First, she dropped out of medical school. Then she broke off her engagement. But one thing that Dani hasn’t quit is her belief in God. She knows that God has a purpose for her. And she believes that if she steps out in faith to follow His calling, He’ll provide the rest.

Which is how she wound up working as an EMT for the County Rescue department. It’s been a tough road, and the destination still isn’t exactly clear.

Dani feels like she’s on the path God wants her to be on. However, during her training, she was one of three candidates vying for the one permanent job available. And Dani didn’t get it. But she managed to snag a temporary position after another EMT took a six-month leave of absence to seek help for his alcohol addiction.

Now, that six-month window is coming to a close, and Dani still isn’t sure where God wants her. To make matters more confusing, she’s just learned her ex-fiancé, Hunter, has moved back to town and taken a position as an ER doctor at the hospital—the same one she delivers patients to when she’s on duty. If another EMT position opens up and Dani stays, she’ll have to contend with that complication (not to mention the two other guys who are also romantically interested in her). But if she goes, she’s not sure where God will send her next.

Still, Dani’s friends reassure her: If she’ll just have faith and allow God to speak to her, He’ll show her exactly where He wants her to be.

Comforting Rescue

Many TV fans love their medical dramas. One need only look to the success of shows such as Grey’s Anatomy, The Good Doctor or Chicago Med (or beloved older series such as ER, St. Elsewhere or even M*A*S*H, for that matter) to understand that. But Great American Pure Flix brings something new to the genre that makes it stand out against the rest.

County Rescue doesn’t have any foul language or sordid affairs. Dani allows her faith to guide her decisions, not her next romantic liaison. Other characters allow their faith to govern their lives, too. And although not everyone here is a Christian, even nonbelievers are positively impacted by the conviction of their faith-filled coworkers.

Like other medical shows, things can still get pretty intense. Dani and the other EMTs are saving lives, after all. Some people crash under that pressure. (One of Dani’s coworkers takes to drinking, eventually seeking professional help for his addiction.) But no matter what hardships they face, the team comes together like a family, supporting one another and lifting each person up.

And don’t worry, if you’re drawn to this genre’s penchant for interpersonal drama, there’s still plenty of that: Dani is the romantic interest of at least three guys, after all. But it’s all presented in a wholesome, comforting way that will make you root for the characters, not gossip about their salacious antics.

(Editor’s Note: Plugged In is rarely able to watch every episode of a given series for review. As such, there’s always a chance that you might see a problem that we didn’t. If you notice content that you feel should be included in our review, send us an email at letters@pluggedin.com, or contact us via Facebook or Instagram, and be sure to let us know the episode number, title and season so that we can check it out.)

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Of course, not everyone feels the same as Coach Dan, namely his daughter Laurie. She hasn’t made a single play all season—not one hit, one catch, one game-winning throw. And she’s starting to believe what everyone is saying: that she’s only there because she’s the coach’s kid.

Laurie isn’t the only one stressing out before the big game, though. Teammates, parents and even the umpires are all facing their own insecurities, anxieties and fears.

But what they’ll all learn soon is, in the game of life, it doesn’t matter who wins or loses: It’s about how you look at it.

Some Wins, Some Losses

Win or Lose is the first original series to come from Disney’s Pixar. But it faced some heavy scrutiny even before it aired: In December 2024, Disney announced that it had pulled a transgender storyline from the series.

“When it comes to animated content for a younger audience, we recognize that many parents would prefer to discuss certain subjects with their children on their own terms and timeline,” a Disney spokesperson told The Hollywood Reporter.

The character still exists in the show (and is voiced by a trans person), but the verbal cues indicating gender identity have been removed. And given Disney’s proclivity for introducing LGBT storylines (2022’s Lightyear and Strange World both featured gay characters), there’s still a chance other LGBT characters could pop up. (Indeed, the janitor of the Pickles’ school behaves in an effeminate manner that may suggest same-sex leanings to some.)

There are some other heavy topics to be mindful of, as well. Laurie’s parents are divorced and still struggling to find a balance in their co-parenting. Rochelle, Laurie’s teammate, is being raised by single mom Vanessa, who is facing her own insecurities and challenges. And Frank, the umpire, after trying out a dating app, is heartbroken to learn that his ex is now engaged. However, these topics are largely navigable if parents are able to walk their younger viewers through them.

