Common Sense Media Review
By Melissa Camacho
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Police gang crime drama has drugs, cursing, violence.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Oath
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Executive-produced by Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, THE OATH is a dramatic series about gangs run by corrupt cops. When seasoned police officer and prominent gang leader Tom Hammond (Sean Bean) is incarcerated, son Steve Hammond (Ryan Kwanten) takes over the Ravens, a gang of police officers working with high-level drug dealers in their district. He, along with brother Cole (Cory Hardrict), Pete Ramos (J.J. Soria), and Karen Beach (Katrina Law), steals, cuts deals, and launders the money at Frank Albenese's (Billy Malone) casino. But when the Ravens are arrested by the FBI, they cut a deal with Agent Aria Price (Elisabeth Rohm) and plant Agent Damon Byrd (Arlen Escarpeta) into the group in order to infiltrate the other cop gangs and the dealers they work with. The tensions between rival cop gangs are high, the drug dealers are demanding, and the Ravens soon find themselves dealing with unexpected complications.
Is It Any Good?
This dark, fast-paced series features corrupt police officers consistently breaking the laws they are supposed to be upholding. Yet, despite the fact that Hammond and the rest of his cop gang are "bad guys," there's an attempt to foster a sense of understanding and, to an extent, fondness for them as the story progresses. Learning about their personal lives, including the Hammond brothers' time with their sick mother (played by Linda Purl), who is also part of the family business, contributes to this.
The Oath, which is purportedly inspired by the tales of a former cop gang member, offers a solid story. But the dialogue can feel artificial, as do the settings where these conversations take place. The fact that the show's release comes at a time when the sense of distrust in law enforcement is notably high is also troubling. Overall, it isn't the best of crime-driven dramas, but still has strong entertainment value for those who enjoy this sort of thing.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the representation of law enforcement in the media and shows like The Oath. What kinds of stereotypes exist about police officers and other agencies who are supposed to uphold the law? Does the media reinforce or challenge these generalizations?
How do shows like The Oath contribute to the way people think about police officers? What potential consequences can this have?
TV Details
- Premiere date : March 8, 2018
- Cast : Ryan Kwanten , Sean Bean , Elisabeth Rohm
- Network : Crackle
- Genre : Drama
- TV rating :
- Last updated : March 13, 2020
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