Party of Five – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Party of Five

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

show1994

52%

WISE Score

Five orphaned siblings navigate life, love, and responsibility in this earnest 90s family drama that's more weepy than watchable for modern teens.

Party of Five

show

TV-PG, 1994

52%

WISE Score

Five orphaned siblings navigate life, love, and responsibility in this earnest 90s family drama that's more weepy than watchable for modern teens.

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Screenwise Verdict

Party of Five was critically respected in its day and tackles genuinely important themes—grief, responsibility, family—with emotional sincerity. The problem? It's 1994, and it shows. The pacing is glacial by 2025 standards, the fashion and cultural references feel ancient, and the melodrama can be exhausting.

For a teen actively dealing with loss or family upheaval, this might resonate deeply. But for most modern viewers, it's going to feel like homework. There are better, more engaging ways to explore these themes (see: This Is Us, Parenthood, or even A Series of Unfortunate Events for younger audiences).

The WISE components are decent—it's wholesome in intent, enriching in theme—but the watchability penalty is real. Unless your teen is specifically interested in 90s teen dramas or processing similar life events, this one's a skip.

Age Fit

Best for ages 14-17 who can handle emotionally mature content and won't be bored by 90s pacing. Adults who loved it in the 90s might enjoy the nostalgia, but most modern teens will find it slow and dated.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

The show centers on family bonds, responsibility, and siblings supporting each other through tragedy. It models cooperation and emotional maturity as the older siblings become guardians. However, the premise itself—orphaned children—is emotionally heavy, and the show deals with mature themes like grief, financial struggle, and relationship drama that can feel intense.

Imaginative

This is a grounded family drama focused on real-world challenges rather than creative exploration or fantastical elements. It doesn't invite building, play, or imaginative expression—it's a straightforward character-driven narrative about survival and family. The storytelling is competent but conventional for 90s teen drama.

Safe

Common Sense Media rates it for 12+, suggesting some mature content but nothing gratuitous. The show tackles heavy topics—parental death, teen pregnancy, alcoholism, relationship issues—that aren't inappropriate but can be emotionally triggering. No graphic violence or sexual content, but the emotional weight and adult themes make it less 'safe' for younger viewers who might find the subject matter distressing.

Enriching

Strong on building empathy and understanding complex family dynamics, grief, responsibility, and resilience. The show offers meaningful lessons about stepping up during hardship and the complexity of relationships. Metacritic score of 79 suggests critical respect. However, it's more emotionally educational than skill-building, and the melodrama can overshadow deeper insights.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Genuinely explores grief, responsibility, and what it means to hold a family together when everything falls apart
Strong emphasis on sibling bonds and sacrifice—the older kids stepping into parental roles is handled with emotional depth
Tackles real issues: addiction, financial stress, teen pregnancy, identity—this isn't fluff
For teens processing loss or family upheaval, seeing characters work through similar struggles can be validating

⚠

What to Watch For

The entire premise is parental death—if your kid is sensitive to loss or family trauma, this will hit hard
Slow pacing and 90s melodrama: think Dawson's Creek-level earnestness, which can feel cringey or boring to modern viewers
Mature themes throughout: alcoholism, romantic relationships, financial hardship—this is for older teens, not tweens
Six seasons of heavy emotional arcs—it's a commitment and can feel relentlessly sad

Conversation Starters

"If something happened to us, how do you think you and your siblings would handle it? What would be hardest?"
"The older siblings have to give up a lot of their own lives to take care of the younger ones. Do you think that's fair? What would you do?"
"Charlie struggles with being responsible versus wanting to live his own life. How would you balance those things?"
"The show deals with addiction and grief—what do you think helps people get through really hard times?"

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