Common Sense Media Review
Imprisoned teen copes with jokes; smoking, violence, swears.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Bad Boy
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
BAD BOY is based on the true story of comedian Daniel Chen and his time in prison as a teen. At thirteen years old, Daniel was known as Dean Shaiman (Guy Manster). When he gets arrested on drug dealing charges, he's sent to Ofek, a prison for juveniles. For four years, Dean fights for his life and makes unlikely allies (Havtamo Farda.) The show flashes between the past and present-day Daniel, twenty years later. With prison behind him, Daniel practices jokes and does stand-up. But when an old enemy from prison tracks him down, he realizes the past isn't that far behind.
Is It Any Good?
This series tracks the tragic realities of prison and a boy's bleak loss of childhood. Bad Boy is dark and foreboding. The premise is intriguing and Manster's performance is strong. But it struggles a bit to find its pace between all the flashbacks and comedy set interludes.The violence, smoking, language, and sexual themes make this suitable for older teens.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how comedy is used in Bad Boy. How did Dean use comedy in his youth? How is Daniel Chen's career in comedy portrayed in the series?
What effect do you think the violence shown in the prison has on its viewers? What's the impact of media violence on kids?
TV Details
- Premiere date : May 1, 2025
- Cast : Daniel Chen , Guy Manster , Havtamo Farda
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Drama
- TV rating :
- Last updated : May 19, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
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
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate