Common Sense Media Review
By Joly Herman
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Epic, sweeping, violent Western not for sensitive viewers.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The English
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In THE ENGLISH, a woman has crossed the Atlantic in search of the man who has killed her son. The year is 1890, the woman is Lady Cornelia Locke (Emily Blunt, who served as executive producer of the series), whose fate is in the hands of the men she meets on the open prairie of a post-Civil War United States. She helps to release the Pawnee man, whose English name is Eli Whipp (Chaske Spencer, Twilight Saga: New Moon), being held captive by the White hotel proprietor (Ciarán Hinds). This act of kindness sets in motion the relationship between Cornelia and Eli, which she believes is meant to be. Will Cornelia find the man who killed her son? Will she survive in the brutal country where he died?
Is It Any Good?
Big-sky views and the undeniable drama of the classic Western meets the cruelty and historical perspective of the 2020s in this brutal series. Performances by top-shelf actors smooth out the uneven script in The English. Emily Blunt's Lady Cornelia Locke manages to bring a touch of Mary Poppins to the blood-soaked prairie she encounters, as she saunters on a horse through the night next to a velvet-voiced Pawnee man (played fiercely and beautifully by Chaske Spencer). She coaxes him to tell her about his medicine, his magic, while men generally rape, pillage, and slaughter every living thing in their path.
It could be said that director Hugo Blick takes liberties -- as an Englishman -- crafting a series that comments upon the American frontier experience. Are viewers meant to understand that the cruel pathway European settlers historically cut across the land still fuels the ego of the contemporary U.S. citizen? Ya think? Adults and older teens may get swept away by the dramatic, panoramic views, tense drama, and romantic moments. Sensitive viewers will want to skip this one, as the violence is ubiquitous.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about violence in The English. Does the violence and brutality in this show make it more memorable? What's the impact of seeing violent shows like this on the viewer?
The characters are reliant on the land around them, the elements, and the kindness of strangers to survive. How do people show perseverance in the face of challenge?
Teamwork is a skill that's a key to survival in this show. How does teamwork benefit you in your daily life?
TV Details
- Premiere date : November 11, 2022
- Cast : Emily Blunt , Chaske Spencer , Tom Hughes
- Network : Prime Video
- Genre : Action
- Topics : Adventures , History
- Character Strengths : Courage , Perseverance , Self-control
- TV rating :
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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