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Parents' Guide to

Tales from the Loop

By Marty Brown, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Anthology sci-fi drama is slow-burning, visually stunning.

TV Amazon Prime Video Drama 2020
Tales from the Loop Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

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age 15+

Based on 6 parent reviews

CRKVAK
CRKVAK Parent of 13 and 17-year-old
August 16, 2022
age 18+

Sex in everything is seriously boring!

This show could have been pretty good but it was ruined with nonsense! I know there are billions of people all over the world who apparently can’t function without seeing sex in every show and movie but in my opinion it’s just gotten ridiculously boring and in most cases has zero reason to even be there. It’s like they write a great storyline and then some immature weirdo forces them to throw sex and homosexuality in randomly just because. Anyway, me and my family read reviews before we watch anything anymore and just skip the sexual stupidity altogether!
Stefanie O.
Stefanie O. Parent of 9, 12 and 14-year-old
May 27, 2020
age 15+

sporadic pornography

Episodes 1 and 2 were so well written and thought provoking. My teen loved the clever twists, but the pace is a rather slow. Episode 3 was just as deep, but suddenly PORNOGRAPHIC. I wish I had seen the review recommending we skip episodes 3 and 6. OOPS!
See all 6 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In TALES FROM THE LOOP, one by one, the inhabitants of a small town near a mysterious underground organization called "The Loop" discover that they can bend time and space in unexpected ways. Based on paintings by artist Simon Stalenhag, each episode of this series features a different but related story, sometimes with overlapping characters and actors including Rebecca Hall and Jonathan Pryce (Brazil).

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (6 ):
Kids say (4 ):

Anthology series can be tricky to pull off, because the quality usually differs greatly from episode to episode -- Tales from the Loop counters this by telling a series of short stories that work on their own but also interlock beautifully. Characters who briefly appear in one episode might be the lead protagonist in the next, creating a pleasing mosaic that pieces together the strange vibe of this small, mysterious town. The series sacrifices the Twilight Zone-like ironic final twists many anthology shows seem compelled to provide, in favor of gentle morality tales that combine into an ultimately more satisfying cumulative effect.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about mysteries. How do the people in the town deal with the mysterious changes in their lives? Why do you think people are compelled to solve mysteries or find out more about their worlds?

  • Do you think each episode of Tales from the Loop has a moral, like in a fairy tale? Have you seen other TV shows try to teach similar lessons about the world and its people?

  • Families can talk about the future and technology. What good things do you think it has in store for humanity? Are you concerned about others?

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.

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