Common Sense Media Review
By Melissa Camacho
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Compelling mystery show has drugs, innuendo, mature themes.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
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Ten Days in the Valley
What's the Story?
TEN DAYS IN THE VALLEY is a drama about a woman whose daughter is kidnapped. Jane Sadler (Kyra Sedgwick) is an overworked TV producer and single mom to young daughter Lake Sadler-Greene (Abigail Pniowsky). The former documentarian is creating a new fictional series with folks like her assistant Casey (Emily Kinney) and ambitious head writer Matt Walker (Malcolm-Jamal Warner). In addition to working nonstop, her contentious relationship with her ex-husband, Pete (Kick Gurry), and loving, but complicated, relationship with her half-sister, Ali (Erika Christensen), make her life even more difficult to balance. But when Lake is kidnapped in the middle of the night, investigators like Detective John Bird (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje) and Detective Nicole Bilson (Ali Liebert) begin to realize that Jane has some demons in her closet. As her real life begins to look like the fictional world she's creating for the show, everyone around her becomes a suspect.
Is It Any Good?
This mystery series offers an entertaining spin on the traditional whodunit, thanks to a lead character who's intelligent, creative, and intensely flawed. As Jane struggles with her own vices, and her inability to admit that she has them, the characters slowly reveal themselves to the viewing audience. As a result, it creates a unique tension that makes an extremely compelling story world.
Jane's inner struggles, and the unfolding of multiple (and sometimes unexpected) relationships, occasionally make it possible to forget that the show is about finding a kidnapped child. But it all adds a colorful richness to the series. Ultimately, Ten Days in the Valley will satisfy folks who enjoy a good, dramatic conundrum.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about mysteries. What makes a good mystery? Are mystery stories more fun to read, or watch? Do you have any favorites?
In Ten Days in the Valley, Jane creates a fictional story world that begins to look like her own. Why is this happening? How does the series let us know that this is happening?
TV Details
- Premiere date : October 1, 2017
- Cast : Kyra Sedgwick , Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje , Kick Gurry
- Network : ABC
- Genre : Drama
- TV rating :
- Last updated : October 19, 2022
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