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American Dreams

2002 – 2005Show3 seasons61 episodesTV-PG

DramaFamily
59
DecentGoodWatch score
IMDb7.7Metacritic68–Rotten Tomatoes85%–

A nostalgic, wholesome drama series about family and history.

Good for date night · family movie night · friends night

Where to watch

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Not streaming in any country yet.

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Not for scares, brutality or adrenaline.

Shows with

Episodes

3 seasons · 61 episodes · best: S2E4 "Crossing the Line" 9.7

Episodes

7.9
8.9
7.0

Story

Set to the soundtrack of the 1960s, a Philadelphia family moves toward the cultural upheaval in the years ahead. The Pryors' teen daughter Meg tries to shed her 'good girl' image by hanging with her worldly friend Roxanne and pursuing a dream of being an American Bandstand dancer. Meg's emerging personality, and the changes her mother's going through, don't sit well with Father.

Feels like

  • Mid-Century Americana
  • Family Sitcom Drama
  • Nostalgic Period Piece
  • Coming-of-Age Story
  • Wholesome Entertainment
  • Musical Interludes
  • Relatable Parenting Struggles
  • Gentle Social Commentary
  • Comfort Viewing
  • Character-Driven Ensemble

Cast

24 of 402 · most episodes first

Crew

Directors
David Semel, Mark Piznarski, James Whitmore Jr.
Written by
Jonathan Prince, John Romano, Liz Tigelaar
Produced by
Dick Clark, David Semel

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

September 29, 2002 · March 30, 2005 · Ended

First aired
September 29, 2002
Last aired
March 30, 2005
Status
Ended
Length
3 seasons · 61 episodes
Age rating
TV-PG
Genres
Drama, Family
Original language
English
Made in
United States

Tropes

The Artifact, The Glorious War of Sisterly Rivalry, Retraux +9

  • The Artifact
  • The Glorious War of Sisterly Rivalry
  • Retraux
  • Deliberate Values Dissonance
  • Stock Footage
  • Grammar Correction Gag
  • Nothing but Hits
  • The Spock
  • "Where Are They Now?" Epilogue
  • Catholic School Girls Rule
  • Naïve Everygirl
  • Family Drama

12 of 28 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

6 questions, like "Is American Dreams worth watching?"

Questions about American Dreams

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Is American Dreams worth watching?

59
DecentGoodWatch score

Opinions are mixed, with a GoodWatch score of 59 (IMDb 7.7, Rotten Tomatoes 85%, and Metacritic 68). Season 3 is the weak spot, with an IMDb average of 7.0 against 8.9 for the best season.

Which season of American Dreams is best?

Season 2, with an IMDb average of 8.9. Season 3 is the weakest at 7.0. The highest-rated episode is Crossing the Line (season 2, episode 4) at 9.7, and the lowest is California Dreamin' (season 3, episode 15) at 3.4.

Is American Dreams okay for kids?

TV-PG

Yes: it's rated TV-PG in the United States, and the viewing guide lists it for kids.

Can I half-watch American Dreams?

Easy watchDemanding

Yes: it's easy to follow, with complexity at only 4 of 10, and the viewing guide calls it good for background watching.

Is American Dreams plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on character depth (7 of 10) and dialogue centrality (7 of 10) more than on its plot.

What tropes does American Dreams use?

The ArtifactThe Glorious War of Sisterly RivalryRetrauxDeliberate Values DissonanceStock FootageGrammar Correction GagNothing but HitsThe Spock"Where Are They Now?" EpilogueCatholic School Girls RuleNaïve EverygirlFamily Dramaand 16 more

TV Tropes lists 28 tropes for it, including The Artifact, The Glorious War of Sisterly Rivalry, and Retraux.