Life Unexpected (2010) Parents Guide: Is the series OK for kids?

Name: Life Unexpected
Rating: 7.5

Age Rating, Sex, Violence & Language

16-year-old Lux was given up for adoption at birth but never adopted. When she is put back into the custody of her estranged-since-high-school birth parents, Cate and Baze, the three form an unlikely family.

TV-PG • 2010 • 2 seasons

7.5

Average rating by Bontent members

Age

12+

Life Unexpected is a CW family drama following Lux Cassidy — a 15-year-old who has spent her life in foster care after being given up at birth — who tracks down her biological parents, Cate and Baze, and is awarded to their joint custody by a family court. Two people who barely know each other must learn to co-parent the daughter they gave away. Two seasons, 26 episodes, 2010–2011. Life Unexpected is a warmer and more emotionally… Sign up for the full guide

Cast

Britt Robertson

Shiri Appleby

Kristoffer Polaha

Austin Basis

Kerr Smith

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Is Life Unexpected appropriate for kids?

Content severity in Life Unexpected Sign up for season-by-season breakdown

Substances Moderate 4/10

Language None 0/10

Sex/Nudity Moderate 4/10

Violence/Gore Moderate 4/10

Mature Themes Intense 10/10

Sex and nudity in Life Unexpected

Mild, with one important caveat. Most romantic content is age-appropriate for a family CW drama. However, Season 2 includes a storyline in which Lux (a minor) has a romantic relationship with her English teacher Eric — this relationship is framed sympathetically and romantically by the show rather than as the statutory situation it is. Parents should be aware of this framing and prepared to discuss it with younger teens who watch.

Violence and gore in Life Unexpected

Absent. Not a violent series. Some mild conflict but nothing approaching physical threat or harm across either season.

Language in Life Unexpected

Absent. Clean language throughout both seasons consistent with CW family drama standards. Not a content concern.

Mature themes in Life Unexpected

Life Unexpected is a CW family drama that does something relatively rare in its genre: it takes its premise seriously. Lux Cassidy isn't a device to bring her parents together — she's a fifteen-year-old with real damage from a childhood in foster care, real anger at the people who gave her up, and real difficulty trusting that this time is different. The show's central emotional engine is the question of culpability and repair: Cate and Baze were teenagers themselves when they gave Lux up, and the show doesn't…

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Life Unexpected appropriate for kids?

Bontent's parent guide suggests Life Unexpected is best for ages 12+. It's rated TV-PG. Life Unexpected is a CW family drama following Lux Cassidy — a 15-year-old who has spent her life in foster care after being given up at birth — who tracks down her biological parents, Cate and Baze, and is awarded to…

What age rating does Life Unexpected have?

Life Unexpected is rated TV-PG. Bontent's independent parent guide recommends it for ages 12+.

What is Life Unexpected about?

How many seasons does Life Unexpected have?

Life Unexpected has 2 seasons covered in this parent guide. Sign up to see a season-by-season breakdown.

Is there sex or nudity in Life Unexpected?

Our reviewers didn't note meaningful sexual content across Life Unexpected.

How violent is Life Unexpected?

Violence isn't a standout concern across Life Unexpected per our reviewers.

Is the language in Life Unexpected appropriate for kids?

Strong language isn't flagged across Life Unexpected.

Are drugs, alcohol, or smoking shown in Life Unexpected?