Wolfblood
Parents say
Based on 8 reviews
Kids say
Based on 34 reviews
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Wolfblood
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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 Wolfblood is a British drama series for older tweens and teens about creatures similar to werewolves. At its heart are two teens just coming of age and thus newly indoctrinated in the process of transforming who learn to lean on each other to navigate the changes, cope with the challenges of keeping their powers and alter egos hidden, and deal with the feeling of being outsiders. There are decent examples of role models in Maddy's wolfblood parents, who offer guidance both to their daughter and to her new friend. Despite the show's roots in the supernatural, there's little content here that's truly scary (they don't hunt people, for instance), and the characters often remind each other -– and viewers -– that, unlike werewolves, they're not monsters. That said, expect enough tense situations, scenes set in dark places, and dramatic scenarios that more sensitive tweens should sit this one out.
Community Reviews
WAY TOO SCARY
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4'9 for adults. OK for kids & teens.
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What's the Story?
By all accounts, Maddy Smith (Aimee Kelly) is an average teen muddling her way through school, friendships, and social woes. But what people around her don't know is that she's actually far from average; she's a wolfblood, a creature similar to a werewolf in full-moon transformations. When a sullen newcomer, Rhydian (Bobby Lockwood), arrives at her school, she recognizes that he's a wolfblood, too, and she worries that his reckless ways will reveal the secret they share. She soon befriends him, and her parents pass him off as a distant cousin so they can help guide both teens through the ups and downs of their first transformative years.
Is It Any Good?
WOLFBLOOD is like a light version of Twilight; it has mythical creatures whose heightened humanity separates themselves from their full-blown monster cousins; an unexpected friendship born of sharing a secret; and constant drama surrounding the protection of that secret. Contrary to many popular monster dramas, though, this one is light on violence and only mildly startling in parts, so it's a contender for families looking to break into the genre slowly. That said, kids may still be scared at transformation scenes and at the concept of creatures of the dark in general, so consider your own kids' sensitivity before plugging into this one.
For older tweens, though, Wolfblood explores social issues like friendship, honesty, and fitting into a peer group. Even though its focus is on two pretty extreme cases of teens feeling like outsiders, their emotional journeys may still have some themes that you and your tweens can discuss with relation to their lives.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about fitting in with friends. Tweens: Do you feel pressure to look or act a specific way when you're around certain friends? What happens if you don't conform? Is individuality something to be celebrated?
Maddy and Rhydian have special powers because they're wolfbloods. How do they put them to good use? Do they ever do harm with them? How do you use your special talents to help other people?
Tweens: How does the violence in this series rank against others you've seen? Is scary content as worrisome as violence, or is it less so? Do you think there's a market for shows that are only borderline scary, or does it just breed the desire for shows with more intense themes?
TV Details
- Premiere date: September 10, 2012
- Cast: Aimee Kelly, Bobby Lockwood
- Network: Disney Channel
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: High School, Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
- TV rating: TV-PG
- Last updated: April 23, 2022
Our Editors Recommend
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Eerie, Indiana
Short-lived '90s series is more fun than frightful.
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R.L. Stine's The Haunting Hour
More thrills and goosebumps for tough-skinned tweens.
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Goosebumps
Spooky spin on books may be too scary for kids.
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