Common Sense Media Review
By Marty Brown
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Well-meaning comedy has violence, clichés.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 12+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Outlaws
What's the Story?
The Outlaws follows a group of suspicious characters who have just escaped prison ... by opting to do community service instead of jail time for their misdemeanors. The ragtag group doesn't have much in common, until one big, unexpected caper pulls them all together. Outlaws include creator and writer Stephen Merchant as Greg and Christopher Walken as Frank.
Is It Any Good?
This series certainly means well in its aim to break stereotypes, racial and otherwise -- unfortunately, the writing often falls into clichés that undermine those good intentions. When Rani (Rhianne Baretto) points out that all of her fellow community service workers are "types" in the first episode, she's hinting that each of them will end up breaking out of those types in one way or another. Instead, The Outlaws turns out to be simply a pleasant caper comedy with a fun cast (including the legendary Christopher Walken) and a great premise that never quite lives up to the complex and weighty task it sets out to accomplish.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the characters. What do we know about each of the community service team? What mysteries are there about each of them?
How does The Outlaws portray the differences between the characters' backgrounds and identities? Do you agree with Rani that each one is "a type"? How do the characters fulfill or subvert those expectations?
TV Details
- Premiere date : April 1, 2022
- Cast : Gamba Cole
- Genre : Drama
- TV rating :
- Last updated : April 26, 2022
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