Common Sense Media Review
By Joyce Slaton
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Mystical animated series plays like "Lost" for tweens.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Hollow
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 29 parent reviews
Parents say that while the show features creative storylines and interesting characters, it is deemed inappropriate for a Y7 rating due to its LGBT themes, bullying, and unsettling visuals that may not be suitable for sensitive children. Many reviewers caution that the eerie elements and occasional creepiness could lead to nightmares for younger viewers, suggesting parents watch along to discuss any frightening content.
- inappropriate theme
- creepy visuals
- parental guidance
- character development
- mixed reviews
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 43 kid reviews
Kids say this show is a unique blend of high fantasy and sci-fi, featuring endearing characters such as Adam, Mira, and Kai, despite some viewers finding the plot convoluted and characters occasionally obnoxious. While it provides representation and positive messages, certain episodes contain creepy and intense scenes that may not be suitable for younger audiences, indicating a need for discretion in suitable age ratings.
- unique blend
- positive messages
- strong characters
- intense scenes
- mixed reviews
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In the opening moments of Netflix's animated drama THE HOLLOW, Adam (Adrian Petriw), Mira (Ashleigh Ball), and Kai (Connor Parnall) awaken in a featureless bunker, with no memory of how they got there. But since poison gas is soon seeping into the room, they don't exactly have time to figure it out. Now they're trapped in a mysterious world where everyone and everything seems to want them dead. Can they pull together and solve the mysteries of who they are, how they got here -- and how they're going to get out?
Is It Any Good?
The opening credits, with creepy tinkly piano and a swirl of autumn leaves, sets a tone that never lets up in this thrilling animated series that reads like Lost for the tween set. Mira, Kai, and Adam are trapped in a world that's not just dangerous, it's interestingly creepy, staffed as it is with man-eating Minotaurs, chirpy aproned housewives who abruptly transform into terrifying witches, and a purple-faced prepster-demon who seems to have a vested interest in slowing their progression through the nightmare realm.
"Are we dead?" Adam wonders, then, when he comes across a rack of scientific vials in some creepy cabin in a forbidding woods. "Are we someone's experiment?" Unclear. And as the mystery deepens, the kind of kid who's maybe just a little too young for Stranger Things is just the right age for this appealingly weird series. And parents who have an appreciation for the dark and puzzling may be pulled into watching The Hollow, too.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about setting. Stranding a set of characters in a strange and frightening place is a staple of horror and sci-fi. What movies or TV shows does The Hollow remind you of?
Animation makes it easy to picture things that are difficult to show with live action. What kinds of things does The Hollow depict that are easier to show as animation? Are there any drawbacks to animated shows?
How do Mira, Kai, and Adam demonstrate courage and teamwork when overcoming obstacles that prevent them from escaping? Why are these important character strengths?
TV Details
- Premiere date : June 4, 2018
- Cast : Ashleigh Ball , Adrian Petriw , Connor Parnall
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Drama
- Character Strengths : Courage , Teamwork
- TV rating :
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : November 6, 2025
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