By Melissa Camacho , based on child development research. How do we rate?
Edgy British witch drama has violence, cursing, sex scenes.
Parents need to know that The Bastard Son & the Devil Himself is a British TV series adapted from a young adult book about witches, but is geared toward older teens. It contains bloody, gory violence, strong sexual content (including simulated sex acts and brief partial nudity), and lots of cursing…
Bullying is a theme, as is murder. Punching, kicking, strangling, and stabbing i
Sex, Romance & NudityStrong sexual content, including brief nudity and simulated sex acts.
The curse "f--k" and some British expletives are frequently used.
Drinking, Drugs & SmokingAdult and underage drinking and pot smoking is visible. Magic potions are also i
Products & PurchasesThe series' soundtrack includes songs from Let's Eat Grandma, Amerie, and music
The cast includes men and women from different racial and ethnic communities. LG
Positive MessagesThe coming-of-age story is a social commentary on race and class divide in Europ
Positive Role ModelsThe Bloods are seen as inferior by the Fairborn. Nathan doesn't want to be like
Bullying is a theme, as is murder. Punching, kicking, strangling, and stabbing is visible, and there's lots of blood and gore. Guns are also used.
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The series' soundtrack includes songs from Let's Eat Grandma, Amerie, and music featured on TikTok videos.
The cast includes men and women from different racial and ethnic communities. LGBTQ+ characters are featured.
Did we miss something on diversity? Suggest an update.The Bloods are seen as inferior by the Fairborn. Nathan doesn't want to be like his father, and Annalise doesn't want to cause harm. Isobel mistakes strength with being vindictive and cruel. Some cast members reveal who they really are as the story moves forward.
Parents need to know that The Bastard Son & the Devil Himself is a British TV series adapted from a young adult book about witches, but is geared toward older teens. It contains bloody, gory violence, strong sexual content (including simulated sex acts and brief partial nudity), and lots of cursing. Underage drinking and pot smoking is also shown. The overall series, like the book, offers some social commentary about race and class in Europe.
Based on 4 parent reviews
February 3, 2023 Imano Parent of 10-year-old November 7, 2022Based on Sally Green's young adult Half Bad book series, The Bastard Son & the Devil Himself is a British fantasy drama about a teenage witch who's caught between two rival covens. After his Fairborn mother dies by suicide, infant Nathan Byrn (Jay Lycurgo) and his older half-sister Jessica (Isobel Jesper Jones) are taken to live with his grandmother and grow up in a British Fairborn community among fails (non-witches). However, Nathan is also the son of Marcus Edge, a witch from the violent Blood coven notorious for killing Fairborns and ripping their hearts out during a peace summit. Growing up being mistrusted and bullied hasn't been easy, nor have the monthly tests to ensure that he's not developing his father's powers or inclinations. As Nathan approaches 17, the age when a witch's powers reveal themselves, he realizes that he's changing, and that who he is doesn't fit easily into either coven. But the Fairborn Council has other plans for him, which leads to some harrowing, dangerous situations.
The edgy witch-themed series is a coming-of-age story of a young man who finds himself having to figure out who he is because he was born from two communities divided by prejudice and privilege. The TV adaptation of the story is more politically correct than Sally Green's book series (in which the covens' names are "White" and "Black"), but continues to articulate the author's social commentary about race, class, and oppression in European society and the damage it does to future generations. If you're looking for a Harry Potter-like series that offers a lot of background about this divide, or narratives that thoroughly describe the witchcraft mythology that guides this universe, you won't find it here. Instead, The Bastard Son & the Devil Himself is more focused on entertaining viewers with lots of unsettling content.
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
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