Overview
Imagine if the heroism of Marvel’s Avengers met the whimsical macabre of The Addams Family, and you’d have Umbrella Academy. This Netflix original show is based on a comic book series about a family of adopted kids, each with eccentric superpowers, complete with a robot mother and a talking chimpanzee butler. And when a global apocalypse threatens the world, it’s this rag-tag team of begrudging siblings that stands to save everyone.
Umbrella Academy is certainly intriguing, but is it safe for kids to watch? We took a deep dive into this show so you didn’t have to, and here’s what we found.
Harmful Content ❗️
Parents should know that Umbrella Academy was not necessarily written for a young audience, so you can expect adult content throughout the whole show. Some themes of complicated family dynamics and intense childhood trauma are likely too mature for a younger audience. Additionally, one character consistently struggles with drug and alcohol dependency and is intoxicated in multiple scenes.
Language
Profanity is used frequently in Umbrella Academy, including F-bombs, “bullsh*t,” and “a**hole.”
Sex
Sex is a part of the show at various points, though it is not a central focus. Characters are implied to have sex and discuss it, but there is no nudity or explicit scenes. Many subplots include romance between characters.
Violence
As is to be expected in a superhero series — especially ones saving the world from an apocalypse — there is a high level of violence and destruction. There are intense fight scenes and bloody injuries.
Parents should also know that death is often discussed and depicted throughout the show. There are assassin characters who show no remorse or guilt in killing. One of the siblings has the ability to talk to the dead, which may be disturbing for some viewers.
Positive Value 💫
Despite the dark tone, the show has meaningful themes about the importance of family, loyalty, and sacrificing for others even when it’s hard. The siblings realistically argue with each other and struggle to find common ground, but ultimately, the love and care they have for each other is evident.
So, should my kid watch it?
Due to the adult content, we’d say this show is appropriate for ages around 16. Be sure to take your own child’s maturity and your family’s specific values into account before letting your child watch it.
