DMZ
Intense dystopian series has strong content, cursing.
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DMZ
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that DMZ is a 4-part dystopian limited series directed by Ava DuVernay and based on the DC comics of the same name. The mini-series takes place in a post-Second American Civil War world and features mature themes, lots of bloody gun violence, sexually suggestive scenes and nudity (including a bare bottom). Gang violence and dysfunctional family dynamics are major themes. There's lots of swearing by adults and also kids -- the words "f--k" and "motherf--ker" are used often. Gang parties include alcohol and drugs. We see two young kids roaming the DMZ unsupervised after losing their caregivers and getting into some pretty dangerous situations -- one is kidnapped, has a gun pointed at him, and is forced to deliver a bomb. The violence and mature themes make DMZ best suited for mature audiences.
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What's the Story?
DMZ akes place in America after a 21st century civil war. It opens with the story of a determined mother searching for her son in a post-apocalyptic Manhattan war zone. In this post-apocalyptic world, one part of the country is controlled by the United States Military, another part is controlled by the Free States of America or FDA, and Manhattan is now known as the DMZ, a demilitarized zone in the middle of the two warring forces. Alma Ortega (Rosario Dawson) is a tough-as-nails medic who returns to a dangerous and distorted Manhattan on a harrowing quest to find her missing son, Christian (Freddy Miyares), who would now be an adult. She was separated from him eight years earlier as war erupted and Manhattan was being evacuated. Alma quickly discovers that her son has grown into a ruthless gang-affiliated hitman who expresses himself through graffiti and now goes by the name Skel. Cut off from the rest of the world, the island of Manhattan has been left to scramble for survival, with no government oversight or military intervention. This post-apocalyptic version of Manhattan includes raging battles between rival gangs who want to gain control of the DMZ. When Parco Delgado (Benjamin Bratt), an ex-con and leader of the Spanish Harlem Kings (and Skel's father), and Wilson Lin (Hoon Lee), a crime boss and the undisputed leader of Chinatown (who also has a past connection to Alma), go to war to obtain control over the DMZ and battle it out for the title of governor, Alma must find a way to get her son out.
Is It Any Good?
There's so much to take away from this intense series in such a short time that it can become too much -- overwhelming for some and inappropriate for younger kids. DMZ tackles mature topics such as government corruption and political greed, societal inequalities, race wars, military interference, lack of healthcare, family dysfunction, toxic masculinity, and breaking generational cycles. The series doesn't give much backstory or explain why the civil war started in the first place, possibly leaving viewers confused. We also don't learn anything about what Alma might have experienced between Evacuation Day and the start of the series. It appears Alma presumed her son had got out of the DMZ and tried to track him elsewhere but we're never told anything about her life during the eight years before she returned. These types of missing details could have given the series more depth. Oddly enough, there's too much crammed into four episodes, yet there aren't enough details to make the story feel memorable; the storyline oftentimes feels muddled and rushed. Still, performances are strong, characters can be intriguing, and some episodes will tug on heartstrings -- a mother's love and determination is unwavering and Alma becomes a symbol of hope for the occupants trapped inside the DMZ.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what an post-apocalyptic world could possibly look like and what circumstances might lead our world to that state. Topics that appear in DMZ could be further discussed and explored -- government corruption and political greed, societal inequalities, race differences, military interference, and lack of healthcare. What conflicts could lead to this? What messages is this series sending to viewers?
What does the series reveal about humanity? How does the portrayal of characters in this series compare with real life today? Can you relate to any of it?
How does life inside the DMZ compare to life in a big city today? Are there any parallels? What's different?
TV Details
- Premiere date: March 17, 2022
- Cast: Freddy Miyares, Rosario Dawson, Benjamin Bratt
- Network: HBO Max
- Genre: Science Fiction
- Topics: Activism, Book Characters
- TV rating: TV-MA
- Last updated: November 9, 2022
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