Parents' Guide to

The Deep

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 7+

Fantastic family-focused adventure explores the vast ocean.

TV Netflix Kids' Animation 2016
The Deep Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

  • The Deep TV Show: Scene #1
  • The Deep TV Show: Scene #2
  • The Deep TV Show: Scene #3
  • The Deep TV Show: Scene #4

Community Reviews

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age 5+

Based on 9 parent reviews

b A.
b A. Adult
December 12, 2017
age 4+

Great Show!

My son loves this show, and I actually enjoy watching it too. Lots of Good guy vs bad guy scenarios. Main themes focus on family, teamwork, and protecting wildlife. Some episodes have a mild use of "stupid" and "duh" and some flirty scenes I wish they had left out. Seems like the bad guys always have a crush on Ant's older sister (its a subtle theme throughout the episodes). Cheesy pick up lines and awkward scenes between the teenage pirate and Ant's sister. Ant also has a crush on his older sister's friend, nothing horrible but I feel like Ant is a little young to be given a "love" interest by the writers. Overall, I am super picky about what my child watches and this one is a go in our house.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Too much sex
1 person found this helpful.
Paul J.
Paul J. Parent of 2-year-old
November 15, 2016
age 5+

Great family fun!

To start off - my 2 year old loves this show. It is maybe a bit advanced for his age but he loves the show and it is something that my Wife and I can enjoy as well. What he gets from it is to help others and be nice. He loves the animals and identifies with Ant. He gets a little scared at some of the moments but that passes (mostly he says "Ill help you Ant and Fontaie!"), What my wife and I really like about it is the family dynamic. They are an ethnically ambiguous family that has a good relationship with each other. They are not perfect as individuals and all have their faults but when they come together as a family they are nearly unstoppable! We appreciate that the mother is the mechanic and is the pilot. She is the one with the technical knowledge. We also really like that the kids are seen as partners with boundaries. The Nektons allow their kids to be themselves and reach for high goals, yet there are some clear boundaries that are set. Basically, this is a fun show that provides a great family role model. I recommend it highly for children and parents.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
1 person found this helpful.
See all 9 parent reviews

What's the Story?

THE DEEP is an oceanic adventure series that follows the Nekton family, a team of scientists who explore the darkest places in the sea to search for clues to ancient underwater legends and creatures. Guided by the mysterious Nereus (voiced by Lee Tocker), Ant (Vincent Tong) leads the charge to reveal the secrets long held by the Guardians. Using high-tech exploration vehicles and state-of-the-art equipment, he and his sister, Fontaine (Ashleigh Ball), and their parents, Will (Michael Dobson) and Kaiko (Kathleen Barr), set out for the darkest places along the ocean floor to find clues to lost pirate colonies, sea serpents, and the like.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (9):
Kids say (11):

This expertly rendered show's family-focused content and exciting adventures make it an excellent pick for families to enjoy together. It's brimming with mystery that even grown-ups will find genuinely entertaining, and it's one of those rare offerings that places parents in the middle of the action instead of off to the side in a more observational role. With Ant, Fontaine, and their parents working side by side, there are plentiful examples of positive relationships (including siblings!) and problem-solving.

The Deep dabbles in the stuff of legends, raising the prospect of giant sea serpents, sunken cities, and mystical age-old forces. Grade-schoolers will enjoy the blurred line between possibility and probability, but the suggestions might be too heavy for younger kids. What's more, the show is intense in parts, and characters face precarious situations that could frighten youngsters, so make a date to enjoy this one with your older kids.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the roles within the Nekton family in The Deep. Who, if anyone, is in charge? Do others ever override another person's authority or break the rules? What are the consequences when that happens? By comparison, how stringent are the rules in your house?

  • What shared interests do your family members have? Is there such a thing as too much togetherness for your family? How do you find time for yourself when you're part of a group? Is that important to you, or do you enjoy being in the middle of goings-on?

  • This series suggests that there's still much for scientists to discover about the past and the future. Do you agree? Is research money spent on uncovering secrets of the past well spent? Why, or why not?

  • How do the Nektons demonstrate teamwork in The Deep? Why is this an important character strength?

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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