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Parents' Guide to

The Duchess

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Bawdy adult-themed comedy has innuendo, drinking, cursing.

TV Netflix Comedy 2020
The Duchess Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

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age 16+

Based on 1 parent review

optimus_P
optimus_P Adult
April 19, 2021
age 16+

It's a time waste to watch this title. Undermining Fathers role which is the pretty major cause for suicides in North America.

See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

Written by Canadian comedian Katherine Ryan, THE DUCHESS is a British series featuring a single Canadian mother raising a daughter in England. Katherine (played by Ryan) is a small business owner, an artist, and an outspoken and bawdy single mom to nine-year-old Olive (Katy Byrne). When Olive is with her dad Shep (played by Rory Keenan), an obnoxious former boy band member, Katherine spends time with her boyfriend Evan (Steen Raskopoulos), a sweet dentist who wants to be more central in their lives. Fearful of repeating her past relationship mistakes, Katherine isn't enthusiastic about taking their relationship to the next level. Complicating matters is the fact that she, with Olive's blessing, wants to have a baby with the help of a sperm donor. Throughout it all, assistant and good friend Sandra (Maya Jama) tries her best to support Katherine, despite the outlandish things she does.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1 ):
Kids say (1 ):

This outrageous series offers lots of adult humor that reflects Katherine Ryan's standup comedy style. The fictional Katherine is unapologetically rude and improper, especially to people she doesn't like. Her obvious love for her daughter, as well as her fears of being trapped in another unhappy relationship, reveals a few vulnerabilities. But she ultimately stands on her own, and is able to handle things that come her way, even if she does so indecorously.

There are some funny moments, most of which are driven by Katherine's narcissistic, free-spirited, and off-color approach to the world. However, after a while, some of the antics become more silly and annoying than humorous. It's not a show for everyone. But for fans of Katherine Ryan's work, or this type of comedy, The Duchess will fetch some laughs and is worth tuning into.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what makes good comedy. The Duchess features lots of adult-oriented banter that contains bad language and crude references. Does this impact the show's comedic value?

  • What are some of Katherine's best character strengths? Does she handle conflict well? Why does she behave the way she does?

TV Details

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 suggesting a diversity update.

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