Parents' Guide to

Spaced

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Brit Gen-X tales will tickle young adults' fancy.

TV BBC America Comedy 1999
Spaced Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

See all
age 17+

Based on 1 parent review

EricDM
EricDM Adult
February 28, 2009
age 17+

Better than I could have hoped!

I bought this on a whim as I thoroughly enjoyed Simon Pegg's films "Shaun of the Dead" and "Hot Fuzz." I was hopeful that Spaced would deliver that kind of humor, and the thought of said humor in the length of a series was heavenly. In this way the show more than delivered, as not only did it have that same "charm" as Pegg's films, but it had so much more. The character line-up is just fantastic, with the bubbly and unpredictable Daisy, the war-aholic Mike (played by Nick Frost for fans of Pegg's films), and my personal favorite, the depressed, semi-gay-but-really-straight, emotive-styled artist Brian. The rest of the cast is by no means any less wonderful, and you'll find the misadventures of these 20-somethings to be more and more entertaining as the series goes on (and sadly, ends). As far as who should view this, anyone enthralled by a sort of "geek culture" is sure to appreciate the humor and references. However, it's hard for me to imagine anyone under the age of 17 truly appreciating the material, and it's not really appropriate for those under this age group anyways. This is really one for the college crowd and older.
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

British sitcom SPACED follows the highs and lows of young adult life for wannabe journalist Daisy (Jessica Stevenson) and former skateboarder Tim (Simon Pegg), two directionless Gen-Xers who, after meeting in a café, find they have a lot in common. Unlucky in love and desperate for a new place to live, they hatch a plan to feign couplehood -- and a professional lifestyle -- to qualify for a knockout flat. To their amazement, they get it, and they quickly set up house below their lush of a landlady, Marsha (Julie Deakin), and above eccentric struggling artist Brian (Mark Heap), who's quick to suspect that things aren't exactly as they seem with his new neighbors. But maintaining their pretend relationship is often the least of Daisy and Tim's worries. What with Daisy bouncing from one unfulfilling job to the next (she is, after all, too "creative" for just any form of work), Tim losing his own job when he gets worked up over a Star Wars movie and scares off a young customer, secret agents tailing Daisy after a mysterious stranger swaps bags with her, sexual tension on the rise in their apartment, and "Robot Wars" (sort of like cock fighting, but with remote-controlled gizmos) a frequent distraction for Tim and camo-clad buddy Mike (Nick Frost), there's hardly time to wonder what might happen if Marsha discovered the truth about her tenants.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1 ):
Kids say (4 ):

Spaced will strike a chord with young adults who can empathize with the characters' disillusionment about "real life" and appreciate the humor this attitude is played for. Pop culture buffs in particular are sure to revel in the show's multiple references to everything from Star Wars to zombie movies. That said, the show does have its fair share of strong language, as well as some innuendo and the kind of relationship and drinking content typical for sitcoms about twentysomethings -- so check it out before giving your teens the OK.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about starting out on your own. What challenges do people face when they leave home? What new skills do you have to acquire to succeed on your own? What parts of this show do you think are accurate? Which aren't? Teens: What are your plans for when you're independent? Where will you live? Will you live alone or with a roommate? Where will you work? What excites you about independence? What frightens you? What will you do if things don't go as planned?

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.

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