Some potentially less navigable issues include a few misuses of God’s name. Laurie prays to God, asking him for help during a softball game, but we also later see her mom doing a Tarot card reading. Viewers will be exposed to some mild violence (a girl gets walloped by a softball to the face, for instance) and occasional toilet humor.

Win or Lose does do a couple of things well. Parents (ahem) step up to the plate, reassuring their kids and helping them through difficult times. Friends are there for each other. And teammates learn that the most important part of the game isn’t winning or losing; it really is about having fun.

For parents, Win or Lose is far from a home run. Will it round the bases and slide into your home? It’ll be up to you to say whether this lands fair … or foul.

(Editor’s Note: Plugged In is rarely able to watch every episode of a given series for review. As such, there’s always a chance that you might see a problem that we didn’t. If you notice content that you feel should be included in our review, send us an email at letters@pluggedin.com, or contact us via Facebook or Instagram, and be sure to let us know the episode number, title and season so that we can check it out.)

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His name is Peter Parker. He was bitten by a radioactive spider. And for the last few months, he’s been the one and only Spider-Man.

The elements are the same. The details, however, are where you’ll see that things are very much different.

Because in this timeline, Peter Parker never got to attend Midtown High; that school got shut down following damage from a fight between Doctor Strange and an alien symbiote.

Because of that, Peter Parker never met MJ or Ned or any of the other characters in the Tom Holland Spidey universe. And that’s why he swung a different direction to get to school. That’s how he ended up saving Harry Osborn from a group of muggers.

So, when he returns home, it’s not Mr. Tony Stark whom he finds chatting with his Aunt May in the living room; it’s Norman Osborn, looking to offer Peter an internship at Oscorp Industries.

Yes, that’s quite different from the stories we know. But for all those differences, you can still count on one thing: Peter Parker is still your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.

Not Everything Sticks

Sure, Captain America “can do this all day,” but it’s Spider-Man who doesn’t have an issue returning to the limelight, over and over.

Since 2000, the character’s gotten 10 feature-length films and six shows as the main character. And with more in development, the web-slinging teenage vigilante shows no signs of slowing down.

Enter his seventh show since 2000, the animated Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, which places Peter under the mentorship of the villain Norman Osborn. And fans of Marvel will likewise immediately recognize the names of other heroes and villains who appear in the show, such as Nico Minoru, Lonnie Lincoln and Jeanne Foucault. In fact, the roster of comic characters in this show provides Spider-Man with a hefty number of potential opponents he’ll eventually have to fight.

It’s no problem for Spider-Man, since he’ll swing a fist just as easily as he’ll swing on a web. And if you’re interested in watching a Spider-Man entry, you probably expect to see some violence (PG, this time). But in case you aren’t up to date on some of the other characters, Peter’s newest best friend, Nico Minoru, is openly bisexual. And should she follow the route of the comics, we’ll see her soon develop into a powerful sorceress.

Lastly, despite the PG rating, viewers should note that light language is used, including “h—,” “a–” and misuses of God’s name.

And because of those things, not everything in this show will be as friendly as a neighborhood Spider-Man.

(Editor’s Note: Plugged In is rarely able to watch every episode of a given series for review. As such, there’s always a chance that you might see a problem that we didn’t. If you notice content that you feel should be included in our review, send us an email at letters@pluggedin.com, or contact us via Facebook or Instagram, and be sure to let us know the episode number, title and season so that we can check it out.)

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You feel pretty good: You’re already in the top half of players (the other 1,000 people were eliminated in a YouTube video before the show even began).

You’re given a blue-and-white tracksuit with a number on it. Then, you’re told that players will be eliminated through a series of strategic and chance-based games until only one walks away with $5 million. Countless employees in black suits, silently walk around the game, their faces hidden behind jet-black masks with nothing but white lines running across them. And it’s all run by a multimillionaire for the entertainment of others.

Oh no, you think. I’ve accidentally stumbled onto that deadly Squid Game show.

Well, no, you haven’t. Despite the similarities, this is Beast Games, run by YouTuber Jimmy Donaldson, better known as MrBeast. So, at the very least, you don’t have to worry about dying.

