The Harper House
By Melissa Camacho,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Irreverent reversal of comedy sitcom talks race, status.
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The Harper House
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What's the Story?
THE HARPER HOUSE is an animated comedy series about a family who suddenly finds itself unexpectedly living on "the wrong side of town." After engineer Debbie Harper (voiced by Rhea Seehorn) loses her job, they move from the Southern wealthy suburbs of River Creek, Arkansas to an old Victorian fixer-upper left to her husband Freddie (Jason Lee) by his aunt. The problem? It's located in an urban, lower-income neighborhood on the Northern side of town, which is a world away from their upper-middle class life. As they settle into their dilapidated home with their kids Ollie (Tatiana Maslany) and Todd (Ryan Flynn), the confident Debbie is looking for ways to improve their situation.
Is It Any Good?
This humorous series offers a contemporary"‘reversal of fortune" narrative with lots of irreverent humor. Debbie Harper wants the best for her husband and kids, but the choices she makes aren't always the best. Nonetheless, her presence is a positive one, thanks to her education, resilience, and willingness to problem solve, especially when it comes to using her engineering skills to do it. This, combined with the dynamics between her tight-knit family, and some crazy situations, make Harper House an entertaining watch.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about gender representation in animated comedy shows. Does the fact that Debbie Harper is an engineer and the sole family income earner make her a unique TV character? Why or why not?
What messages does The Harper House send about race as it relates to socioeconomic status? Is the representation of the Harper's new neighborhood a fair one, or is it rooted in stereotypes?
TV Details
- Premiere date: September 16, 2021
- Cast: Rhea Seahorn , Jason Lee , Tatiana Maslany , Ryan Flynn
- Network: Paramount+
- Genre: Comedy
- Character Strengths: Perseverance
- TV rating: TV-MA
- Last updated: September 2, 2022
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