Tear Along the Dotted Line
By Joly Herman,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Cynical, funny Italian animated series muses philosophical.
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Tear Along the Dotted Line
Community Reviews
Based on 2 parent reviews
Absolutely Amazing and Heartbreaking
Common sense says this show is too heavy for this website
What's the Story?
In TEAR ALONG THE DOTTED LINE, Calcare is a guy who lives in Rome and struggles to connect to the seamless flow of life around him. He muses about what makes him a man, what is expected of him by society, how to talk with a girl he likes, and whether he's as important as he thinks he is. He also has a conscience in the shape of an armadillo that sits him down and tells him what he's got to do in order to shape up.
Is It Any Good?
Adults who crave a dose of gallows humor and late-night mental gymnastics will enjoy this show's darkly funny moments and snappy pace. Viewers of Tear Along the Dotted Line should know that the Italian language version of this series moves so quickly, the average reader may struggle to keep pace with the stream-of-consciousness banter flickering by in the subtitle line. This can feel stressful even to the viewer who's interested in the authentic, Italian version of the show. For a more leisurely experience, the dubbed English version works well. Some Italian references may be lost in translation, but viewers might gain in comprehension what could otherwise get lost in the speedy subtitles.
This show has intellectual, philosophical undertones. The protagonist, Calcare, can't resist commenting on scenarios that confront him every day. He's a socially-awkward cynic, who tends to spin his wheels a revolution too many. Political references, literary references, and cultural references might float over many teens' heads. This is not Rick Steves' Italy, which is, actually, part of the appeal.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about shows that exhibit people drinking and doing drugs like Tear Along the Dotted Line. Do you think this show glorifies drugs and drinking? What is normal representation of drug and alcohol use?
In one episode, Calcare's friend keeps asking him if he smokes. He keeps replying that he doesn't. What can you do to keep your friends from smoking?
Calcare thinks about the complexities of texting and getting to know someone in the digital sphere. How is meeting face-to-face different? What should you avoid when texting?
TV Details
- Premiere date: November 17, 2021
- Network: Netflix
- Genre: Comedy
- Topics: Friendship
- TV rating: TV-MA
- Last updated: March 2, 2022
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