But with 1,000 contestants, your chances of being the last person standing still don’t look very good.

Wipe Your Tears With a Dollar or Two

My wife and I love to watch game shows. Honestly, the only reason we have a subscription to Paramount+ is so that we can see the latest seasons of The Amazing Race and Survivor. And when a new game show comes out, we’re sure to give it a chance.

But with YouTuber MrBeast’s expensive venture into the genre, so far, it only seems to be proof that bigger isn’t always better.

1,000 contestants (2,000 if you count the premiere video for the series on Donaldson’s YouTube channel) and a five-million-dollar cash prize make the game bigger, but they also make it impersonal. Because when there are 1,000 players competing, who has time to learn any of their names? Who has the energy to root for one person when they’re eliminated by the hundreds? Indeed, it’s not until the contestants get whittled down to smaller numbers that we even begin to start hearing people called by their names rather than just the number on their shirt.

And that makes enjoying this show even more difficult, because many of the players in this game deeply desire to win. And when they don’t, our last view of many of these unnamed contestants is when they collapse to the ground, sobbing—a scene we watch time and time again. It would be unfair to claim that that’s a scene exclusive to Beast Games, but there’s something uniquely uncomfortable and troubling about it when we, the viewers, haven’t gotten to make any sort of connection with them. And, of course, when the show itself exploits their pain for its own dramatic purposes.

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the show is seeing how different contestants react amidst the competition. Despite $5 million being on the line, we see lots of people intentionally sacrifice their chance to win so that their friends (or even people they’ve met only a few days earlier) can continue on. Some participants exhibit compassion, charity and forgiveness. Some even reject significant cash prizes that they could earn by eliminating others who had put their trust in them.

But we also see cruelty, too. Contestants lash out in anger, selfishness and greed. Some scream at others to sacrifice themselves. Other contestants go back on their promises to eliminate themselves for the team, taking everyone down with them. And in one particularly cruel case, a pair of brothers verbally abuses and emotionally manipulates a woman so harshly that she breaks down crying—all while they look to the camera, smirking. All these examples become further difficult to stomach following the emergence of a lawsuit alleging contestant mistreatment on the show.

In terms of content, contestants use crude language. While the f-word is censored, we did hear an occasional use of the s-word. We also hear plenty of misuses of God’s name. And the fourth episode contains plenty of commentary from contestants who vary in their opinions about one Christian man’s frequent references to his faith.

Beast Games may very well be the biggest game show with the biggest cash prize and biggest influencer to ever appear on screen … but that, I think, is its biggest weakness, too.

It’s obviously no secret that contestants on other game shows are competing for large cash prizes. And fans of Survivor or The Amazing Race, for example, will have no difficulty telling you about hosts Jeff Probst or Phil Keoghan, respectively. But in those shows, the central characters aren’t the cash prizes nor the hosts, popular as they may be. The central characters are the contestants—real people whom you, the viewer, get to connect with, empathize and root for as you grow to know who they are. Yes, the grand prize is certainly in the back of every contestant’s mind—but the show’s storyline spends far more time focusing on the people rather than the prizes.

That’s something that simply isn’t present in Beast Games. Instead, most scenes star Donaldson and his YouTube crew narrating, explaining and reacting to the games. It stars them all-but dangling varying amounts of money in front of contestants to see which one will break first. And while some contestants naturally rise above the others, none of them successfully take the spotlight away from MrBeast or his money. Donaldson even breaks away from the show to persuade viewers to enter into a raffle via an awkward MoneyLion promotion, a move which has itself been met with scrutiny and criticism.

So despite all the money pumped into making the show, Beast Games ironically only ends up feeling pretty cheap.

(Editor’s Note: Plugged In is rarely able to watch every episode of a given series for review. As such, there’s always a chance that you might see a problem that we didn’t. If you notice content that you feel should be included in our review, send us an email at letters@pluggedin.com, or contact us via Facebook or Instagram, and be sure to let us know the episode number, title and season so that we can check it out.)

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Strictly speaking, the starship kinda stole them.

Oh, sure, they found the thing in a place they weren’t supposed to be and well after they should’ve been home eating dinner. But one thing led to another, and wouldn’t you know it, the spacecraft lifted off, kids in tow, and immediately flew into hyperspace.

