Parents' Guide to

Some Assembly Required

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 7+

Science series is smart, but lacks extra spark.

TV Discovery Channel Educational 2007
Some Assembly Required 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 13+

Based on 4 parent reviews

eysnoselips
eysnoselips Adult
June 20, 2020
age 13+

extremely bad

Show is not for anyone, is fake and VERY inappropriate for kids.
Sunshinemom444
Sunshinemom444 Adult
May 8, 2019
age 18+

Not good for any age! Disgusting excuse for a childrens show, horribly sexist!

This is the most sexist childrens show. Its 2019 people and this is disgusting dont fill our childrens minds with this garbage! Please see below for several examples. If you are the type to allow your kid to watch shows when you arent around, pay attention to this one and you will likely never let them watch it again. Ridiculously disappointing for Netflix. "One of the characters made a comment about "Take Your Daughter to Work" days. One character called it "Take Your Son to Work" day. The female said "Don't you mean 'Take Your Daughter to Work"? The scientist character's reply was "Take your daughter to work? Why? To show her the life she'll never have?" After putting 2 men dolls and a barbie on the shelf "who are those guys?" "those are the real heros! The CEOs of companies!" Well what CEO is she? "Oh shes not a CEO thats that guys second wife!" And on and on and on....there are examples after examples, its gross. Makes me think twice about even having a netflix account. Jarvis (Kolton Stewart) turns to his new kid-Vice President, Bowie (Harrison Houde), “Couldn’t you have hired someone who knows the difference between a toilet and my face?” Bowie looks to Jarvis and shrugs, “I interviewed dozens of women for this position and, in the end, I chose the prettiest one,”  Really?!?! Dan Singer and Howard Nemetz who created the show aren’t being ironic in the slightest this show is horrific. The previous two lines of dialogue alone reify through Jarvis and Bowie that it’s okay to belittle your subordinates, it’s funny when those you’re belittling can’t understand you, that only women can and should be maids, and if they’re going to be maids they have to be pretty, otherwise they’re the subject of scrutiny!! Again, disgusting!! How did Netflix even pick up this show, its literally the worst thing Ive seen or that Ive almost allowed my kid to see since the 80s
See all 4 parent reviews

What's the Story?

SOME ASSEMBLY REQUIRED is an educational series that shows how everyday products are created and mass produced for the consumer public. In each episode, humorist Brian Unger and University of Virginia physics professor Lou Bloomfield work alongside people on factory floors in order to learn how to make items like guitars, lip balm, and hurricane-proof windows. The pair shows how the featured products are created from start to finish, while offering some historical background and scientific explanation about how each thing works.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (4 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

While the series is very informative, it lacks some of the spark needed to make it fun viewing for kids who don't already get a kick out of science. Its focus on almost every step of the product-assembly process sometimes makes it a little tedious. But the uncomplicated scientific explanations give interested tweens and teens a real chance to learn the physics behind how the products we use every day actually work.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how television can promote science and learning. What did you learn from the show that you didn't know before? How can TV shows geared toward educating the public be informative while also being interesting and fun? Families can also discuss how the different products they use everyday are made. What things do you use that make you wonder how they were created? How could you find out more about them?

TV Details

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 suggesting a diversity update.

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