Parents' Guide to

The Lizzie Borden Chronicles

By Joyce Slaton, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Grisly gore and violence in reimagining of murderer's life.

TV Lifetime Drama 2015
The Lizzie Borden Chronicles Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

  • The Lizzie Borden Chronicles Poster Image 1
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Community Reviews

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age 16+

Based on 1 parent review

Cleo5566
Cleo5566 Adult
November 9, 2018
age 16+

PLEASE MAKE A SEASON 2!!!!!

I dont understand why this show has low ratings, its a really good show. I normally dont like these types of shows, but they have shown me different!
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

After the success of the more-or-less historically faithful account of the 1892 Borden ax murders, Lizzie Borden Took an Ax, Christina Ricci returns as Lizzie Borden in THE LIZZIE BORDEN CHRONICLES. Clea Duvall also reprises her role of Lizzie's demure, sensible sister, Emma, but these two historical figures would never have imagined their lives seen like this. After the murders of their parents leave them orphans, Lizzie slowly but surely violently removes everyone who stands in the way of her dream: to be a rich, free woman living a decadent life without a care in the world.

Is It Any Good?

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

No, Lizzie Borden didn't spend the latter part of her life bumping off her father's creditors, random family members, and anyone else who dared to cross her. But if you're the sort of viewer who cares less about historical faithfulness and more about a campy drama featuring Borden in tight gowns and blood-red lipstick doing terrible things to people who stand in her way, you'll be in ecstasy over Lizzie. With plot lines running from grave robbing to poisoning to skeletons of secret children moldering away in a basement, Lizzie Borden is pretty much off the rails in terms of content, which is fun for a very particular type of viewer (if inappropriate for kids).

When a crowd of kids follows her, chanting the old "forty whacks" nursery rhyme, she pulls a (conveniently located) ax from a store display and whirls on them. One little girl stands stock still: "I'm not afraid of you," she whimpers. "Then you haven't been paying attention!" Ricci grinds out, deadpan. The show also depicts Borden's real-life friendship with a Victorian actress, which people whispered wasn't exactly platonic. In Lizzie, not only is the relationship physical but her new friend ushers Lizzie into an underground carnival of vintage debauchery: ladies in top hats, dapper men sipping absinthe, a bearded man in an elaborate gown. It's not history, but it's great fun.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Why do you think people enjoy watching troubled, violent characters on TV?

  • Read some background on Lizzie Borden's life. Which parts of The Lizzie Borden Chronicles are true to life? How do you feel about the show's mix of fact and fiction?

TV Details

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