The New York Times Presents
Docuseries is mixed bag with some violence, sex, profanity.
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The New York Times Presents
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that The New York Times Presents is a documentary anthology series where each episode focuses on a major current event. Episodes range from "They Get Brave," about doctors and nurses in the early days of COVID in America, to "The Killing of Breonna Taylor," about Taylor's death at the hands of the police and its relevance to the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests, to "Framing Britney Spears," about the beloved pop star and the mysterious conservatorship that seemingly allows her father to control her. Content varies wildly from episode to episode but can include violence (such as police violence in "The Killing of Breonna Taylor"), sexual content ("Framing Britney Spears"), profanity, alcohol, drugs, and brand placement or product placement. The episode descriptions that Hulu provides give a decent idea of what to expect, and you can also read Common Sense's stand-alone review of "Framing Britney Spears."
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What's the Story?
THE NEW YORK TIMES PRESENTS is an anthology series of short documentaries about major news stories. Each episode is unique. For example, "They Get Brave" follows medical professionals as they confront the early wave of COVID in Manhattan, while "The Killing of Breonna Taylor" focuses on the police shooting of Taylor and its impact on the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests. Other episodes feature relatively lighter subject matter, such as "Framing Britney Spears," which serves as a retrospective of the pop star's career while investigating the mysterious conservatorship that allows her father to control it.
Is It Any Good?
Anthology series tend to be mixed bags, as it's difficult to sustain quality while constantly changing subject matter and approach. The New York Times Presents is a perfect example of this inconsistency. There are plenty of revelatory sequences, such as the first-person accounts of nurses and doctors dealing with death and trauma during the early days of the coronavirus crisis in Manhattan, or the montage of male interviewers fixating on Britney Spears' sexuality from the very beginning of her career. But other segments feel slow and even redundant, and many of the stories also feel sprawling and unfinished. For that reason, the series isn't intended to be watched straight through, but individual episodes offer a deeper dive into subjects that viewers might already be interested in.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the news. Which episode(s) did you watch? Were you familiar with the story before? What did you learn? Did the documentary change your opinion about anything?
Why is the topic of the episode(s) you watched important? How does the documentary feel about its subject? How does the subject relate to American culture and history? How does it relate to present events?
What other subjects would you like to see covered in The New York Times Presents? What advantages do documentaries have over other media? Is this the best way to tell these stories? Why, or why not?
TV Details
- Premiere date: February 10, 2021
- Network: Hulu
- Genre: Educational
- Topics: Activism
- TV rating: TV-MA
- Last updated: March 2, 2022
Our Editors Recommend
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The Weekly
Smart, emotional news show digs into hot topics.
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The New York Times Presents: Framing Britney Spears
Thought-provoking docu with language and mentions of sex.
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Vice
Excellent, disturbing news show looks at worldwide violence.
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