Now the children are lost in space aboard what seems like a pirate ship, with only a cantankerous droid (SM-33) and an untrustworthy adult to help them.

And that untrustworthy adult? He might not be very helpful at all.

Don’t Touch Anything

The adult introduces himself as Jod Na Nawood. And Wim, the excitable kid who found the spaceship in the first place, is sure the guy’s a Jedi. He can make things float! He can send guards scurrying the other way!

But Fern, Wim’s frienemy who somehow is now the ship’s captain, thinks “Jod” is as much a Jedi as the critter who lives in SM-33’s eye socket. He’s up to something. She’s sure of it.

And a little suspicion might be called for. See, the four kids (Fern, Wim, the calculating KB and the blue-skinned Neel) come from At Attin. And that’s pretty intriguing, even if the children don’t realize it. For the kids, At Attin’s just about as pleasantly milquetoast a planet as can be found. All their parents work as analysts. Safety droids make sure everyone does what they’re supposed to do.

Boring.

But here’s the thing: The rest of the galaxy has assumed for years that At Attin was nothing more than a myth—like El Dorado or Shangri-La. And like those mysterious earthly realms, At Attin is supposedly home to an unimaginable treasure.

Jod—or whatever his name is—could use a spot of treasure. Who couldn’t? The kids just want to go home. For now, their paths align nicely. But for how long?

A Reasonably Positive Force

Disney+ has had, shall we say, an uneven history with its Star Wars shows. The Mandalorian and Andor? Pretty great. The Book of Boba Fett? Not so much.

Star Wars: Skeleton Crew has its issues, which we’ll get into. But as a straight-up show, it’s a blast.

If Andor gave us a political, shades-of-gray drama that showed us how rich and layered a Star Wars drama can be, Skeleton Crew is just flat-out fun. It’s been called Goonies in space, and honestly, that feels just about right. The first episode feels like something pulled straight out of Steven Spielberg’s bag, had the director lived in a galaxy far, far away. If Andor is Star Wars for adults, Skeleton Crew is made, gleefully, for kids. Or for kids at heart.

But that said, parents need to be mindful of some potential issues that also snuck on board.

As is the case with most Star Wars stories, viewers will be exposed to plenty of violence. None of it is particularly bloody or gory, of course, but quite a few characters (humans and humanish-creatures) get beaten up and knocked out. The threat of danger and death lurks around the dark side of every planet, it seems.

We should also note that KB apparently has two worried moms—though, given they’re halfway across the galaxy from our main players, they seem to be rather tertiary characters. We hear the occasional profanity. The Force is a powerful, potent element. Bodily functions can mess the mix, too. And, of course, our pre-pubescent heroes would’ve been safe at home had they just listened to their parents.

We certainly can’t minimize any of those issues. And yes, it’s still early in the show’s run. But compared to the grim, grimy galaxy of Andor or the murky, problematic environs of The Acolyte, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew feels like a welcome, if relative, return to form.

(Editor’s Note: Plugged In is rarely able to watch every episode of a given series for review. As such, there’s always a chance that you might see a problem that we didn’t. If you notice content that you feel should be included in our review, send us an email at letters@pluggedin.com, or contact us via Facebook or Instagram, and be sure to let us know the episode number, title and season so that we can check it out. )

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But then she discovered she had magical fire powers and accidentally destroyed half the town.

To protect Jentry from the media backlash that followed (and to prevent anyone from discovering who was responsible for the fire), Jentry’s grandmother, Gugu, sent her to boarding school in Seoul, South Korea.

Things have been going well for Jentry overseas. She’s made new friends. And while she misses her family, she’s also managed to repress her fire powers and avoid another inferno.

Unfortunately, there’s more to Jentry’s ability than simply repressing it.

It turns out that her powers are directly linked to her soul. And a Mogui from the Underworld—a sort of demon of Chinese mythology—called Mr. Cheng wants to kill Jentry and take her soul for himself so he can harness her ability.

Gugu has protected Jentry from Mr. Cheng, first by making some sort of deal for him to wait until Jentry was 16 to attack and second by hiding her away in Korea the last several years.

But now, Mr. Cheng’s agents have finally tracked Jentry down—just in time for her 16^th birthday.

