Parents' Guide to

The End of the F***ing World

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 17+

Dark dramedy raises talking points for mature teens.

TV Netflix Drama 2018
The End of the F***ing World Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

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age 14+

Based on 23 parent reviews

chocolatecake123
chocolatecake123 Adult
January 5, 2020
age 14+

Addictive

None of the characters in this show are even remotely likable. James killed animals, Alyssa is a typical edgy teen (that is, a typical edgy teen who actually acted on her edginess), Bonnie (who appears in the second series) has serious issues, and just about all of the adults are portrayed as clueless idiots. However, with that being said, The End of the F***ing World is a well-made and addictive show. The first two episodes made me question whether or not I was actually going to continue watching, but the major event in the third episode had me hooked on the series. As much as I hated the characters, I was eagerly anticipating what would happen next. James and Alyssa remained insufferable throughout, to the point that I actually found myself rooting for Bonnie a bit. The show definitely doesn't feature positive messages or role models, but it makes clear that the decisions made by these edgy teenagers are incredibly poor, as they face numerous consequences. The series is beautiful to look at, taking place in rural England. It also features a soundtrack composed by the incredible Graham Coxon from Blur.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much swearing
2 people found this helpful.
StabbyPen M.
StabbyPen M. Adult
March 17, 2023
age 18+

Funny if you think killing your dog or cat is okay.

The only positives are that it's shot well and the actors do a good job. I don't care about the swearing or sex. I don't care about the token cop lesbians *rolls eyes* it the attempted rape scene. I do take issue with the flippant attitudes toward violence against animals. It's disgusting. Think running over a dog with your truck is cool or funny? Do us all a favor and take yourself out of the gene pool. Thanks. It says a lot about our society that people bothered about sex, drinking, drugs and swearing...but gratuitous violence? Yeah, that's totally fine. It also says a lot about how stupid kids really are. The kids rate it very highly and think that watching this garbage somehow makes themselves wise to the workings of this world; it doesn't. It just desensitizes you to the taking of lives. Be careful of the images you put in your head; you can't ever unsee this garbage.
1 person found this helpful.
See all 23 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Self-described teen psychopath James (Alex Lawther) and his rebellious classmate Alyssa (Jessica Barden) take off on an impromptu cross-country trip to escape their dull lives and to find Alyssa's dad in THE END OF THE F***ING WORLD. While the novelty of their adventure quickly wears off, the duo determines to see it through, taking drastic and often illegal steps to keep on the move. As Alyssa reflects on events of her past that brought her to this point, James' focus remains on the future and his secret plan for Alyssa's eventual murder.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (23):
Kids say (119):

This dark series casts a loner teen as a methodical would-be killer of his irksome and fiery companion, but that does surprisingly little to distract from its comedic effect. While it's difficult to say that James and Alyssa are likable characters, they're almost instantly sympathetic, despite (or perhaps because of?) their utter contempt for what they consider their meaningless lives and the people in them. The show's narrative style gives viewers insight into both teens' innermost feelings, which is a good thing because both are people of few words. By piecing together what they say, what they think, and what they recall in flashback scenes, viewers slowly develop a full sense of these two complex teens and, more importantly, what draws them to each other.

The End of the F***ing World, which is based on Charles Forsman's 2013 graphic novel, is much more than a Thelma and Louise story for the teen set. In fact, given the often mature content, its appropriateness for teens is questionable at best. It's a masterfully calculated and morbid dysfunctional love story in which you find yourself heavily -- and somewhat guiltily, given the contemptible nature of the star-crossed lovers -- invested in surprisingly little time. If the weighty angst, pervasive language, and murder-in-the-making elements aren't too much for your teen, the series also raises some important topics you can discuss afterward, including emotional wellness and isolation, bullying, and healthy ways of dealing with stress.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how The End of the F***ing World portrays teens and their struggles. Are James and Alyssa believable characters in their feelings about their families and lives? Do they attempt to deal with what weighs on their minds, or is their attitude one of escape instead? What are some more constructive ways of coping?

  • What role do adults have in this story? What do you think adults' roles in teens' lives should be? Teens: Are the adults in your life privy to your moods and feelings? If not, to whom do you turn when you have to deal with something difficult?

  • Would you describe James and Alyssa as particularly courageous? Why or why not? What positive attributes does each have? Are they redeemable characters?

TV Details

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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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