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Parents' Guide to

Truth Be Told

By Joyce Slaton, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Stellar cast meets so-so writing with predictable outcome.

TV Apple TV+ Drama 2019
Truth Be Told 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 17+

Based on 2 parent reviews

My.02
My.02 Adult
January 10, 2020
age 18+

Great cast

There are a few short sexual scenes, implied rapes, and dealing with emotions and fear of rape in addition to murder, suicide, drug/alcohol abuse, and violence so definitely not for kids. Loved this cast though and the story had us binge watching. *Apple does some self promoting but it’s tasteful.
cosmoskva
cosmoskva Adult
December 9, 2019
age 15+

All over the place

Like other appleTV+ shows the picture quality and shot angles are awesome, but the story starts off painfully slow with a lot of unnecessary detail chaotically sprinkled all over the first three episodes. Usually you see that kind of development in spinoffs and when networks try to squeeze the maximum out of a book making it into two or more tv seasons. By episode three the main characters, including Poppi, look more ambiguous than they should. Lets see how the story develops, who knows maybe the stellar cast is in it for the story not just the money.
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Almost two decades ago, Poppy Parnell's (Octavia Spencer) investigative reporting helped put Warren Cave (played as an adult by Aaron Paul) away for life for murdering his neighbor, a prominent author. But as TRUTH BE TOLD begins, Poppy sees new evidence that the murdered man's teenage daughter Lanie (played as an adult by Lizzy Caplan) may have been coached by police to finger Cave for the murder. With new questions about Cave's innocence -- and about her own responsibility for portraying him as a monster -- Parnell decides to use the soapbox of her successful true crime podcast to delve into the murder once more.

Is It Any Good?

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

With its five-star cast and a fresh premise, this drama comes on like something new and notable but it plays out more like a middling crime drama, a poor man's How to Get Away with Murder, maybe. But when Murder premiered in 2014, the idea of a movie star on a TV series was still enough to bring some frisson to the proceedings; now, deep into television's modern golden age, it takes more to attract loyal viewers, even though -- and who could deny it? -- principal players Octavia Spencer, Aaron Paul, and Lizzy Caplan are all enormously appealing and sympathetic. And it's not that Truth Be Told is even bad, it just doesn't rise above what viewers are already watching. There are soap-opera-ish revelations -- secret lives, mistaken identities, illicit affairs -- and twists and turns, and characters with fatal flaws, and storylines that could be cleared up if people would just talk to each other like human beings instead of dropping cryptic clues.

The show also suffers from a slow pace, taking its time to get to places it knew you would get, which robs some of the sudden revelations of their urgency. And it cranks up the stakes unrealistically: Poppy podcasts every week? And she plans to keep up her podcasting schedule even while she investigates Warren's case? That's not a thing. It takes investigative journalists weeks, months, years to gather evidence and put together any kind of narrative because in real life, twists aren't conveniently doled out on the reg. Warren's mom has terminal cancer; she was given six months to live four months ago, and hopes that Poppy's podcast will free her son in time for her to see him on the outside before her death. Um, you thought your son's life in prison with no parole sentence will be overturned in 8 weeks after a journalist has just begun her investigation? Wishful thinking is a thing but this is ridiculous; what a shame, Caplan, Spencer, Paul and everyone else in the cast deserves better.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about why dramas about violent crime and legal cases are such an enduring staple of network television. What types of ongoing possibilities for plots do they offer? Why would this be attractive for a television series? Does giving the main character a podcast change the show significantly?

  • Does Poppy Parnell seem like a journalist who might write about homicide cases? Why, or why not? What about her or her job seems realistic or unrealistic to you? Do you buy that she might have a major true crime podcast with a huge audience? How does Truth Be Told signal how successful and powerful she is? Does Poppy's reach and power seem realistic?

  • How do the characters on Truth Be Told demonstrate perseverance and integrity? Why are these important character strengths?

TV Details

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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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