Gugu had hoped she would be able to kill Cheng before he caught up with Jentry. Since that’s no longer an option, she opts to take Jentry back home to Riverfork, Texas.

Jentry is anxious to return to her hometown, in no small part because she doesn’t want to lose control of her fire powers again. But she’s even more anxious about dying a painful death at the hands of Cheng. So, she’ll need to learn to use her magical capacities to help Gugu defeat Cheng once and for all.

Magic Chinese Supernatural Stuff

Netflix’s Jentry Chau vs. the Underworld isn’t your typical fantasy-horror blend. The show gets most of its monsters and supernatural hokum from Chinese mythology (with a blend of Daoism, too). So beyond Jentry’s mystical fire soul powers, viewers are exposed to many Eastern traditions that clash pretty heavily with Christian beliefs.

We’re introduced to the diyu, which is essentially the Chinese equivalent of hell. Jentry’s home is swarming with ghosts, which she allegedly needs to open her third eye to see. Demons are pretty common in Jentry’s world, too. And we hear about qi and other concepts from Eastern religions.

The show can also get quite violent. Although nobody was killed in the Riverfork fire, it’s clear that Jentry is powerful enough to reduce someone to a crisp if she wanted. When Mr. Cheng tries his first attack, he stabs someone close to Jentry, killing that person. And while the first episode doesn’t reveal how Jentry’s parents died, it’s likely that their deaths didn’t occur naturally but supernaturally.

This series seems to have some messages about family, learning who you are and becoming the best version of yourself. But those messages are inextricably linked to the Eastern religions I already mentioned. So it Jentry Chau will likely be a non-starter for many families.

(Editor’s Note: Plugged In is rarely able to watch every episode of a given series for review. As such, there’s always a chance that you might see a problem that we didn’t. If you notice content that you feel should be included in our review, send us an email at letters@pluggedin.com, or contact us via Facebook or Instagram, and be sure to let us know the episode number, title and season so that we can check it out.)

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Citizens in this wrestling-based society live for the thrill of watching pro wrestlers body slam, takedown and headlock their opponents. Here, wrestling isn’t just a sport but a way of life. In this wrestling world, “everyone—big, small or in between—is a wrestler.”

Almost everyone, that is, except Andy.

Although Andy has dreamed about participating in the wrestling world since she was little, she happens to be a citizen of Accountant Isle, where accounting is everything. Instead of body slams, takedowns and headlocks, citizens on Accountant Isle concern themselves with taxes, balance sheets and ledgers. And junior accountant Andy has trained her whole life to become a pro … accountant.

Suffice to say, Andy’s life isn’t quite the wrestling thrill she was dreaming about.

That is, until Tax Day.

On Tax Day, all the wrestlers travel to Accountant Isle to get their taxes done. While Andy is instructed not to interact with the wrestlers—on account of her poor grades at the Junior Accountant Academy—she can’t contain her excitement. She just has to meet these wrestling stars!

Unfortunately, Andy’s first meeting with a real wrestling gang goes badly, and it culminates in a tense wrestling match. Against all odds, Andy wins. And her accountant parents—though initially shocked—send her to the city of Rustburn where she can pursue her dreams of becoming the greatest wrestler of all time.

In This Corner…

As you might expect for a show centered around wrestling, Invincible Fight Girl features violent brawls that sometimes leave characters covered in cuts and bruises. The animated violence is not overly graphic—and characters impossibly survive dramatic falls and smashes—but some younger viewers might be disturbed by the number of kicks, punches and pushes featured in these fights.

Additionally, the flashy wrestlers sometimes wear tight and revealing costumes like leotards or fitted shorts. Once again, the animation style does not attempt to make their costume choices graphic. Characters also occasionally use a bit of rough language (think words like “heck” and “stupid”), and you may hear misuses of God’s name throughout the episodes.

Aside from these minor critiques, Invincible Fight Girl contains some surprisingly positive content—despite its placement on the Cartoon Network’s typically risqué time block, Adult Swim.

When Andy decides to chase her wrestling dreams, her parents seek to understand her passion, and they even actively support her. Additionally, the show seems to emphasize the importance of finding contentment with life in addition to chasing a dream. A character tells Andy, “If a dream is the only thing that can make you feel alive, you got a lot more living to do.”

