Fans of the Arthurian legends might want to check out The Winter King despite the mixed reviews -- but fans of what age? Is The Winter King suitable for kids?
Is The Winter King Suitable for Kids?
Don't be confused by series like BBC's Merlin. The Winter King is based on a brutal historical novel that is a bit too explicit for young viewers.
We don't yet know exactly how The Winter King will play out but the trilogy by Bernard Cornwell occasionally ventures into Game of Thrones level of violence -- though usually with more purpose.
Prospective viewers's maturity levels will vary, but the above themes make The Winter King unsuitable for very young children and those who find gore too distressing.
What Is The Winter King's Age Rating?
Not every country or organization has released an official age rating for The Winter King.
On IMDb, we learn that the show is rated as "M" in Australia. This stands for mature and it refers to audiences who are at least 15 years old or over.
We would probably agree with that, although we think that many countries would even rate it as an 18+ show, depending on how faithfully it adapts some of the trilogy's most disturbing scenes.
The Winter King takes place in our own world, and it's an alternative Arthurian retelling taking place in Britain during the Dark Ages.
We wouldn't uncritically compare it to Game of Thrones, a fantasy show but we would say that for a viewer who isn't mature enough for GoT, waiting for a couple of years before watching Winter King would be best.
Is The Winter King Age Appropriate? A Parents' Guide
It is a bit early to provide a full guide, as only the first episodes of The Winter King are out, but here are a few observations based on the first glance (and some memories from the book trilogy).
- Violence and Gore: This is probably the biggest concern and the reason why young children shouldn't watch The Winter King. This is the Dark Ages we're talking about, so expect a lot of combat, injury detail, and death. The book is also pretty explicit when it comes to torture and mutilation.
- Sex and Nudity: The Winter King features some nudity and moderate to intense sex scenes. Also, bear in mind that the books involve sexual violence, which might also be shown on screen.
- Substance Abuse: The series features some alcohol use but it isn't the worst we've seen.
- Profanity: There is some swearing and words like "bastard" are used.
Overall, it's hard to determine the exact age for which The Winter King is appropriate.
It is definitely unsuitable for children and pre-teens, but older teenagers might be able to watch it depending on their maturity.
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