• Is it age appropriate?

  About our ratings

  (Flash is loading. If this text does not disappear you need to install the latest flash version)

  Not age appropriate for kids under 15, age appropriate for kids over 18; suggested age 16.

• Is it any good?

  4.0

• Common Sense says

  Lots of drinking and drug use in quirky cable comedy.

Why We Rated This for Ages 16–18

What to watch out for

• Messages:

  Jonathan is hoping to reinvent himself -- and perhaps cure his writer’s block -- by becoming a private detective. He gets credit for trying something unconventional and for stepping into potentially dangerous or embarrassing situations, but the circumstances are often cringe-worthy.
• Role models:

  None of the main characters is much of a role model. Jonathan chooses liquor over his girlfriend when she gives him an ultimatum and then obsessively mopes about their breakup. His friend George seems to be interested in getting high and meeting women -- in that order. And his other friend, Ray, whines constantly about his sex life.
• Violence:

  Some fistfights and arguments. The main character is anything but a bruiser, and the fight scenes typically involve few blows and end quickly, with him on the losing side.
• Sex:

  Frequent references to sex, but no real on-screen action. One woman appears in a bra and bound to a bed, but not for any explicitly sexual reasons.
• Language:

  A fair bit of swearing. It’s not excessive but does include unbleeped use of “s--t,” “a--hole,” and “f--k.”
• Consumerism:

  Not too many references to specific products. The main exception is the online classified service Craigslist, which plays an important role in the series.
• Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

  Plenty of drinking and drugs. The main character is a borderline alcoholic, and his beverage of choice is white wine, though he sometimes drinks other things. He also smokes pot regularly, and one of his friends is constantly asking him to come over and bring him a joint or three.

What Parents Need to Know

About Bored to Death

Families Can Talk About