Parents' Guide to

Bad Blood

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Entertaining Canadian gangster series has brutal violence.

TV Netflix Drama 2017
Bad Blood Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

  • Bad Blood Series: Declan Gardiner and Vince Rizzuto.
  • Bad Blood Series: A family dinner.
  • Bad Blood Series: Michelle.

Community Reviews

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age 9+

Based on 2 parent reviews

Hair
Hair Adult
June 20, 2020
age 3+

Like the avengers, but no iron man and everyone is canadian

Breaking bad is the only gangster drug drama better then this one. Actually, never mind. By the way, did I tell you I’m a millionaire

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Lucast1934
Lucast1934 Adult
August 19, 2019
age 15+

Very good show

The show is just great. Acting is great, plot and writing is all fantastic. Violence doesn’t happen all the time. Some violent scenes happen off screen, other happen on screen. Half of the shooting scenes show blood spatter. Point blanks execution style are shown on screen with blood. The language is mild, I frequent use of damn, sh*t. No f bombs. Sex, 3 or 4 sex scenes out of the whole show, does t show anything, but moaning, and a couple scenes imply one is giving head to another. You can skip it before it comes. Because it’s mafia, drugs are shown often in the show. That’s everything that’s in the show. It really good.
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Based on the book, Business of Blood: Mafia Boss Vito Rizzuto's Last War, BAD BLOOD is a Canadian drama about the rise and fall of Montreal mafia boss Vito Rizzuto. In the 1990s, Rizzuto (played by Anthony LaPaglia) created and managed a cooperative among the different criminal syndicates in the city, which led to a massive Canadian drug smuggling empire. When Rizzuto is sent to federal prison a decade later, his right-hand man, Declan Gardiner (Kim Coates), is expected to keep the business going. But Rizzuto's son Nico Jr. (Brett Donahue) wants to be in charge, and and soon makes things worse. Meanwhile, Rizzuto's long-time and loyal mistress Michelle (Maxim Roy) and his younger girlfriend Sophie (Michelle Mylett), cope with the circumstances in their own way.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (2):
Kids say: Not yet rated

This entertaining series offers a semi-fictionalized version of the story of one of Canada's most notorious and violent gangsters. It uses a series of flashbacks to tell the tale, highlighting key moments in Rizzuto's life that have major consequences down the line. Bad Blood also departs from the book by featuring Declan Gardiner (Kim Coates), a character created for the book, narrating the story.

Fans of mob-based shows and films will appreciate the solid plot and a well-rounded cast, including distinguished actors like Paul Sorvino and Enrico Colantoni​​​ playing key roles. But Bad Blood also offers non-Canadian fans of the genre a chance to learn more about the story of the Rizzuto family, and the role they played in criminal history, and what they did on both sides of the Canadian border.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about why it is often difficult to arrest and convict members of organized crime syndicates. What are some of the differences between the way Canada and the United States handles this kind of criminal element?

  • Why are gangster-themed shows and films so popular around the world? Do you think shows like Bad Blood glorify criminal behavior? Why or why not?

TV Details

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