Steven Seagal: Lawman
By Melissa Camacho,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Action star chases real-life bad guys in edgy reality show.
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.
Where to Watch
Community Reviews
There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
What's the Story?
STEVEN SEAGAL: LAWMAN follows actor/martial artist Steven Seagal as he works for the city of Jefferson Parish, La., as a deputy sheriff. Cameras follow Seagal -- who's served as a reserve deputy sheriff for 20 years -- as he and his fellow officers chase carjackers, arrest suspected drug dealers, and settle domestic disputes. Seagal also offers his colleagues defense training and sharpshooting lessons. And throughout it all, Seagal reflects on the role that the martial arts play in his law enforcement career.
Is It Any Good?
Steven Seagal: Lawman highlights how the erstwhile action star applies Zen thinking and Aikido to his work. But aside from the dusting of movie star glitz that Seagal brings to the proceedings, the show follows more or less the same format as reality police shows like COPS and Street Patrol. In any given episode, you can expect to see law enforcement officials chasing and arresting alleged criminals in the middle of the night while reminding viewers that these suspects are innocent until proven guilty.
The series sends some stereotypical messages about the relationship between race, poverty, and crime. And Seagal's rather pretentious talk about his martial arts skills gets a little tiresome. But there's no doubt that his fans will get a kick out of watching the him chase alleged bad guys in this real-life setting.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the "double lives" of actors and other celebrities. Does it surprise you when you see actors doing jobs outside of the media? Why do you think actors have second careers? Can you think of a celeb besides Seagal who has a career outside of film and/or television?
Do you think reality police shows accurately depict what a day in the life of a law enforcement officer is like?
Why do the majority of suspects on police shows appear to be from lower-income areas or people of color? What kind of message does this send to viewers? Parents: Check out our tips for talking to your kids about violence and television.
TV Details
- Premiere date: December 2, 2009
- Cast: John Fortunato, Lawrence Matthews, Steven Seagal
- Network: A&E
- Genre: Reality TV
- TV rating: TV-14
- Last updated: October 13, 2022
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.
Suggest an Update
Where to Watch
Our Editors Recommend
Reality TV for the Whole Family
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