Alcoholism is a major theme of the show. Hank is a recovering alcoholic; some of his former colleagues continue to drink. Beer and wine drinking are visible. References to drugs like speed. Cigarettes are also visible; references are made to quitting.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.
Apple iPhones are clearly visible (and talked about).
Positive Messages
very little
While the series sends strong messages about the necessity to fight addiction and the importance of friendship and relationships, it also has a strong focus on themes like murder, illegal activities, addiction, and unethical ways of doing business.
Positive Role Models
very little
Dolworth and Pollack are good friends with ultimately good motives, but they're also guys who aren't afraid to engage in illicit tactics to get information. Dolworth is a recovering alcoholic who's now clean and encourages others to get help.
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that this dramatic comedy series about friends/unconventional private eyes has lots of adult content, including unbleeped language ("s--t") and some sexual activity and partial nudity (bare buttocks are visible). Physical assaults, gun violence, and bloody gunshot wounds are also visible, and alcohol addiction and drug use are major themes. Teens with a taste for edgy fare will probably be drawn to it, but parents will want to exercise caution before giving the OK to tune in.
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What's the Story?
TERRIERS follows ex-cop/recovering alcoholic Hank Dolworth (Donal Logue) and his best friend, Britt Pollack (Michael Raymond-James), who've partnered to create a small, unlicensed private investigation business. When the ragtag duo uncovers evidence that leads to a murder investigation of one of Ocean Town's most powerful residents, they use Dolworth's police smarts and some questionable tactics to conduct their own inquiries. Things get even more complicated thanks to Hank's ex-wife, Gretchen (Kimberly Quinn), and his former partner, Detective Mark Gustafson (Rockmond Dunbar). Meanwhile, Britt attempts to balance his life helping his BFF while keeping his relationship with girlfriend Katie (Laura Allen) going. Throughout it all, friend/attorney Maggie Lefferts (Jamie Denbo) is there to offer her legal advice.
This adult-oriented series successfully combines quick-witted humor and suspenseful drama to create a show that's plenty of fun to watch. The main characters are extremely likable despite being chronically flawed, and the show's effective writing makes its otherwise ordinary storylines more interesting.
People who like investigative TV shows will enjoy this series. But while it's entertaining, some of its content is decidedly adult. Still, for viewers both old and mature enough to handle it, Terriers offers up some solid entertainment.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how this show compares to others about private investigators. What do the characters have in common with other TV P.I.s? How are they different?
How does the media typically portray addicted characters? Do you think they're there to teach viewers something? Parents: Get tips on talking to your teens about some of these issues.
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.
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
By Melissa Camacho
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
