Parents' Guide to

The Astronaut Wives Club

By Kari Croop, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Space, big secrets, ambition -- and a clichéd sisterhood.

TV ABC Drama 2015
The Astronaut Wives Club Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

  • The Astronaut Wives Club TV Show: Scene #1
  • The Astronaut Wives Club TV Show: Scene #2
  • The Astronaut Wives Club TV Show: Scene #3

Community Reviews

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age 10+

Based on 1 parent review

love2015
love2015 Adult
July 23, 2015
age 10+

My Daughter and I Love This Show!

My twelve yr old daughter and I love this show! The Astronaut Wives Club is the true story of the lives of the Mercury 7 Astronauts and their families. Even though the title makes it sound like the wives just stand there, smiling for the camera and supporting their husbands, it is completely different. The wives are bright and independent. An example is my daughter's favorite character, Trudy Cooper, who is a trained pilot and wants to eventually become part of the Mercury 13 (a later group of female pilots). There are hardly any content issues. The sexual content doesn't go much beyond kissing between married couples. There is occasional drinking or smoking. Overall, this is a great show that illustrates what it's like to have a real friend and changes your perception on the typical '60s housewife.

This title has:

Great messages
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
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What's the Story?

When their husbands are hand-picked to pilot the nation's first manned space flights, seven young housewives become instant members of THE ASTRONAUT WIVES CLUB and move themselves -- and their families -- into the public eye. But their newfound celebrity status comes with increased scrutiny of their private lives and increased pressure on their personal relationships.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

Adapted from the nonfiction book of the same name by Lily Koppel, this series has all the shiny, happy promise of the era it so dutifully recreates (that, and a boatload of Jell-O molds). But what's missing is a much-needed sincerity -- both in the characters and the words they say -- that would make these women feel relevant and relatable. Though they're based on actual people, they seem contrived and clichéd rather than real.

So it's a club that values style over substance. And that's a shame, given The Astronauts Wives Club's otherwise intriguing premise: an early look at "reality TV" voyeurism and the artifice it so often breeds among its newly minted stars. If the Mercury 7 astronauts were piloting the nation's first space flights today, what would the reality shows about them and their families look like? How close to true "reality" would they come? And, more importantly, would there be room in the club for wives and husbands?

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about The Astronaut Wives Club's portrayal of married life in the 1950s and '60s, in particular what it meant to be "a wife" or "a husband." How accurate is the series' take on the traditional gender roles so often associated with the era?

  • How has marriage changed since the late 1950s and '60s? How do the husband-wife pairings on The Astronaut Wives Club compare to modern couples?

  • How do the astronaut wives' experiences mirror those of modern families who find themselves the subject of, say, a popular reality show? What are the pros and cons of living your life in the public eye?

TV Details

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