The Society
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Screen for YOUR familyParent's Guide to The Society
The Society is a dystopian mystery drama series that follows a group of high school students who are mysteriously transported to a facsimile of their wealthy New England town, West Ham, completely devoid of adults. They soon discover that the town is surrounded by an impenetrable forest, cutting them off from the outside world. The series explores their attempts to establish rules, govern themselves, and survive in the absence of any parental or societal authority, often drawing parallels to 'Lord of the Flies'. The show delves into complex themes such as power dynamics, social stratification, morality, and the challenges of creating a functional society from scratch. It features intense interpersonal relationships, struggles for leadership, and the psychological toll of isolation and uncertainty. While geared towards a young adult audience, the mature themes and challenging content make it suitable for older teenagers.
Things to Consider
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
The series features a prominent and well-developed gay romance between two main characters, Sam Eliot and Grizz Visser. Sam is deaf, adding another layer to his character. Their relationship is a significant part of the plot and challenges typical LGBTQ+ tropes.
Grizz learns American Sign Language (ASL) to communicate with Sam, and in a notable scene, he asks Sam to teach him how to sign 'kiss me,' initiating a romantic relationship between them. The relationship between Sam and Grizz faces challenges, particularly when Sam is involved in his best friend Becca's pregnancy storyline, which leads to emotional conflict and misunderstanding, but highlights the depth of their bond. Grizz also explicitly comes out as gay to Gwen.
Violence
The show depicts significant violence, including murder and punitive executions, as the teenagers struggle to establish and maintain order in their leaderless society. The violence can be graphic and has serious consequences for the characters and the community.
Romance and Sexual Content
The series features numerous romantic and sexual relationships among the teenagers, including implied sexual activity, kissing, and discussions of sex. Nudity is not typically graphic but suggestive situations are present, reflecting the themes of burgeoning adulthood and lack of supervision.
Profanity
Strong language, including the 'f-word,' is present in the dialogue, reflecting the intensity of the situations and the age of the characters.
Scary & Intense Content
The show contains high levels of intense and psychologically frightening content, stemming from the dystopian premise, the constant threat of danger, and the breakdown of societal norms.
Disrespect & Rebellion
Disrespect and rebellion are central themes, as the teenagers are abruptly removed from adult authority and must navigate power vacuums, leading to frequent defiance against established or emerging leaders.
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Additional Context
Best For Ages
16+ (Mature Teens) - The series contains frequent strong language, significant violence including murder and execution, pervasive mature romantic and sexual themes, and intense situations of survival and psychological distress. The complex moral dilemmas and portrayal of substance use also contribute to its mature rating, making it more appropriate for mature teenagers who can process such content.
Good to Know
The series was canceled after one season, leaving many plotlines unresolved. The themes of social experimentation, survival, and morality are complex and may spark discussions for older viewers.
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