Parents' Guide to

Three Rivers

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Medical drama has strong messages about organ donation.

TV CBS Drama 2009
Three Rivers Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

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age 11+

Based on 1 parent review

Tsion
Tsion Parent of 14-year-old
October 5, 2009
age 11+

Not a Good Show...

That isn't to say that this is an awful show. It is a decent thing to watch to fill up time. However, it is definitely not a show I'm going to follow week-after week. Some of the surgical plotlines can get a bit intense for little kids, but I didn't see any actual objectionable content. There wasn't any graphic gore or violence, no language, and no sex. This is a clean show for the family, but watch it while you can. It won't be on the air that long.

This title has:

Great role models
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

THREE RIVERS stars Alex O'Loughlin as Andy Yablonski, Three Rivers Hospital's most talented, dedicated organ transplant surgeon. He leads an expert team of medical professionals, including high-strung but talented Dr. Miranda Foster (Katherine Moennig), womanizing surgical resident Dr. David Lee (Daniel Henney), reporter-turned-transplant coordinator Ryan Abott (Christopher J. Hanke), and operating assistant Pam Acosta (Justina Machado). Overseeing it all is Dr. Sophia Jordon (Alfre Woodard), the no-nonsense head of surgery. Together the team races against time to find compatible donors and navigate their way through both medical politics and any resistance from donors' loved ones in order to deliver and successfully transplant the organs they need to save their patients.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1 ):
Kids say (2 ):

Three Rivers explores how organs go from donor to recipient, showing some of the red tape that medical professionals must cut through in order to successfully harvest, deliver, and transplant organs in time to save people's lives. It also explores some of the fears that people have about donating their loved ones' organs -- like eliminating the donor's chance of survival or violating personal and/or religious beliefs.

While some of the doctors' unique personalities and private issues surface throughout the show, most of its entertainment value comes from the never-ending professional and personal dilemmas associated with transplant surgery. As a result, some viewers may find it a little too distressing to watch. Others may have difficulty with its decidedly pro-organ donation message. But for medical drama enthusiasts, Three Rivers will be sure to please.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how this show compares to other medical dramas. Does the organ donation focus set it apart? Is it as violent/intense as similar shows?

  • What are some of the reasons the show offers in support of organ donation? What are some of the arguments against it? Why do some cultures and/or religions ban organ donation?

  • Where can people get more information about organ donation?

TV Details

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