The Bastard Son & the Devil Himself
The Bastard Son & the Devil Himself
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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 The Bastard Son & the Devil Himself is a British TV series adapted from a young adult book about witches, but is geared toward older teens. It contains bloody, gory violence, strong sexual content (including simulated sex acts and brief partial nudity), and lots of cursing. Underage drinking and pot smoking is also shown. The overall series, like the book, offers some social commentary about race and class in Europe.
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What's the Story?
Based on Sally Green's young adult Half Bad book series, The Bastard Son & the Devil Himself is a British fantasy drama about a teenage witch who's caught between two rival covens. After his Fairborn mother dies by suicide, infant Nathan Byrn (Jay Lycurgo) and his older half-sister Jessica (Isobel Jesper Jones) are taken to live with his grandmother and grow up in a British Fairborn community among fails (non-witches). However, Nathan is also the son of Marcus Edge, a witch from the violent Blood coven notorious for killing Fairborns and ripping their hearts out during a peace summit. Growing up being mistrusted and bullied hasn't been easy, nor have the monthly tests to ensure that he's not developing his father's powers or inclinations. As Nathan approaches 17, the age when a witch's powers reveal themselves, he realizes that he's changing, and that who he is doesn't fit easily into either coven. But the Fairborn Council has other plans for him, which leads to some harrowing, dangerous situations.
Is It Any Good?
The edgy witch-themed series is a coming-of-age story of a young man who finds himself having to figure out who he is because he was born from two communities divided by prejudice and privilege. The TV adaptation of the story is more politically correct than Sally Green's book series (in which the covens' names are "White" and "Black"), but continues to articulate the author's social commentary about race, class, and oppression in European society and the damage it does to future generations. If you're looking for a Harry Potter-like series that offers a lot of background about this divide, or narratives that thoroughly describe the witchcraft mythology that guides this universe, you won't find it here. Instead, The Bastard Son & the Devil Himself is more focused on entertaining viewers with lots of unsettling content.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the popularity of TV series about witches. Why are they so popular? Are all the stories focused on witchcraft? Or are they simply dramas set in a mythical universe?
The Bastard Son & the Devil Himself and the Half Bad book series from which it's adopted offers social commentary about European society. But is this commentary much explored in the TV version of the story? Or are these messages overwhelmed by the edgy content?
TV Details
- Premiere date: October 30, 2022
- Cast: Jay Lycurgo, Nadia Parkes, Emilien Vekemans, Isobel Jesper Jones
- Network: Netflix
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Book Characters, Friendship
- Character Strengths: Courage, Perseverance, Teamwork
- TV rating: TV-MA
- Last updated: January 4, 2023
Our Editors Recommend
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A Discovery of Witches
Some violence, romantic complications in book-to-TV show.
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Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
First Potter movie is a magical ride but also intense.
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The Vampire Diaries
Blood, violence are the real draw in angsty vampire drama.
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The Worst Witch
Spooky book-inspired series is mild and magical.
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