Parents' Guide to

The Gates

By Will Wade, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Supernatural drama has vampires but is no Twilight.

TV ABC Drama 2010
The Gates 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 11+

Based on 4 parent reviews

Chloe R.
Chloe R. Adult
March 28, 2018
age 8+

This title has:

Too much sex
Kat V.
Kat V. Parent of 18-year-old
September 11, 2017
age 15+

Need more

With all the supernatural shows out there this is definitely one of the best , the last episode made you look forward to another season only to find out it was canceled , I am hoping one of the networks picks this up because I feel it will be worth it . I read where Fox knew after the 1st episode there wasn't going to be a 2ND season so why give us the viewers an ending like that I think that was just cruel to put us through that at least you could have ended it without a cliffhanger. Shame on you Fox
See all 4 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Nick Monohan (Frank Grillo) is the new police chief at THE GATES, an exclusive community where everything seems perfect -- at least on the outside. But once inside the wall, he begins to suspect that the residents have some dark, supernatural secrets involving witchcraft, unbearable cravings for blood, and animalistic traits that come out when the moon is full. And just what happened to the handyman who was last seen talking to the wealthy and glamorous Claire Radcliff (Rhona Mitra)?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (4):
Kids say (1):

The Gates is trying to ride the current wave of interest in all things related to vampires, werewolves, and the supernatural. It's stylish, the characters are easy on the eyes, and it's got all the right ingredients: a protagonist who's got something to prove, rich people with something to hide, and several teens full of hormones and angst.

What it lacks is anything that sets it apart. There's so much here that seems drawn from other movies and TV shows -- and so much that just doesn't make sense. Really, who decided that vampires and werewolves should pal around? And is there really a cream the lets bloodsuckers go out in sunlight, or is that just a convenient plot device because it would be hard to film a whole series at night? So much of this series seems forced, and so little is fun.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the supernatural trend. Why are there so many movies, TV shows, and books about vampires and other supernatural beings these days? How does this series compare to some of the classics?

  • How does the violence in this show compare to other TV shows and movies about vampires?

  • Why do you think the residents of The Gates want to fit in with regular human society? Do you think they're able to pull it off?

TV Details

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