Shardlake 2024 Review | Safe for Kids? Parents Guide (2024)

Is Shardlake TV series OK for kids? Is Shardlake TV series safe for kids? Read the Shardlake 2024 Review | Safe for Kids?, an honest parents guide and mom review of the all-new Hulu original (USA)/Disney+ original (UK) television series Shardlake 2024, starring Arthur Hughes as Matthew Shardlake, Sean Bean as Thomas Cromwell, and Anthony Boyle as Jack Barak. No spoilers! #Shardlake #Hulu #DisneyPlus May contain commissioned links.

Parents Guide Shardlake 2024 Review | Safe for Kids?

A Tudor murder mystery set in 16th century England? Slap my petticoat and call me Sherlock!

It’s a best selling C.J. Sansom book series turned into a Hulu original television series (Disney+ in the UK) as the streaming platforms team up with BBC to bring an original historical murder mystery TV show to crime solving Sherlock Holmes fans. Promising action, thrills, mystery, and drama – can this 16th century Tudor British mini series withstand the critique of a modern day audience?

Or are we running into another Renegade Nell TV show – forgotten with the Tudor history textbooks?

In this Shardlake 2024 Review | Safe for Kids?, I’m breaking down the visuals, the story, a full TV-14 age rating explanation for violence, adult themes and language, and what kids’ age recommendation is suggested to watch in this new 2024 Sharklake parents guide to the new Disney+/Hulu original television mini series. A no-spoiler parent review of Shardlake 2024, is this 16th century murder mystery going to make history or be history?

The Visuals

The all-new Shardlake TV series offers 16th century England period piece feels with believable landscapes Tudor costuming and a dark visuals. While the camera movements and CGI special effects aren’t overly impressive – the murder mystery element and creepy monastery backdrop provide a solid foundation for a well-developed BBC type historical show.

Photosensitivity Warning. For viewers prone to epilepsy and photosensitivity, Shardlake has no scenes of bright flashing or strobing lights of note. Also no scenes with dizzying and fast spinning camera movements that could be nausea inducing for some. There plenty of scenes and episodes taking place in darkness (on par with the times).

The Story

Based on the popular historical mystery book novels by author C.J. Sansom, Shardlake is a Disney+ Hulu and BBC mini television series directed Justin Chadwick (“Bleak House“) with script written by Stephen Butchard (“The Last Kingdom“) and produced by John Griffin (“Crater“). Shardlake 2024 stars Arthur Hughes (Netflix’s “The Innocents“) as lawyer Matthew Shardlake, Sean Bean (“Lord of the Rings“) as Thomas Cromwell, and Anthony Boyle (“Tolkien“) as Jack Barak along with co-stars Babou Ceesay (“Guerilla“), Paul Kaye (“Game of Thrones“), and Ruby Ashbourne Serkis (“The Hobbit“).

The year is 1536 – the setting is in Tudor England during the reign of Henry VIII and the dissolution of the English monasteries. Shardlake’s sheltered lawyer life is in upheaval when Thomas Cromwell instructs Shardlake and Barak to investigate a murder at a monastery in the remote town of Scarnsea. Deception, deceit, and corruption arise as Shardlake begins to unravel the clues behind this mysterious death. Drawn into a web of lies Shardlake discovers that the monks who fear for their future and will seemingly stop at nothing to preserve their order.

A refreshing take on Tudor England Shardlake highlights diversity and abilities of the main character as Arthur Hughes delivers a compelling and believable performance as an unlikely hunch-back detective of the times overcoming his own personal and physical struggles. A dark script laced with clever writing – each episode keeps the audience drawn into the period with witty unexpected lines and unlikely heroism.

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Shardlake 2024 TV-14 Rating Explained

Is Shardlake safe for kids? A Disney+/Hulu original television series rated TV-14? Should parents be concerned? It’s no secret that I am highly skeptical of all MPAA ratings (um hello, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker not disclosing any language??). And as we know, not all movie and TV age ratings are the same. As a parent, it’s been rather heartbreaking to witness how ratings have shifted over the years with a G-rating no longer an option to help guide parents.

PG ratings now oscillating between Turning Red intense to Christopher Robin calm, and even PG-13/TV-14 age ratings teetering on the edge of R or MA ratings (Moon Knight and Werewolf by Night, I see you!), there’s a wide range between the age of 0-14 years old for parents to consider. Having fully disclosed parent guidelines can help determine if a movie or show is kid friendly – and safe for the whole family to watch together.

