Common Sense Media Review
Heavy drama explores themes of grief and depression.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Sorry for Your Loss
What's the Story?
SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS focuses on Leigh, a widow in her twenties coping with the recent death of her husband, Matt. We meet Leigh three months after Matt's death as she continues to grieve. She is understandably prickly and still emotionally fragile, which tries the patience of the people in her life who want her to move on. The death amplifies existing riffs Leigh has with her sister, a recovering alcoholic, and with Matt's brother, Danny. Flashbacks give us glimpses into the couple's life and the circumstances around how Matt actually died are unclear, but solving that mystery isn't a main driver of the plot. The emphasis here is on relationships and how Matt's death sends ripples through the lives of the people who were closest to him.
Is It Any Good?
This series should be applauded for its unflinching approach and its avoidance of cheap sentimentality or easy paths to redemption -- the death of a loved one is clearly one of the most delicate subjects a piece of drama can try to tackle. While Sorry for Your Loss is filled with strong actors --Elizabeth Olsen plays Leigh, Kelly Marie Tran (Star Wars: The Last Jedi) plays her sister, and Oscar nominee Janet McTeer play their mother -- there's something stilted about the dialogue that makes the intimacy of their relationships feel false. The writers so clearly want the characters' conversations to sound natural and offhand that it comes across as exactly the opposite. It's really too bad because the journey is compelling and show's intentions are well meaning. If you like dark dramas and you're willing to face some cheesy dialogue, this show may be up your alley.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the loss of a loved one and how it can affect people differently. How do Leigh and Danny each cope with Matt's death in Sorry for Your Loss?
A number of the characters accuse each other of making Matt's death all about themselves. Is a certain amount of selfishness just part of the grieving process?
TV Details
- Premiere date : September 18, 2018
- Cast : Elizabeth Olsen , Kelly Marie Tran , Janet McTeer
- Network : Facebook Watch
- Genre : Drama
- TV rating :
- Last updated : March 13, 2020
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
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate