Parents' Guide to

The District

By Lucy Maher, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Clever, compelling crime drama; teens OK.

TV Syndicated Drama 2000
The District 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 17+

Based on 1 parent review

SteephillSteephill
SteephillSteephill Adult
March 17, 2011
age 17+

Good for thinking adults; sometimes a bit far fetched but well drawn characters and good story lines

Great series often raising matters of concern such as cancer. I shall be sorry when series ends.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

In THE DISTRICT, a former New York deputy police commissioner puts his crime-fighting ways to use in Washington, D.C., where, as chief of police, he's charged with cleaning up the city's streets and shaping up the ineffective police department. Craig T. Nelson plays Jack Mannion, whose prior police work has reduced crime in Boston and Newark, N.J., by 50 percent. In the nation's capital, he relies on the help of Temple Page (Sean Patrick Thomas), a young detective who -- with partner Kevin Debreno (Jonathan LaPaglia) -- works D.C.'s crime-ridden, drug-infested streets; and officer Nancy Parras (Elizabeth Marvel), who lends her intuition to solving cases.

Is It Any Good?

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

Since each episode of The District deals with a specific crime, scenes frequently include violence; in one, for example, an escaped convict is shown stabbing a guard with a needle, then strangling a cabbie with a wire after he reaches his destination. The show also explores adult themes, some of which might confuse and concern younger viewers. For example, in one episode, a female detective wants to adopt the orphaned son of her late sister but finds that the amount of time her job requires means the boy might be sent to foster care instead. The verdict? Teens will find The District absorbing, intelligent TV, but parents might want to think twice before letting younger kids watch.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about law enforcement. How accurate do you think this series is in portraying what it's like to work for the police? Families can also talk about the realities of living in an urban area. Are all cities affected by drug trafficking and violent crime? What causes these problems? Are there any effective solutions?

TV Details

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