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A Nearly Normal Family
By Marty Brown,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Sexual violence is at center of Swedish crime drama.
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A Nearly Normal Family
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What's the Story?
A NEARLY NORMAL FAMILY tells the story of Stella Sandell (Alexandra Karlsson Tyrefors), a 19-year-old on trial for murder whose parents may have helped her cover up the crime. Stella meets Christoffer Olsen (Christian Fandango Sundgren) on her birthday, but six weeks into their relationship he's found stabbed to death. When Stella gets arrested, her parents, a pastor, and a lawyer, attempt to get rid of some of the evidence, knowing that their actions may implicate them in the crime as well.
Is It Any Good?
Though not nearly as graphic or fetishizing as much of the sexual violence depicted in prestige dramas (see Game of Thrones), the rape scenes in this Swedish crime drama don't quite sit right. A Nearly Normal Family attempts to show a family slowly unraveling after a traumatic event, but it's also beholden to creating mystery and suspense, which prevents the series from really diving into the personal fallout directly. As a result, the rapes are used almost entirely as plot points, which makes them feel exploitative. A Nearly Normal Family depicts a somewhat compelling mystery, but, depending on the viewer, its central flaw might be tough to look past.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about sexual violence. How do the episodes of sexual violence in A Nearly Normal Family relate to the rest of the series? How are these moments portrayed by the actors and director?
How does the decision made by Stella's parents at the beginning of the series affect the rest of the plot? Do you think they made the right decision? What could they have done differently?
When do the characters communicate best with one another? When do they fail to communicate? How does the lack of communication between them affect what happens to them throughout the series?
TV Details
- Premiere date: November 24, 2023
- Cast: Lo Kauppi , Björn Bengtsson , Alexandra Karlsson Tyrefors
- Network: Netflix
- Genre: Drama
- TV rating: TV-MA
- Last updated: December 5, 2023
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