Profanity is used throughout: "f--k," "motherf---er," "a--hole," and many uses of the N-word to show examples of racism in late-1960s/early-'70s America.
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Characters are sometimes shown drinking alcohol. There's obviously also some focus on cigars, but the title reference is more about Cuba, where some of the action takes place.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.
Messages about community, selflessness, and compassion.
Positive Role Models
some
Characters show bravery, leadership, and ingenuity.
Diverse Representations
a little
Though it features a predominantly Black cast, the show also falls into the "White savior" trope by focusing on Bert Schneider's role in Huey P. Newton's story.
Parents need to know that The Big Cigar is an action drama based on historical events. The series turns a story about Black Panther founder Huey P. Newton into a heist series, as he tries to escape the U.S. for Cuba. The series features violence, especially police violence and gun violence, and profanity that includes frequent use of the N-word to portray racism in the late 1960s and early '70s.
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What's the Story?
In THE BIG CIGAR, Black Panther Party founder Huey P. Newton (Andre Holland) enlists help from Hollywood to evade the Feds and make an elaborate escape to Cuba. Chased by an agent masquerading as a long-haired hippie, and trying to settle disputes among the Black Panthers, Newton must find a way to trust producer Bert Schneider (Alessandro Nivola) to help him flee the country.
Many streaming series attempt to stretch a little bit of story out to a long running time, but this show goes in the opposite direction. Despite its six-episode run, the Don Cheadle-helmed The Big Cigar packs too much into too little time. The result is a dizzying series that never digs deep enough into its fascinating premise and doesn't give viewers many reasons to root for its heroes if they don't already know their history.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the Black Panthers. How familiar were you with the Black Panther organization and their role in American culture during and after the Civil Rights Movement? How are the Black Panthers portrayed in this series? How true do you think this is to real life?
How does The Big Cigar use the action genre as a launchpad to discuss real American history? What did you learn from the series? Which characters do you want to know more about?
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 Marty Brown
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
