Parents' Guide to

iZombie

TV CW Drama 2015
iZombie Poster Image

Common Sense Media Review

Melissa Camacho By Melissa Camacho , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 14+

Quirky zombie-detective show has violence, heart (and guts).

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 14+?

Any Positive Content?

  • iZombie TV Show: Scene #1
  • iZombie TV Show: Scene #2
  • iZombie TV Show: Scene #3
  • iZombie TV Show: Scene #4

Parent and Kid Reviews

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age 14+

Based on 11 parent reviews

Katherine R.
Katherine R. Parent of 12, 14, 18+, 18+, 18+ and 5-year-old
July 16, 2024
age 17+

Katrina L.
Katrina L. Parent of 14-year-old
May 2, 2024
age 13+

Very clever, fun, and funny show.

I'm 2 seasons in, and it's bound to go downhill at some point. But so far it has some of the best TV writing I've ever enjoyed. My absolute favorite part, is how the characters interact with each other. They behave like ADULT HUMANS. Misunderstandings happen, and get talked through. Secrets are kept, but for good reasons. The people care about each other, and act like it. Trust is built, lost, and rebuilt in believable ways. The script is GREAT, and anything that you think doesn't make sense, is later shown to make perfect sense. And there are some great twists! But one of my favorite things is that if they don't think they can surprise you, they don't try. They leave a brilliant trail of bread crumbs that let you know exactly what's going to happen instead of insulting our intelligence by pretending like it's a surprise when it's not. And that makes the actual surprises so much better! I clicked on "great role models" because the main characters are principled, kind, hardworking and reasonable humans.
See all 11 parent reviews

What's the Story?

From the creator of Veronica Mars and loosely based on the comic book series of the same name, IZOMBIE is a drama about a medical resident-turned zombie committed to fighting crime. Overachiever Olivia "Liv" Moore (Rose McIver) had the perfect life, but everything changes when she's scratched during a brain-sucking zombie attack. Now undead, she attempts to preserve what's left of her humanity by taking a job at the coroner's office, where she secretly feeds on the brains of those already dead. Her new diet also allows her to access the memories of the deceased, which she uses to help local police detective Clive Babinaux (Malcolm Goodwin). But her new life (and new look) confuses her best friend Peyton Charles (Aly Michalka); her mom, Eva (Molly Hagan); and her now-ex-fiancé, Major Lilywhite (Robert Buckley). Further complicating things is Blaine (David Anders), who becomes a presence in her life thanks to his own link to the zombie world. Luckily, medical examiner Ravi Chakrabarti (Rahul Kohli) is determined to help her out by providing her a steady supply of fresh brains and learning everything he can about zombies to find a scientific way to make her fully human again.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (11 ):
Kids say (44 ):

The quirky police-procedural formula combines good writing, well-placed humor, and, of course, zombie creepiness in a way that makes this unconventional show entertaining and lively. Liv's charm even manages to make her unsavory brain-eating moments a bit more palatable. But, beneath all the blood and guts is a tale about a young woman trying to cope with the loss of the life she loved, while being forced to accept the present.

Granted, the actual crime narratives range from being slightly predictable to bordering on obvious. Fans of the comic book saga also may find the TV adaptation lacking some of the serial's stranger details. But it successfully captures Liv Moore's peculiar appeal, which makes her story compelling. It's a fun, heartfelt series that is both enjoyable and uniquely engaging.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the popularity of zombies, vampires, and other scary creatures in the media. What makes them appealing? Did you know that these types of characters were popular in the 1920s and '30s? Why did they become popular again? How long do you think this trend will last?

TV Details

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