Review

WakeBrothers

Common Sense Media says

Pro athlete brothers prank and talk sex in reality series.
Age
14
Quality
 
  • Positive messages2
    Brotherly love is on display in WakeBrothers despite all the competitiveness, with sincere/sweet moments peeking through occasionally. The closeness of the Soven family ties is also evident, with frequent appearances by Bob and Phil's mom, dad, and younger brother. However, many of the young men on the show have an extremely cavalier view of women and sex.
  • Positive role models1
    The brothers Soven manage to both live and work together, inspiring each other to greater feats of sportsmanship through their towering sibling rivalry. That said, the show doesn't focus much on the hard work that brings them glory in the water, preferring to watch the Sovens carouse, fight, and prank each other. They'd be better role models if they showed more respect toward women.
  • Violence2
    Wakeboarding is a dangerous sport, and boarders try daredevil stunts with frequent injuries. Bob Soven survived a head injury that put him in a coma several years before the show; images of that injury, with Mrs. Soven talking about how traumatic it was, appear on the show. The Soven brothers' rivalry occasionally extends into fisticuffs, though the pushing and punching is usually playful rather than truly vicious.
  • Sex3
    Constant, sniggering references to sex include jokes about when someone will lose their "v-card," the color of Bob Soven's pubic hair, and whether someone has "closed" on a particular girl or not. There's a general attitude from the young men on the show that they're trying to see what they can "get" off the girls they know, including naked pictures they can display to friends or surreptitious "boob nudges" during a hug. The show's premise demands that a lot of the action takes place at pools or the ocean, where the camera lingers on body parts, especially those of bikini'd young women.
  • Language3
    Some bleeped four-letter words: "she eye-f--ked you" says a friend to Bob at one point. There are references to "boobs" and "happy trails" and profane rank-outs: "I'm going to kick my brother's freaking ass," says Bob.
  • Consumerism0
    Not applicable.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking2
    Drinks sometimes appear at parties, though no scenes of the Sovens and friends drunk.
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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that WakeBrothers features constant insults, which range from merely mocking to actually hurtful, as well as some strong language ("f--k" is bleeped). The featured brothers also engage in wakeboarding stunts, which sometimes result in injuries. The most troubling aspect for parents will probably be the near-constant sniggering adolescent references to sex, as when a friend wonders whether Phil Soven has any "nakeds" to show of his girlfriend on his computer, or Bob Soven brags that he plans to lose his "v-card" in his bedroom. Parents may also wish that the show focused a little more on the brothers' athletic accomplishments rather than their pranks and hijinks out of the water. But there are worse shows teens could watch. At least the Sovens have a vocation and a close-knit family to rely on, which is evident despite their sibling rivalry.

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