Strange Days at Blake Holsey High
By Sarah L. Thomson,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Prep show Twilight Zone is good spooky fun.
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.
Where to Watch
Community Reviews
Based on 2 parent reviews
Great little series
Report this review
Perfect for all ages. Educational.
Report this review
What's the Story?
Things like wormholes, time travel, students becoming invisible, and inexplicable magnetic attractions are everyday occurrences in STRANGE DAYS AT BLAKE HOLSEY HIGH. Luckily, the students in the show's science club use the scientific method to investigate the mysterious happenings. But the science club at Blake Holsey High (nicknamed "Black Hole High" by the students) doesn't limit itself to test tubes and Bunsen burners. New girl Josie (Emma Taylor-Isherwood), popular Vaughn (Robert Clark), conspiracy buff Lucas (Michael Seater), type-A Corrine (Shadia Simmons), whiz kid Marshall (Noah Reid), and their advisor, Professor Z (Jeffrey Douglas), discover that their prep school is some sort of magnet for paranormal occurrences and mysterious strangers with secrets and hidden agendas. All the strange happenings seem to be connected to a local scientist named Victor (who just happens to be Vaughn's father) and his company, Pearadyne Industries, where Vaughn's mother disappeared in a strange accident 15 years ago.
Is It Any Good?
The series makes an attempt to bring in scientific concepts (magnetism, gravity, the light spectrum, etc.), but the show's real attraction is its spooky sense of mystery. The characterization isn't incredibly deep, and the kids seem more or less interchangeable. But there's plenty of action to keep viewers involved, and a lot to wonder about. What is Victor really up to? What's the strange floating ball that seems to be the source of his power? How does the janitor know so much about what's going on, and why won't he explain anything?
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the concept of reality and fantasy and the characters'. Do the students make good decisions with their knowledge or abuse their powers? What appeals to kids about the show -- mystery or science? Parents can encourage kids to continue their love of strange stories with a trip to the library or a (supervised) Internet search about the history and happenings of their own school or town.
TV Details
- Premiere date: October 5, 2002
- Cast: Emma Taylor-Isherwood, Michael Seater, Shadia Simmons
- Network: Discovery Family Channel
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, High School, Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
- TV rating: TV-Y7
- Last updated: July 24, 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
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