AppleTV+ Dear Edward takes a weirdly intimate look at grief and moving on after a loss. Check out the details in my parents guide review.
AppleTV+ Dear Edward is releasing its first few episodes on the streaming service this Friday, February 3, 2023. The series is based on the 2020 Ann Napolitano best selling novel of the same name that tells the story of a 12-year-old survivor, Edward, the sole survivor of a horrible plane crash. The show explores Edwards’ story of the grief of losing his brother and parents, as well as the grief of those who lost loved ones in the crash. Check out the details in my parents guide review.
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AppleTV+ Dear Edward Quotes
AppleTV+ Dear Edward Parents Guide
In AppleTV+ Dear Edward: A 12-year-old boy becomes the lone survivor of a plane crash. As he and others affected by the tragedy try to make sense of what happened, unexpected friendships, romances, and communities are formed.
Dear Edward Age Appropriate Parents Guide
Let’s take a look at what parents need to know before letting their kids watch AppleTV+ Dear Edward.
Language: AppleTV+ Dear Edward contains strong language, with profanity used throughout. Lookout words include: f*ck, sh*t, a**h*le, sl*t, d*ck, dumb a**, g-d d*mn, d*mn, and hell.
Mature Content: The series revolves around a plane crash where only one person survives, so expect this series to be very triggering for those who may have recently lost a loved one. Scenes of the plane crash wreckage and inside the plane as it starts to have problems are shown, along with reactions from those on the plane at the time. There are scenes that include couples having sex; although they are naked, no genitalia or nude shots of the breasts are shown. Characters are shown drinking alcohol and smoking cannabis.
Overall Thoughts
AppleTV+ Dear Edward is a rollercoaster of emotions. There are plenty of moments that will bring a bout of laughter, and even more moments that will feel like a punch in the gut and total heartache. It is tough to stick this series into a specific kind of genre because it feels more like a character study on loss and grief. This is especially true considering most of the main cast attends group therapy paid for by the airline, where viewers get an in-depth look at many of their struggles, from a secret life led by one of those who died in the crash to others having to step in and be a parent figure to some of the children left behind. In all the cases, no matter how different their circumstances, viewers will feel their pain, and their hearts will break for them.
AppleTV+ Dear Edward contains a terrific cast ensemble, with some of the standouts being Taylor Schilling (Orange is the New Black), who is the sister and aunt of “miracle boy,” the lone survivor of the crash. She does an incredible job as she shows the burdens of having to now raise Edward, a.k.a. “miracle boy,” while also dealing with the loss of her sister. Connie Britton (Friday Night Lights) also does a phenomenal job in the series and brings much of the laughter, as well as much sympathy for her situation and the revelations of her marriage that unfold as the series progresses. As for Edward, who is played by Colin O’Brien, his story arc is one of the most interesting, considering he is the lone survivor who lost both his parents and brother in the crash. O’Brien perfectly expresses the pain and grief one would expect him to feel, while also still navigating adolescence and the confusion that comes with it.
AppleTV+’s Dear Edward isn’t perfect, and considering the highly depressing subject matter, it won’t be for everyone. However, this intriguing premise, along with the emotional performances, will make it hard to stay away from. Even the best of us have trouble looking away from a car crash, and the urge is even harder to fight when it’s a plane crash and a miracle boy.
