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Strange Angel
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A lot or a little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Strange Angel is a drama based on the real-life story of a rocket scientist who becomes involved in an occult group. This occult group is connected with "sex magick," so expect to see practitioners having group sex, sexual relationships with more than one person at a time, rituals with nude women (all private parts are covered). The group's rituals also have violent aspects, with a woman who is said to be about to be "sacrificed" and an animal sacrifice that takes place out of our view (we do hear animal noises and see blood and a bloody knife). Several characters smoke cigarettes frequently, as was usual for the time. Scenes take place in bars, and in some scenes, characters drink to the point of sloppiness or danger, like when a drunk man crashes a motorcycle. Cursing and language includes "f--k," "f--king," "son of a bitch," "piss poor." Female characters are given relatively short shrift in this drama, and most of the action is male-driven.
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What's the story?
STRANGE ANGEL relates the bizarre life story of Jack Parsons (Jack Reynor) a restless scientist whose rocketry experiments with friend Richard Onsted (Peter Mark Kendall) became the basis for America's space program -- and whose complicated personal life, including a long-term association with the occult philosophies of Aleister Crowley, ultimately spelled his doom.
Is it any good?
Reading as something like a cross between Mad Men and The Master, this drama about an eccentric rocketeer-turned-occultist is as strange as the man it depicts. Period piece fans won't be surprised by some things: suspenders, rattly old Ford trucks, radio shows, a billboard touting Pasadena as a fertile land of orange groves. But then there are the sex magick rites, animal sacrifices, chalices of blood, and virgins on altars. True story: the very same guy who spent his days figuring out the basics of jet propulsion spent his nights adhering to the philosophy of occultist Aleister Crowley (and later, welcoming Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard into his magical circle).
It's all very weird -- and very entertaining. Viewers weary of the beats of a typical biography (diversity followed by incredible success, repeat as many times as necessary to fill up time) will be intrigued with the twists and turns of Parsons' life, and how his restless brilliance was accompanies by an equally strong self-destructive streak. Why? And how did he finally destroy himself? Wikipedia can give you the outline -- but Strange Angel scores by filling in the details enchantingly.
Talk to your kids about ...
Families can talk about the group that Jack joins. Is it a cult? What's the difference between a cult and a religion? How can you tell?
Is Jack a man to be admired? Is he presented as an admirable man? Is he sympathetic? How do shows communicate how to feel about characters? How does Strange Angel present Jack to us: as a hero or antihero? Or both?
Many shows are set in other time periods. How does this one communicate the time period of its setting? Consider dialogue, set dressing, music, and costumes in your answer.
TV details
- Premiere date: June 11, 2018
- Cast: Jack Reynor, Bella Heathcote, Rupert Friend, Zack Pearlman
- Network: CBS
- Genre: Drama
- TV rating: NR
- Available on: Streaming
For kids who love history
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