While Invincible Fight Girl does have some valid content concerns, the show’s positive messages about chasing dreams and finding contentment might give the show a fighting chance with your family.

(Editor’s Note: Plugged In is rarely able to watch every episode of a given series for review. As such, there’s always a chance that you might see a problem that we didn’t. If you notice content that you feel should be included in our review, send us an email at letters@pluggedin.com, or contact us via Facebook or Instagram, and be sure to let us know the episode number, title and season so that we can check it out. )

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Their baby, Ceecee, is nearly 1 year old. Georgie’s job (at his father-in-law’s auto store) doesn’t pay that well, and he’s struggling to make ends meet. And they’re living with Mandy’s parents, Jim and Audrey McAllister.

At first, Mandy finds living with her mother unbearable. She claims that “Every day I’m in this house with her, a little piece of me dies.” They even move out for a while. But soon they’re back, forced to deal with their cramped living situation and their quirky relatives. Mandy’s younger brother, Connor, loudly plays his self-composed music. Mandy and Georgie must share a room with their baby. And Audrey believes that Georgie—a 19-year-old high school drop-out—ruined Mandy’s life by marrying her.

When Audrey expresses her concern to Jim, he refers to the younger couple’s 12-year age gap, and retorts, “He’s a kid. If anything, she ruined his life.”

But despite the McAllisters’ doubts about him, Georgie takes initiative to become a responsible father and husband.

And it appears his efforts might pay off.

Spin-off of a Spin-off

In 2017, CBS released Young Sheldon, a show that depicts the childhood of know-it-all physicist Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory. The spin-off became almost as big a success as the original: Audiences fell in love with young Sheldon and his East Texas family—including Sheldon’s Christian mother, Mary and older brother, Georgie.

You’d think seven seasons of the Young Sheldon spin-off would satisfy audiences’ itch for more The Big Bang Theory content, but in 2024 Chuck Lorre released Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage, which continues Georgie and Mandy’s relationship where Young Sheldon left it.

Like Lorre’s other shows in this franchise, Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage contains content issues that are common in television sitcoms. Characters use mild profanity including “p-ss” and “d–n,” and their humor occasionally relies on ridiculing other individuals. Additionally, some jokes also rely on sexual innuendo, and characters frequently refer to the unconventional aspects of Georgie and Mandy’s relationship, including their 12-year age gap and their pregnancy out of wedlock.

Still, the main story ultimately centers around a family that learns to care for one another, despite their differences. And unlike some other Chuck Lorre sitcoms, which sometimes rely heavily on crass humor (Two and a Half Men most conspicuously), Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage contains some heartwarming content that might even be approved by Georgie’s Christian mom.

(Editor’s Note: Plugged In is rarely able to watch every episode of a given series for review. As such, there’s always a chance that you might see a problem that we didn’t. If you notice content that you feel should be included in our review, send us an email at letters@pluggedin.com, or contact us via Facebook or Instagram, and be sure to let us know the episode number, title and season so that we can check it out.)

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Or so she would have everyone in Fletcher’s Grove believe.

You see, Emily used to be a private investigator. But after her most recent mystery went awry, she decided to leave it all behind and start over in a small town where nobody knows her name.

Unfortunately for Emily, the past often has a way of catching up to you.

Sleigh-Ride Sleuthing

When Marcus, the fiancé of local veterinarian June Hubble (and Emily’s only true friend in town), is found murdered, June gets arrested.

Det. Sam Wilner lets it slip to Emily that Marcus was poisoned. And soon after, Emily deduces that the poison used to kill Marcus is the same chemical used in animal euthanasia—which June would have had access to, given her profession.

Emily does not believe that June is guilty though. June is the sort of person who would sacrifice her own needs to save the life of a complete stranger’s pet cat. (Which is exactly how Emily and June met.) She’s certainly not the sort to kill the man she loves.

But Sam isn’t so sure. For starters, June and Marcus are actually divorced. They’d been apart for three years before giving their marriage a second chance. On top of that, Marcus had been acting strangely before his untimely demise. He’d emptied his savings account and given his notice at the bank (where he’d recently been offered a promotion).

Emily still isn’t convinced, so she “temporarily” falls back on some of her old sleuthing habits. But snooping around just might put Emily back in the same danger that brought her to Fletcher’s Grove to begin with.

