What Parents Should Know Before Letting Their Kids Watch Breaking Bad – Looper

On the surface level, “Breaking Bad” is about a retiring, quiet high school chemistry teacher who decides to start cooking crystal meth once he receives a lung cancer diagnosis. But like “The Sopranos,” “The Wire,” and “Mad Men,” it is about the moral gray areas that exist within people in a sometimes cruel and fast-paced world. Some of the greatest episodes of the program are rooted in tragedy and emotionally devastating moments. 

Nearly all of the supporting characters also “break bad” in their own ways, be it through picking up old vices, stepping out of their marriage, shoplifting, going on power trips, greed, etc. In addition to moments of startling violence, the series also deals with heavy themes of what it means to be a flawed human being. Children may find these warts-and-all levels of detail disturbing just as they would the language or violent material.

As featured in HuffPost, Common Sense Media added further details beyond the content to caution parents about the tone of the program. The publication shared, “But the core of the show is about moral ambiguity, the choice between right and wrong, and, to some extent, love. These are all themes teens are naturally curious about exploring.” Therefore, it is up to parents to decide if their child should be exposed to this level of realism, or if when combined with the mature content, the show may be too much for them.