Comedy
Dead Boy Detectives
Dead Boy Detectives targets teens in style and story. But it comes with very adult, problematic content.
Bob has loved Abishola since the moment he met her.
After Bob suffered a heart attack, Abishola nursed him back to health and he became completely smitten with his hardworking caretaker.
And Bob’s love has certainly been put to the test since there’s been a number of obstacles barring their way.
For starters, Abishola is Nigerian, and Bob had to familiarize himself with plenty of cultural customs to gain Abishola’s (and her family’s) trust.
Then their careers got in the way. Bob had to take over the family business after his mom suffered a stroke. And considering his first marriage ended because he was more focused on work than his wife, that was quite a bit of cause for concern. Meanwhile, Abishola decided she wanted to go back to school to become a doctor, which isn’t exactly a small commitment.
And of course, we can’t ignore the fact that Abishola was technically still married when Bob met her. She’d been separated from her ex (with whom she shares a child) for quite some time, but since divorce is rare in Nigerian culture, they’d never gone through the legal process of ending it.
Bob and Abishola managed to work through these hiccups, and now the couple is blissfully married. But that doesn’t mean roadblocks still couldn’t throw them off course.
This CBS sitcom is rated TV-PG. And families watching will find similarities to shows such as Everybody Loves Raymond.
Bob’s and Abishola’s mothers are a bit overbearing. Bob’s siblings, Douglas and Christina, often feel neglected by their mother, who favors golden child Bob. Abishola struggles to make decisions for her son, Dele’s future, especially when the adolescent pursues a future contrary to the one she sought for him. And even extended family members (or friends who feel like family) tend to get involved.
Sex is never seen but often mentioned. One plotline in earlier seasons dealt with Abishola’s reluctance to have premarital sex with Bob (which she eventually does). Another followed the story of a Nigerian woman who feared coming out as gay since it was illegal in Nigeria and even her family in America would shun her.
Faith also makes an appearance. Abishola is Christian; Bob isn’t. And while this isn’t key to the overarching theme of the show, for Christian families, it’s very important. Because Abishola’s and her family’s faith should affect their opinions about divorce, premarital sex and homosexuality. But rather, we see their decisions affected more by their adopted culture than their desire to follow Christ.
At its heart, Bob Hearts Abishola is about family and how you love them no matter what. But there’s definitely some worldview issues that will turn Christian families away.
When Abishola learns that Dele wants to attend Juilliard instead of Harvard, she kicks him out of the house, and it’s up to Bob to help the mother and son reconcile.
Dele’s aunt and uncle advise Dele to wear headphones so he won’t hear them making love in the next room. A man kisses his wife on the cheek. There’s a reference to masturbation and pornography.
We hear a joke about suicide. People casually discuss beating as a form of punishment for children.
Abishola fears for Dele’s future. She worries that his dream of becoming a professional dancer and choreographer won’t pay the bills. She also touches on some fears regarding potential racial discrimination. However, her methods to keep him on her chosen path are a bit overbearing: She snoops through his phone, tells him horror stories she’s read about failed Juilliard graduates, and temporarily kicks him out of the house.
There is a light jest about racial differences. Someone drinks whiskey. A couple is criticized for their hosting skills. We hear the phrase “God forbid” five times as a sort of prayer. Someone says “frickin’.”
Dele apologizes for lying to his mom about Harvard, and Abishola forgives him. Several people reassure Abishola that she has raised Dele well and that he’ll be OK. Bob rightly reprimands Dele for being disrespectful to his mother. Bob encourages Abishola (who is religious) to “have some faith.”
When Bob’s and Abishola’s mothers misunderstand their desire to have privacy, they incorrectly assume it’s so they can conceive a child.
Various people hint at Bob and Abishola’s sex life. Someone references preferred gender pronouns.
Bob and Abishola’s family members pressure the couple with their own selfish desires for why they should or should not have a baby. They then go to extremes to avoid these overbearing relatives.
People drink and talk about getting drunk. We hear uses of “d–n” and “h—.” God’s name is also misused. A woman says she is enjoying God’s handiwork while wistfully looking out a window.
Emily studied film and writing when she was in college. And when she isn’t being way too competitive while playing board games, she enjoys food, sleep, and geeking out with her husband indulging in their “nerdoms,” which is the collective fan cultures of everything they love, such as Star Wars, Star Trek, Stargate and Lord of the Rings.
Dead Boy Detectives targets teens in style and story. But it comes with very adult, problematic content.
An elf mage contemplates on connection and regret as she watches her human friends grow old and pass away.
