Love & Death parents guide: Why you shouldn’t let your kids watch the HBO Max crime drama, explored

Love & Death is an American true crime drama starring Elizabeth Olsen and Jesse Plemons. The show kicks off with the two protagonist having an affair outside their marriages. Based on a real-life 1980s murder case, the show escalates to a mysterious murder of Allan Gore's wife. This further exposes the truth that Candy and Allan have been keeping all this time, giving the murder case a new twist in the end.

Many viewers are wondering if they can watch the show with their family, especially kids. Given the fact that the show is rated TV-MA, making it only for adults, the answer is no. Moreover, as the narrative suggests, the themes of Love & Death are bold for a kid or teenager to process.

Read on to know why you shouldn't let your kids watch Love & Death.

Here is why you shouldn’t let your kids watch Love & Death, the HBO Max crime drama

As mentioned, Love & Death comes with an adult rating only meant for viewers above 17 years of age. According to reports, the TV-MA rating is set based on how much sexual content the show contains, or whether it has scenes involving nudity, or how intense the graphic violence scenes are. All of these themes require having a mature mindset and a clearer understanding of right and wrong to process such complex situations. The kids might take the information literally on face value, eventually normalising a toxic behaviour shown merely to mirror society. Moreover, some events shown in the show could be disturbing for your kid.

The trailer offers a glimpse into the extramarital sexual relationship between Candy and Allan, which serves as the core narrative driver of the series. As a result, the show frequently includes nudity and explicit sexual encounters between the two. What makes these scenes particularly impactful is the realistic way they are filmed, heightening their intensity, especially considering the mature audience the series is intended for.

The show eventually led to a brutal murder with an axe. The victim is Allan's wife, and the investigation deepens, excavating the lives of Allan and then Candy. The way Love & Death has shown the murder is unsettling for many viewers. Parents could only imagine what impact it would have on the impressionable minds of young teenagers if watched with or without supervision. Moreover, the show is based on true events, and this could even make all the drama feel more life-like for a kid.

Beyond physical violence, the series also involves some violent psychological themes. The character goes through extreme rage and emotional instability. They suffer mental breakdowns and inner conflict about what they have done and the way it has come out to the public and to their partners. The show uses slow-paced cuts and cinematography, and therefore, for younger viewers, these psychological layers can be confusing, distressing, or misinterpreted.

Does Love & Death come with a positive message?

Love & Death does come with a positive message, but even that is only intended for adult viewers. It shows that infidelity could hamper families and lives, and an impulsive decision could ruin what you have embraced and built all your life.

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All of the messages are too mature for a kid to process or understand. Therefore, totally not meant for them.

Therefore, if your child is under 17, it’s important to be firm about not watching the show with them or allowing them to watch it independently. Parents are strongly advised to view the series themselves first, so they can make a more informed and responsible decision about what is appropriate for their child.

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