Parents' Guide to

Betty

TV HBO Drama 2020
Betty Poster Image

Common Sense Media Review

Joyce Slaton By Joyce Slaton , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 15+

Language, drugs in fresh, feminist skateboard series.

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Why Age 15+?

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Our review:
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A loose-limbed joy ride that'll make viewers want to move to New York City and start rolling around on a board, this show feels both real and fresh, a slice of life we've never seen before. The first thing most who watch will catch onto is the gorgeous camera work, as Kirt weaves casually in and out of traffic, running red lights, grabbing onto the back of a truck when she needs a lift and then gracefully gliding away when it stops. It looks terrifying, but joyful; something most people would never do, but watching it, you kind of want to. When she makes it to the skate park the camera's gaze goes wild, wandering from board-level to shots from above to watch heart-stopping tricks.

The group of young women at the heart of Betty's untethered story takes some time to come together, and it's a joy to watch as they cheer each other on in a corner of the skate park and roam the city streets on one mission or another. They look tough and beautiful, skating in a wedge that literally stops traffic, but off their boards, all the problems in their lives creep in. The girls are empowered by their mode of transport: "That's why we have boards, so we don't have to take the bus," says Camille. "We hop on our boards, we're out." Exactly. On stable ground, there are unfaithful boyfriends, and creeps who steal your stuff and catcall, and parents who push you around. On wheels, this group is unstoppable.

TV Details

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