Parents' Guide to The I-Land

TV Netflix Drama 2019
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Common Sense Media Review

Marty Brown By Marty Brown , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 16+

Bad island mystery a Lost rip-off, has some violence.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 16+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

age 15+

Based on 4 parent reviews

age 15+

Based on 1 kid review

What's the Story?

In THE I-LAND, a woman wakes up on an island without having any idea how she got there, or even who she is. She discovers she's not alone -- nine others are in the same situation. The group must figure out how to survive the harsh realities of the island while trying to work together to understand how they got there, who they are, and how they can return to their regular lives.

Is It Any Good?

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

Puzzle box dramas need a few crucial elements to succeed: high stakes, twists, and compelling characters -- this series has none of those things. The characters are virtually indistinguishable from one another, and conflicts between them feel manufactured and arbitrary. While the show tries to raise the stakes, characters still seem to treat life-and-death decisions nonchalantly. And the twists are pretty easy to get ahead of, especially if you're familiar with The I-Land's clear predecessor, Lost.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about mysteries. Why do you think so many TV shows involve mysterious events? Why do you think these people are on the island? How did they get there? What do we know about any of them?

  • Who is the hero of The I-Land? What do you like or dislike about the characters?

  • What steps do the characters take to ensure they will survive? What steps do they neglect? How would you handle a similar situation?

TV Details

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