The Watcher
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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 Watcher is loosely based on a true crime story about a family that received threatening letters, but it departs from the real-life story by bringing in supernatural themes and happenings. Expect intense imagery such as a dead pet (a ferret) in a pool of blood, the sight of a woman hanging from the ceiling after a suicide, bloody dead bodies after a murder-suicide, and more. Characters we've gotten to know die suddenly, and other characters are in mortal danger. Themes of voyeurism, jealousy, snobbery, and the dangers of presenting a false image are clear; male characters are preoccupied by female "purity" and controlling signs of sexuality. Characters drink frequently, including big glasses of wine at dinner; they also drink alone during the day. Sexual scenes include one with a married couple having sex with moaning and noises, and teens kissing. Cursing includes "f--k," "s--t," and "p---y."
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Couldn't make it through the first episode 👎
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What's the Story?
Dean and Nora Brannock (Bobby Cannavale and Naomi Watts) are overjoyed when they close on the big house in the suburbs; now their kids, Ellie (Isabel Gravitt) and Carter (Luke David Blumm), will have fresh air, good schools, and a safe neighborhood in which to live. But when threatening letters start arriving from a mysterious correspondent self-named THE WATCHER, the Brannocks are no longer comfortable in their new home. And as the danger and mysteries pile up, their supposedly safe new neighborhood looks like it's anything but. Co-created by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan (Glee, Scream Queens).
Is It Any Good?
By now, viewers know to expect wild plot twists from Ryan Murphy, though this series' true crime connection anchors them in the non-supernatural realm: real-people villains instead of ghosts. But lest you be mistaken that The Watcher is some kind of sober exercise in historical truth-telling, let's examine the characters who might be responsible for the Brannocks' creepy correspondence: The angry older neighbors who dress in matching workout suits and sit outside in lawn chairs watching the Brannocks through binoculars? The elderly historical society doyenne with the intellectually challenged brother who's obsessed with the Brannocks' house? The overly friendly realtor who finds one excuse after another to stop by and ask intrusive questions?
It's a lot of surprising extra for a story based on a real one, and though it's fun, it also verges on campy. Some viewers will probably find it ridiculous, others will be delighted with the kitschy brain candy, the visuals of the Brannock family always clad in shades of beige and oatmeal, and the fantastic cast with its embarrassment of riches. Jennifer Coolidge, reliably great, is surprisingly effective in a role far from her usual comic ones, and horror icon Mia Farrow is wonderful too in her smaller role as an alarming neighbor who cares more about the house's dumbwaiter and ancient oak trees than its inhabitants.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the show's central premise that everyone is watching each other with discontent, envy, and sometimes even malice. Do you agree with that negative worldview, or do you believe the world to be a more positive place?
How does The Watcher's presence on a streaming service allow it to push the envelope when it comes to violence, language, and sexual content? What would the show look like if it were to air on network television? How would it have to change?
Creator Ryan Murphy is known for shows that have strong sexuality and violence. How is this show alike or different from other Murphy-helmed shows?
TV Details
- Premiere date: October 13, 2022
- Cast: Bobby Cannavale, Jennifer Coolidge, Naomi Watts, Mia Farrow
- Network: Netflix
- Genre: Drama
- TV rating: TV-MA
- Last updated: December 17, 2022
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