Parents' Guide to

The I-Land

By Martin Brown, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

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

TV Netflix Drama 2019
The I-Land Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

See all
age 15+

Based on 4 parent reviews

Darkseid
Darkseid Parent of 8 and 10-year-old
February 1, 2023
age 18+

No, please don't watch.

It seemed nice, starting off with a mystery and amnesia for all member so the I-land. However most every character is a horrible person, that would rape, kill, or lie with no reason. Do not watched, i punished myself. Like its predecessor LOST, the ending leaves you disappointed and confused. Please do not watch.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much sex
Jaylene Crick
Jaylene Crick Parent of 11 and 13-year-old
March 17, 2022
age 12+

Good Survival/Mind Game Show!

See all 4 parent reviews

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

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended tv lists

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate