Parents' Guide to

The Whispers

By Kari Croop, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Kids do very bad things in creepy, adult-oriented mystery.

TV ABC Drama 2015
The Whispers Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

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age 6+

Based on 1 parent review

hellobangsie1531
hellobangsie1531 Adult
September 22, 2015
age 6+

any age can watch this

my family super loved the whispers because the kids are so cut and tis a family series and all age can watch this
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

When a series of accidents in the nation's capital linked to children and their imaginary friend "Drill" turn deadly, it's up to FBI specialist Claire Bennigan (Lily Rabe) to figure out who -- or what -- is behind THE WHISPERS putting ideas into little ones' heads. Meanwhile, miles away in the Sahara Desert, Defense Department operative Wes Lawrence (Barry Sloane) discovers a mysterious geological phenomenon that could offer much-needed answers.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1):
Kids say (3):

The first five minutes of The Whispers are by far the most compelling, blending elements of creepy and quirky and ending with a sickening thud. But after that, the series skates the line between predictable and preposterous, thanks to dialogue that jumps to obvious conclusions and plot elements far too ridiculous to be real. Acclaimed director Steven Spielberg might be attached to the project, but when it comes to creepy kids, The Whispers is no Poltergeist. It's certainly not the worst thing on, but it isn't as great as it could be.

The fact that kids play such a prominent role in The Whispers hardly means it's meant for young eyes either. It's not so much that violence, language, or sexual content are big issues (they're actually pretty tame compared to other TV offerings); rather, it's because the central characters' problems -- from infidelity to divorce to political treachery -- will probably only appeal to adults. And, in the end, even they might decide that The Whispers really isn't worth talking about.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about The Whispers and how the show blends elements of fantasy and reality. What's the overall tone, and how does that affect your sense that what you're seeing could actually happen?

  • Why would children be targeted to do a kid's bidding over an adult's?

  • The Whispers has lots of kids in its cast, but does that mean it's a good show for kids to watch? Why, or why not? Who's the target audience, and how can you tell?

TV Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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