In the Flesh

In flashback sequences, zombies kill and feed on humans. These scenes are grisly, with the undead bloodied, partially decomposed, and manic. Humans use automatic rifles and handguns to fend off attacks, and other weapons like chainsaws are shown as well. Death scenes are particularly intense, with rehabilitated zombies (who look fully human) shot execution-style while family members watch. That said, violence isn't the primary focus of this cerebral show, and most of the content is more suspenseful and tense than it is gory. Kieren's suicide isn't referenced in detail, but the characters deal with the emotional fallout of his actions.

Sex isn't a a focus of the show, but the story alludes to a closeted relationship between Kieren and his longtime male friend.

Language is not used excessively, but everything goes, including "f--k," "s--t," and "hell."

Nearly all of the characters are adults, and most drink at some point. A teen also drinks heavily at times, likely to take the edge off stresses in her life, but alcohol never proves problematic for anyone. Some of the risen resort to a dangerous drug that's peddled to help them cope with their guilt over past wrongs, and it's implied that it leads to at least a few deaths.

Parents need to know that In the Flesh is a gritty British drama miniseries about zombies who are reassimilated into their communities, where they're feared and hunted by a grassroots army. There are brief flashback sequences that show partially decomposed zombies feeding on humans and being shot themselves, as well as some in which rehabilitated "rotters" are killed in front of emotional family members. The show isn't an easy watch, thanks in large part to the fantastic cinematography and excellent writing, both of which play on viewers' sympathies for the plight of the partially dead. Those who do tune in will find the story a compelling one and its careful parallels to mental illness and addiction worth discussing.