Outlander Parents Guide: Why the Show Isn’t Suitable for Kids
Starz's Outlander, adapted from Diana Gabaldon's fantasy book series, has become one of the most popular historical dramas on television. Featuring strong performances from Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe, the show blends time travel with 18th century Scottish history, including events like the Jacobite Rebellion and the Battle of Culloden.
Reasons to Avoid Outlander for Children
- The series is rated TV-MA in the USA, indicating it is not appropriate for younger audiences.
- Outlander contains explicit violence, gore, and mature themes that may be disturbing even to adults.
- The show is similarly rated R or adult-only in multiple countries, including R18 in New Zealand, 18+ in the UK, and 19+ in South Korea.
- Mature content includes strong language, sexual content, and graphic violence.
International Ratings Overview
- United States: TV-MA
- New Zealand: R18
- United Kingdom, Thailand, Canada, South Africa, Russia: 18+
- South Korea: 19+
“A mature rating is usually awarded to TV shows and movies that contain one or more elements from coarse or crude language (L), sexual content (S) and violence (V).”
Conclusion
While Outlander offers a rich portrayal of historical events and compelling storytelling, its adult content makes it unsuitable for children’s viewing.
Author’s summary: Outlander's strong historical themes are overshadowed by explicit content, making this acclaimed series inappropriate for young audiences due to violence, language, and sexual material.