Apple TV+'s black comedy drama Your Friends and Neighbors follows a NY hedge fund manager, Andrew Cooper, who, after he loses his job, turns to illegal methods to sustain his lifestyle.
It's gripping, intelligent, and a must-watch for adults this holiday season. But when it comes to kids, it's a big no. Parents need to check whether the content their children are consuming is suitable for their viewing or not. Some series might sound like a regular sitcom drama, but in reality, they tap into themes that are too jarring for a young audience.
For instance, Your Friends and Neighbors. This black comedy starring Amanda Peet and John Hamm might sound like a kid-friendly show at first, but it's not. The title suggests comfort and familiarity. The kind of suburban drama that might unfold gently over dinner table conversations. But in reality, this Apple TV+ drama dismantles the assumption from the first episode itself.
This is a story about collapse. A series about what happens when status slips, money dries up, and morality collapses. It looks polished and sounds sharp. Yet beneath the surface sits a show that's clearly meant for adults.
Your Friends and Neighbors parents guide: What do you need to know?
Your Friends and Neighbors carries a TV-MA rating, which means that the content is not suitable for children below 17 years of age. The series contains strong language, adult themes, s**ual scenes, and morally complex situations that your kids should not be exposed to.
At the centre of the story is Coop, a well-established NY hedge fund manager. But things take a turn when he loses his job overnight, and his personal life's a mess too. Instead of rebuilding his life and restarting his career, he makes reckless choices, and some of them are of a criminal nature. Even though there's nothing too violent, Coop's choices set wrong examples for young minds.
Language is another factor that makes it unsuitable for children. Even though the choice of blunt words may feel realistic, it is not filtered. For children and younger teens, that tone alone can be jarring.
There are also s**xual scenes that you might not want your children to watch. These moments are not fleeting background details. They are tied directly to character motivations and consequences, which makes them hard to ignore.
Alcohol use and substance use appear to be the show's attempt to portray adult life without polish. While not glorified, it is normalized within the narrative. More importantly, the series spends a great deal of time examining ethical compromise. Coop's decisions are framed without clear moral lessons. The show does not instruct viewers on right and wrong. It observes and lets the damage unfold.
Instead of Your Friends and Neighbors, you can let your children watch other content available on Apple TV. For instance, there's Wondla, Ghost Writer, Puppy Place, Surfside Girls, to name a few. It is advisable not to let your children or younger teens watch Your Friends and Neighbors.
Also Read: Your Friends and Neighbors cast and character guide
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