Sneaky Pete
By Melissa Camacho,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Ex-con assumes new identity in dark comedy.
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Sneaky Pete
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Based on 5 parent reviews
Great first season, then Amazon ruined it
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Good, but bloody and scandalous
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What's the Story?
Co-executive-produced by Bryan Cranston and Seth Gordon, SNEAKY PETE is a dramatic comedy series about a con man who assumes another's identity in hopes of escaping a vicious gangster. When Marius Josipovic (Giovanni Ribisi) is scheduled for release from a three-year stint in prison, his younger brother Eddie (Michael Drayer) tells him to go into hiding to avoid Vince (Cranston), to whom he still owes money. To stay out of sight, he takes on his cell mate's (Ethan Embry) identity and becomes "Pete," the beloved grandson of Otto and Audrey Bernhardt (played Peter Gerety and Margot Martingale). After returning to his "grandparents'" farm, he begins to reconnect with his "family," including cousins Julia (Marin Ireland) and Taylor (Shane McRae), who just happen to work in law enforcement and have secrets of their own.
Is It Any Good?
This dark and humorous series offers some fun moments as the narrative takes some wild twists and turns. Despite Marius' (aka Pete's) actions, he's a sympathetic figure, and the rest of the cast is imperfect, colorful, and likable. However, some of the characters are more developed than others, which makes the show feel a little uneven at times.
Sneaky Pete lacks some of the edginess one often expects from a streaming-only series. But there's plenty of bad behavior here to make you feel a little guilty for rooting for Marius' (aka Pete's) success with his new family and enough humor to help you feel better about it. If you're looking for something entertaining to watch, this show is worth tuning into.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Marius' relationship with the Bernhardts in Sneaky Pete. Who risks losing the most? Does the fact that Marius gets along with and helps support Pete's family justify his lying to them?
How does Sneaky Pete use humor to deflect some of the negative things that happen in the show?
TV Details
- Premiere date: January 13, 2017
- Cast: Giovanni Ribisi , Bryan Cranston , Marin Ireland
- Network: Amazon Prime Video
- Genre: Drama
- TV rating: TV-14
- Last updated: August 30, 2022
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