High Desert
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Screen for YOUR familyParent's Guide to High Desert
High Desert is an Apple TV+ dark comedy series that stars Patricia Arquette as Peggy, a woman struggling with addiction and past mistakes, who attempts to reinvent her life as a private investigator in the California High Desert. After the death of her beloved mother, Peggy's world is turned upside down, leading her into a quirky and dangerous journey involving forged art, eccentric characters, and criminal dealings. The series blends elements of mystery and dark humor, showcasing themes of self-reinvention, recovery, and complicated family dynamics against a unique desert backdrop. The show is intended for mature audiences due to its explicit content and exploration of adult themes.
Things to Consider
Violence
High Desert contains significant violence, some of which is graphic and disturbing. This includes instances of torture and recurring threats from criminal elements, often presented with a dark, comedic tone.
A notable scene involves a man being tortured, with his nipple explicitly cut off. The plot also features a 'father and daughter hitman team out for blood,' indicating ongoing violent intentions and actions central to the series' criminal storyline.
Romance and Sexual Content
The series includes mature romantic and sexual content, featuring instances of female nudity and explicit sexual references. These elements contribute to the show's adult themes.
Profanity
Profanity is frequent and heavy throughout the series, with parental reviews specifically highlighting its pervasive presence, contributing significantly to the show's mature audience rating.
Substance Use
Substance use is a central and explicit theme, with the main character, Peggy, having a history of drug dealing and addiction, and actively engaging in drug use during the series.
Disrespect & Rebellion
The main character, Peggy, exhibits significant disrespect and rebellious behavior, often acting selfishly and displaying a disregard for societal norms and the feelings of others, particularly family members.
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Additional Context
Best For Ages
TV-MA (Mature Audiences Only). This recommendation is based on the official TV Parental Guidelines rating, which signifies content unsuitable for individuals under 17. The show features frequent strong profanity, graphic violence including torture, explicit substance abuse, and mature sexual themes including nudity, making it appropriate only for adult viewers.
Good to Know
The TV series 'High Desert' consists of one season and was not renewed for additional installments, meaning there is no evolution of content concerns across subsequent seasons or adaptations. The show's dark comedy genre should not be mistaken for lighthearted content, as it contains consistently mature and explicit themes.
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