A Murder in a Pear Tree

Hallmark+’s Mistletoe Murders is based on the Audible original series of the same name. It’s free of the crude language, sex scenes and substance abuse that we find in so many shows on other streaming platforms these days.

However, that isn’t to say it’s your usual Hallmark fare. It is a murder mystery, after all.

For example, we see pictures of Marcus’ body on Sam’s computer as he investigates. Flashbacks show Emily racing to beat a countdown just before a bomb explodes behind her. (The show seems to promise more hints about this bombing and Emily’s past as the series continues.) And prior to the end of the first episode, a second victim is poisoned.

The show also deals with unplanned pregnancies. We’re told that just before Marcus and June got back together, he was dating a woman named Lizzy. Lizzy is now pregnant and dating Marcus’ boss. And Emily finds a picture of an ultrasound hidden in Marcus’ house.

Could Lizzy’s baby really be Marcus’ child? Or is June secretly pregnant too?

It’s a lot of drama for a small town, but Emily is determined to solve all these mysteries and save Fletcher’s Grove.

(Editor’s Note: Plugged In is rarely able to watch every episode of a given series for review. As such, there’s always a chance that you might see a problem that we didn’t. If you notice content that you feel should be included in our review, send us an email at letters@pluggedin.com, or contact us via Facebook or Instagram, and be sure to let us know the episode number, title and season so that we can check it out.)

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He’s the pinnacle of nature and the top apostle of Mother Earth. And because of humanity’s excessive pollution, he’s on a mission to exterminate the human pests.

But there’s a puny human standing in his way. What can one measly human do against someone as powerful as Vaccine Man? Who dares to challenge him?

Those are the last thoughts flying through Vaccine Man’s head as it soars, involuntarily, off his body.

The human, Saitama, cries out in frustration.

“Not again. All it took was one punch!”

A Punchline to Die For

How did Saitama, also known as One-Punch Man, become the world’s strongest man? Well, he’ll tell you.

Every day for three years, Saitama did 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups and 100 squats, all followed by a 10-kilometer run. He ate three meals a day. And he didn’t rely on air conditioning.

No, really. That’s all it took. And ever since then, he’s been able to defeat any villain in a single punch.

You’d think that such power would feel great. But Saitama’s grown tired of it over the years. He longs for the old days, when his heart would soar with emotion during battle. Now, his heart just feels empty.

“Having overwhelming strength is pretty boring, actually,” he says.

So, sure, Saitama will stop the giant whose footprints destroy whole city blocks. He’ll make sure that the giant mosquito lady stops sucking the blood from every citizen in town. But it’s sort of like an Olympic ping pong champion playing against a toddler: It’s not much fun for either participant.

That is, until he can find someone who can match his power.

Punching Below Your Weight Class

No matter how much you train, there’s always going to be someone stronger than you. Unless you’re Saitama. And he’ll tell you that the top is a pretty boring place to be.

One-Punch Man doesn’t mean to explode his enemies. He just gets excited at the possibility that maybe this time, the monster he’s fighting can take it. And as another antagonist’s guts rain from the sky, well, turns out it couldn’t.

Violence is the primary issue in the animated series One-Punch Man. When villains die (most of whom are weird hybrid mash-ups of man and monster), they tend to explode, their insides quickly becoming outsides. And when normal people die, they bleed the same as all the others.

Animated sensuality is present, too: One female villain is a blend between a mosquito and a human, and her backside and breasts are accentuated. Likewise, another female villain’s costume is nothing more than a BDSM outfit and whip. Men likewise wear tight clothing or underwear, and on a couple occasions, Saitama’s clothes are destroyed in battle, leaving his naked rear exposed to the audience (with objects strategically covering him during any frontal shots). And a homosexual male hero appears, too.

Mild profanity is present, too.

Audiences will need to keep such things in mind if they plan to survive the punches One-Punch Man throws at them.

(Editor’s Note: Plugged In is rarely able to watch every episode of a given series for review. As such, there’s always a chance that you might see a problem that we didn’t. If you notice content that you feel should be included in our review, send us an email at letters@pluggedin.com, or contact us via Facebook or Instagram, and be sure to let us know the episode number, title and season so that we can check it out.)

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