Are You Afraid of the Dark lasted about ten years with seven seasons. The plot follows a group of misfit outsider kids who tell ghost stories at night around a fire. They call their club the Midnight Society. Some of the stories are comedic (the tale of the Gruesome Gourmets, the Tale of the Unexpected Visitor), while others are creepy and thrilling (the Tale of the Hungry Hounds, the Tale of the Dark Music). Some have happy endings where a ghost is reunited with his\her living relation, such as the Tale of C7 and the tale of the Lonely Ghost. The stories often provide lessons in them, such as not stealing or lying, not bothering elderly people and listening to your parents (basically, don't be a bratty little jerk). Halfway through the series' time the members of the club changed to younger kids. They weren't as great but their stories remained entertaining.
There are one or two episodes here and there where characters talk in flat, emotionless voices when talking about dire situations. In the pilot "Phantom Cab", the younger boy screams, "no, no, we've got to be close to town" in a blank monotone. In "Old Man Corcoran", there were two boys who said they were from the East Side, toughest place ever. Since this is a Canadian show I guess they're referring to the non-existent gangs, pimps and drug dealers in the non-existent ghettos of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. Confusing.
Anyway, that stuff aside, every story is original or based loosely on an urban myth from the area where the episode's story takes place. Guest stars like Melissa Joan Hart (Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Clarissa Explains it All), are often actors/actresses in various episodes. For the most part the acting is decent, the soundtrack to each episode is different from the others and remains eerie and creepy throughout the series. It does have its nineties fashion trends and speech trends, and characters with bizarre names like 'Stig' and 'Bange'. This show also deals with teen issues like bullying, being the new kid in town, schoolwork and irresponsible parents.
Overall the series is excellent. If you're going to let your kid watch My Little Pony Friendship is Magic again, don't do it, put on one of these. I certainly wouldn't recommend that kids under 7 watch this though, there are episodes with rather disturbing things in them like the Lonely Ghost, the little girl chased by bullies while her mom is away and getting locked in her room to starve to death. Over 7 years old and it's great to watch, I see adults watching it sometimes too even just for the nostalgia.
There are one or two episodes here and there where characters talk in flat, emotionless voices when talking about dire situations. In the pilot "Phantom Cab", the younger boy screams, "no, no, we've got to be close to town" in a blank monotone. In "Old Man Corcoran", there were two boys who said they were from the East Side, toughest place ever. Since this is a Canadian show I guess they're referring to the non-existent gangs, pimps and drug dealers in the non-existent ghettos of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. Confusing.
Anyway, that stuff aside, every story is original or based loosely on an urban myth from the area where the episode's story takes place. Guest stars like Melissa Joan Hart (Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Clarissa Explains it All), are often actors/actresses in various episodes. For the most part the acting is decent, the soundtrack to each episode is different from the others and remains eerie and creepy throughout the series. It does have its nineties fashion trends and speech trends, and characters with bizarre names like 'Stig' and 'Bange'. This show also deals with teen issues like bullying, being the new kid in town, schoolwork and irresponsible parents.
Overall the series is excellent. If you're going to let your kid watch My Little Pony Friendship is Magic again, don't do it, put on one of these. I certainly wouldn't recommend that kids under 7 watch this though, there are episodes with rather disturbing things in them like the Lonely Ghost, the little girl chased by bullies while her mom is away and getting locked in her room to starve to death. Over 7 years old and it's great to watch, I see adults watching it sometimes too even just for the nostalgia.