Common Sense Media Review
By Ashley Moulton
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Tween adventure features fun, friendship, ferocious dinos.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Jurassic World: Chaos Theory
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 21 parent reviews
What's the Story?
JURASSIC WORLD: CHAOS THEORY picks up the story where Camp Cretaceous left off. The teenagers who survived being stranded on Isla Nublar with dinosaurs for a year try to move on with their lives. Darius (Paul-Mikél Williams) in particular is struggling with grief and guilt in the aftermath of his friend Brooklynn's death; she was killed by a rogue dinosaur after she returned home from the island. His fellow camper Ben (Sean Giambrone) finds Darius to warn him about a conspiracy theory: that the dinosaurs are actually hunting each of the "Nublar Six" teens who survived Camp Cretaceous. Darius thinks Ben's ideas are unfounded at first. He slowly comes around to the idea when he realizes that there's a pattern to all the "random" dinosaur attacks. Darius and Ben go on a road trip across the United States to warn their "camp fam" of the impending danger. Once again, they team up and fight for their survival in a world where dinosaurs live alongside humans.
Is It Any Good?
Dino-loving tweens who are looking for more adventure than preschool dinosaur shows but aren't quite ready for the grown-up Jurassic Park/World movies will love this series. Like its predecessor Camp Cretaceous, there's constant action and adventure. (It's not necessary to have watched the Camp Cretaceous series to enjoy Chaos Theory, but knowing the backstories might add to enjoyment.) The dinosaurs look super cool and realistic, and the unpredictability of where they'll pop up baring their teeth next is half the fun. The teenage characters are compelling and nuanced; they seem like real kids, albeit kids put in tremendously challenging circumstances. The teenage boy characters are notable for their vulnerability, emotional availability, and lack of over-the-top masculine stereotypical behaviors (despite fighting dinosaurs). Plots are interesting and each episode ends in a cliffhanger, making it hard to resist bingeing. Adults and tweens will enjoy watching this dino-tastic adventure together.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
The kids in Chaos Theory are excellent communicators. Can you think of an example when they share their emotions with each other, even when they're having difficult feelings?
The Camp Cretaceous kids all display tremendous courage. Do you think you could summon the same bravery when facing dinosaurs or other scary situations?
Teamwork is essential for the teens to help keep each other safe. Can you think about how they play to each other's strengths when they work together?
Families can talk about the grief the teenagers feel over their friend's death. How are the various characters working through their intense feelings?
TV Details
- Premiere date: May 24, 2024
- Cast: Paul-Mikel Williams , Sean Giambrone , Kausar Mohammed , Darren Barnet
- Network: Netflix
- Genre: Kids' Animation
- Topics: Dinosaurs , Adventures , Friendship , Great Boy Role Models , Great Girl Role Models
- Character Strengths: Communication , Courage , Teamwork
- TV rating: TV-Y7
- Award: Common Sense Selection
- Last updated: May 22, 2024
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