Medium
Here's what we found in Medium. Every family is different — get a report that reflects yours.
Screen for YOUR familyParent's Guide to Medium
Medium (2005) is an American supernatural procedural drama series that aired for seven seasons, initially on NBC and later on CBS. The show centers on Allison DuBois, a wife and mother of three who works as a consultant for the Phoenix District Attorney's office, using her psychic visions about dead people to help solve crimes. Her husband, Joe, initially a skeptic, becomes a supporter as Allison's abilities prove invaluable in criminal investigations. The series explores themes of the supernatural, intuition, family dynamics under stress, and ethical questions surrounding the use of psychic abilities in law enforcement. Due to its focus on murder investigations, crime scenes, and disturbing supernatural elements, the show is generally recommended for audiences aged 14 and older.
Things to Consider
Violence
The series frequently features murder investigations with descriptions of violence and crime scenes. While not always visually graphic, the themes are consistently dark and can be disturbing. Plugged In notes that the grisly crime scenes and brutal reenactments would likely earn an R-rating if it were a film. Specific instances include blood splattering on bystanders, victims with gaping knife wounds and bullet holes, and plotlines involving twisted criminals.
Violence includes graphic descriptions and visuals of crime scenes, such as gunshots resulting in blood spattering across faces and victims with gaping knife wounds and bullet holes. The show has depicted a serial killer who has sex with rotting corpses (implied, not explicitly shown), and another plot involved a killer forcing husbands to choose between shooting their wives or being murdered together.
Witchcraft & Occult
Witchcraft and occult themes are central to "Medium." The protagonist, Allison DuBois, is a psychic medium who experiences visions and communicates with the dead to solve crimes. Her supernatural abilities are a foundational element of every episode, and her daughters also inherit these gifts.
Scary & Intense Content
The show contains significant scary and intense content. Allison's psychic visions are often depicted as genuinely creepy and disturbing, including nightmare sequences. The supernatural and horror elements contribute to an unsettling atmosphere, making it inappropriate for younger audiences.
Would these 3 concerns matter to your family?
Get a report based on your values — not generic ratings.
Romance and Sexual Content
The show is listed with 'sexual content' as a general advisory. Specific details include references to highly disturbing implied sexual acts rather than explicit depictions. One instance describes a serial killer having sex with rotting corpses, though the actual act is implied and not explicitly visualized.
Profanity
The content advisory for "Medium" includes 'foul language'. Specific examples of the frequency or intensity of profanity are not detailed in the provided search results.
Substance Use
The series carries a content advisory for 'substance use', 'alcohol use', and 'smoking'. However, no explicit graphic depictions of drug abuse, addiction, or detailed instances of heavy intoxication are described in the provided sources.
Anti-Christian Themes
While not explicitly anti-Christian in a mocking or sacrilegious way, the series presents a worldview that contradicts biblical teachings regarding spiritual practices. Plugged In criticizes the show's 'weird theology,' noting that Allison credits her psychic gift to a 'higher place,' which conflicts with biblical warnings against consulting the dead.
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
There is no evidence found within the provided sources to suggest the presence of LGBTQ+ or gender-diverse characters or themes within the narrative of the TV series "Medium (2005)". While an actor from the show, Maria Lark, who played Bridgette Dubois, publicly identified as transgender in 2021, this information pertains to the actor's personal life and not to the character's portrayal in the media itself.
Disrespect & Rebellion
No explicit information regarding themes of disrespect or rebellion against authority figures was found in the provided sources. The show focuses more on crime-solving and family dynamics. While individual character actions might include minor disagreements, it is not highlighted as a central or prominent theme. [no evidence]
From a Christian worldview, "Medium" presents several areas of concern, primarily due to its central premise. The show's core theme revolves around Allison DuBois's psychic abilities and her communication with the dead to solve crimes. This directly contradicts biblical teachings that forbid consulting mediums, spiritists, or the dead (Deuteronomy 18:10-12, Isaiah 8:19). The show depicts these abilities as a gift, often implying a divine or 'higher place' origin, which can mislead viewers into believing such practices are benign or even from God, rather than recognizing them as potentially deceptive spiritual influences. The worldview presented leans heavily into a transcendent view of life that includes spirits and an afterlife, but one interpreted through a lens of human psychic ability rather than a biblical understanding of God's sovereign involvement and warnings against occult practices. Regarding character morality, Allison and her family are generally portrayed as virtuous, using her gift for justice and helping others. There is an underlying moral accountability as they strive to solve crimes and bring peace to the deceased and their families. However, this virtue is tied to an unbiblical practice. Redemption themes are present in the sense that Allison's work often brings closure to victims and their loved ones, offering a form of justice and peace, but it is achieved through means considered forbidden in Christianity. Family values are depicted positively, with Allison and Joe maintaining a strong marriage and supportive parenting despite the extraordinary circumstances. Their daughters inheriting Allison's gift also highlights the familial aspect, though again, tied to the problematic supernatural theme. Faith, if depicted, is shown in a way that blends spiritual intuition with crime-solving, potentially creating a syncretistic view of spirituality that can be problematic for Christian audiences.
Additional Context
Best For Ages
14+. The series is officially rated TV-14 and contains mature themes such as murder investigations, disturbing psychic visions, and sometimes graphic depictions of crime scenes and their aftermath. Screenwise suggests it is firmly "14+ territory" due to crime content and disturbing themes.
Good to Know
Parents should be aware that while the show is rated TV-14, some content, particularly regarding violence and disturbing themes, may be more intense than typically expected for this rating. The supernatural elements are foundational to the show and may be a significant concern for families who adhere to Christian biblical interpretations regarding psychic phenomena and communication with the dead. Flashing lights and strobing patterns might affect photosensitive viewers.
What are you watching next?
Screen any title in seconds — even ones no one else has reviewed.
No credit card required — join hundreds of families