Why is Shardlake rated TV-14? In this Shardlake 2024 Review | Safe for Kids?, this 2024 Shardlake Hulu original series is rated TV-14 for “graphic violence, language, sensuality.” With film and TV ratings also unpredictable these days, having fully disclosed parent guidelines can help determine if a movie or television show like Shardlake is kid friendly. Is Shardlake 2024 too violent for kids? Is Shardlake 2024 for kids? Let’s breakdown that TV-14 age rating in this Shardlake 2024 parents guide.

Violence/Suspense. Shardlake 2024 is a historical murder mystery drama that hits all of the boxes in the violence and suspense category. Expect gruesome visuals of crime scene exposed human bodies including the presence of blood pools and decapitations. Expect lots of fist fighting and hand-to-hand combat including punches to the face, bloody wounds, painful deaths and inferred deaths (including characters gasping for air), imprisonment, scenes of torture and a variety of period type of weapons including swords, daggers, knives, and crossbows. Discussions of beatings and whippings.

Blood and gore are shown in every episode of Shardlake. Visuals of a character falling to death – with enhanced sounds and unnatural broken body positioning. Skeleton remains shown including full body and parts. Human disfigurement present in every episode, especially of the main character’s hand/arm and back. Scenes of post-mortem bodies shown and touched/cleaned/manipulated/cut into. Open casket funeral scenes. There multiple episodes with uncomfortable blood curdling screams and bone crunching sounds to reflect pain and torture. Multiple discussions about being ‘hanged.’ None actually shown.

The dark peril and suspense/thriller elements include supernatural ghost-like presences and enhanced sounds. These can be easily compared to dark thematic elements found in Lord of the Rings or Willow.

Mild bullying is present in Shardlake as well – done within period times. Implied demeaning discussions of disabilities, imperfections, and cruel treatment such as starvation.

Adult Themes. There is a moderate amount of alcohol consumption in the Shardlake series – including wine consumption in every episode – mostly on par with the period. No one acts drunk due to alcohol. However, there are a couple of scenes where characters stumble while walking and act drunk and/or drugged. Implied poisoning is suspected. No other drug or alcohol references in Shardlake.

This murder mystery mini series does take place in a monastery There are multiple religious and devil/Satan and Anti-Christ references are made throughout each episode including discussions of relics, holy artifacts and symbolism, and the presence of monk characters.

There are multiple toilet references in this series – nothing shown but there are a few references to “the pot” and there are multiple foul language references as well (see language below).

Does Shardlake have sexual innuendo? In an unexpected twist on this short Hulu original series, we managed to squeeze in a little sexy content for TV viewing. Sexual content in Shardlake 2024 includes a kissing, hugging, and flirting. One implied sex scene in episode 4 with two characters covered by a bed blanket only – talking to each other post sex. No nakedness is shown. Woman character implies having nonconsensual touching by “hands” and “approaches” by men.

Sexual innuendo verbal references to old English slang words including “molesters,” “adultery,” “sodomites,” “co*ck sure,” and a “wretch.” Overall, light on adult content and most of these words could go over the heads of kids – but Shardlake is not clean for a period piece series either.

Language. Does Shardlake 2024 have language? Foul language phrases and swear words in the 2024 Shardlake TV series include: 3 “sh*t,” 1 “@ss,” 2 “b@stard,” 4 “d@mn,” 4 “H-E-double-hockey-sticks.”

Milder bad language phrases and insults in Shardlake include: “piss,” “sodomites,” “wretch,” “co*ck sure,” “fat,” “fools,” and “g-d.” Overall, language in Shardlake is very mild for a period show, as to be expected.

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Shardlake 2024 Age Rating for Kids

The Overall

Sherlock, meet your Tudor match. A surprisingly short series packed with an English murder mystery punch – Arthur Hughes shines as the underrated, underdog hero overcoming his own physical and mental struggles. Brilliant, eccentric, and yet also an English gentleman – he rises as a disabled man who CAN.

A compelling murder mystery whodunnit compacted into only a few short episodes, Shardlake is a refreshing take on a period series with a gripping historical murder mystery twist. And with only 4 episodes – a binge-able TV show for a night in. And I for one am desperately hoping for a season 2.

Follow Hulu on social media:

• Website: https://www.hulu.com/series/shardlake-d951f79c-856f-4102-a477-45274a09bd53
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hulu
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/hulu
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hulu/
• #Shardlake

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Shardlake, all 4 episodes of season 1 of the all-new 2024 Shardlake Hulu original mini television series is streaming exclusively on Hulu in the US and Disney+ in the UK starting Wednesday May 1, 2024. Will your family be watching?

I was invited to screen the all-new Disney+/Hulu television mini series Shardlake in exchange for this Shardlake 2024 Review | Safe for Kids? Parents Guide. All photos courtesy of Hulu. Be sure to follow Raising Whasians for more movie reviews, television updates, celebrity interviews, entertainment, and behind-the-scenes info!