative docudrama looks at female killers.

TV Oxygen Reality TV 2004
Snapped Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

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age 16+

Based on 2 parent reviews

gizmo111
gizmo111 Adult
April 22, 2020
age 18+

The horrible voice

I refuse to watch this show when I hear the original narrator Sharon martins voice. It is so obnoxious and annoying. I mean literally as soon as I hear her say “ born “ ya di ata I turn it regardless of how bad I would like to see it.
Shelleytrabucco
Shelleytrabucco Adult
January 6, 2019
age 14+

Ugh the narrator’s voice

Love the show and love the person behind the voice. But please please change narrator. It literally sounds like a old school speak n spell toy. I want to claw my ears !
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

SNAPPED is a controversial crime reality/documentary series that profiles seemingly ordinary women who have committed murder. Narrated by veteran reporter Sharon Martin, the series offers rather sensational accounts of the women's lives and the violent crimes they're accused of committing. It incorporates graphic crime scene photos, audio and video footage, staged still shots of the moments before the crime, and interviews with friends, family members, and people in the criminal justice system. Some of the profiled women kill out of jealousy, spite, greed, or misplaced loyalty. Many are battered women who have killed their abuser.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2):
Kids say (5):

Since the show's focus is more on the shocking nature of the crimes than on the reasons why they were committed, Snapped minimizes the level to which the physical abuse endured by some of these women contributed to their homicidal behavior. This strategy tells a good story, but by adding a dramatic flair to already-tragic events, the show blurs the line between being informative and being exploitative. Partly because episodes are only 30 minutes long and partly because of the series' storytelling style, Snapped offers a very superficial, oversimplified discussion of complicated issues surrounding women, violence, and the legal system. The series is more about entertaining people at its subjects' expense than informing the public about women and violent crime. /p>

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about violence as it relates to women and the law. Is being a victim of abuse a moral or legal reason to inflict violence on others? What if it's self-defense? Families can also discuss the importance of reporting abuse or addiction. What organizations are available in your community to assist people who need help? Why do you think there are so many crime-related shows on television (both reality programs and dramas)? Why are viewers fascinated by such dark topics?

TV Details

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