Common Sense Media Review
By Kari Croop , based on child development research. How do we rate?
age 15+
Historical series doesn't downplay war's graphic realities.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
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Violence & Scariness
a lot
Graphic visuals include shootings, bayonet stabbings, and beatings that result in dead bodies and spurting blood.
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Sex, Romance & Nudity
some
Sex is strongly implied with thrusting, moaning, bare backs, and hints of buttocks and breasts; sexual harassment and innuendo.
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Language
a little
Words such as "damn" and "hell" (and, in one instance, "tits") audible.
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Drinking, Drugs & Smoking
a little
Social drinking; occasional drunkenness.
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Positive Messages
some
The central message is that standing up for what you believe takes courage, passion, and bravery -- but that you might have to betray your family and government to do it. Average citizens can become heroes.
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Positive Role Models
a little
The show's central character is a relatable, everyday hero who makes sacrifices and risks his life for the sake of doing the right thing. That said, female characters are scarce, and there's a noticeable lack of minority role models.
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Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Turn is a historical drama set in 1776, during the early years of the Revolutionary War. Violence tends toward the graphic and realistic, with shootings, stabbings, beatings, and spurting blood. As for sex, it isn't constant, but it's strongly suggested in most episodes with passionate kissing, partial nudity, and some love scenes that leave little to the imagination. Language is generally tame (think "hell" and "damn" and, one time, "tits"), and characters drink socially, sometimes to excess.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Turn: Washington's Spies
Parent and Kid Reviews
See all
- Parents say (9)
- Kids say (14)
age 16+
Based on 9 parent reviews
Trotter0001 Adult
February 28, 2021
age 18+
Why so much sex?
Is every film producer now a womanizer? No one desires to see woman tits or sex. Move away from it. We will no longer be watching!
ConssumerRay Adult
April 23, 2020
age 15+
Turn Turns In Compelling History Storytelling
Turn : Washington Spies is a compelling and well written, although slow moving story of the revolution. What's important here is not the pace, but the history that families learn from this contemporary re-telling of the American Revolution and it's told in fine form. The stories are well thought out, but told from an adults perspective of the war which means it's not for the younger set. For the mid-teenage set, but certainly educational
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See all 9 parent reviews
What's the Story?
When the rebel Americans serving under General George Washington need a "man on the inside" to help them spy on British forces during the Revolutionary War, unassuming cabbage farmer Abe Woodhull (Jamie Bell) becomes an unlikely hero as part of America's first spy ring. But deciding to TURN against his colonial government -- and his loyalist father (Kevin McNally) -- puts everything Abe has worked for at risk.
Is It Any Good?
Our review:
Parents say (9):
Kids say (14):
Based on Alexander Rose's nonfiction book Washington's Spies, which charts the creation of America's first spy ring, Turn gets points for bringing history to the small screen and shedding light on a little-known benchmark in American espionage. (The show's opening credits -- with animation that mimics the look of hand-cut silhouette art and music by the National's Matt Berninger and the Civil Wars' Joy Williams -- also are a compelling highlight.) But the thrill will be gone for some not long after the series gets going, thanks to a slow-building story and characters who take their time giving us reason to root for them. Still, the show's die-hard fans know it does get better, even buzzworthy, if you just give it time.
On the surface, Turn seems like a great way to learn something about American history in a format that's far more appealing than a textbook. But parents hoping to use it as a learning tool for older teens might want to think twice, given its graphic visuals and suggestive sex that skirts the line of age-appropriateness. We also wish the show's female characters -- to say nothing of people of color, who are mostly shown doing menial tasks for white characters -- contributed more to the story than subplots and supportive lines.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Turn's take on the Revolutionary War and whether that portrayal seems accurate or exaggerated. Which elements contribute to a sense of realism? (Think about violence and costuming, for example.) How does the show compare with what you know to be true about the American colonies during that time?
How does Turn's title foreshadow the central conflicts of the series? How many levels of meaning does the word "turn" have in relation to the show's plot and characters?
How much screen time does the series give to women and minorities? Does their limited presence mirror the realities of the time period, and does that make the show's lack of diversity OK?
TV Details
- Premiere date: April 6, 2014
- Cast: Jamie Bell, Angus Macfadyen, Heather Lind
- Network: AMC
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: History
- TV rating: TV-14
- Award: NAACP Image Award - NAACP Image Award Nominee
- Last updated: October 3, 2024
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.
Turn: Washington's Spies
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