Profanity, mature humor in Stephen Curry mockumentary.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Violence & Scariness
a lot
Comedic scenes involving physical violence like punching. The show also features dark humor, such as a woman asking a man, "Didn't you kill yourself?", a character faking their own death, a satirical depiction of a sports dad/coach as abusive and violent, and references to a school principal's death from COVID-19.
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The show is heavy on explicit language, including sexualized terms such as "t-tty" and "strap one on." Regular strong profanity includes "crap," "blows," "dirtbag," "f--k," "motherf--king," "a--hole," "s--t," and "bitch."
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Adults are shown drinking, occasionally getting drunk, and smoking marijuana. The main character references micro-dosing, and one secondary character's storyline involves being a recovered alcoholic and gambling addict, with part of the show's comedy revolving around his struggles with addiction, falling off the wagon, and partying all night.
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Explicit sexual language and jokes. Scenes of people making out heavily, and sex is repeatedly alluded to. In one scene, a man is shown fully nude, though sensitive body parts are blurred out.
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The characters' wealth is highlighted throughout the show, with frequent displays of private jets, expensive alcohol, luxury cars like the Tesla truck, and other signs of affluence.
Diverse Representations
some
The three main characters are a Black man, a Black woman, and a White man. Significant secondary characters include an Asian woman in a lesbian relationship and a Latina woman.
The show focuses on the power of self-belief, with Curry's character emphasizing that "99% of doing anything in this life is believing that you can." It also touches on the importance of self-reflection and the dangers of living in the past, as seen through Danny's struggles.
Positive Role Models
a little
Stephen Curry is portrayed as an extremely positive and nice guy who believes that anyone can achieve anything they set their mind to. Despite the antics of his childhood friend, Danny Grossman, Curry remains grounded, supportive, and loyal.
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Mr. Throwback is a sports- and friendship-focused comedy that centers around adult themes, including frequent lying and defrauding others to get what they want. Expect a lot of mature humor, references to addiction (alcohol, narcotics, gambling, and pornography), and dysfunctional family dynamics. Jokes about depression, SSRIs, and other sensitive topics are prevalent. There's regular sexual humor and strong profanity, including "motherf--king," "a--hole," "s--t," and "bitch."
Katherine R.Parent of 12, 14, 18+, 18+, 18+ and 5-year-old
August 24, 2024
age 11+
What's the Story?
MR. THROWBACK is a mockumentary-style series starring Stephen Curry as himself, centering on his childhood best friend, Danny Grossman (Adam Pally). Danny peaked in basketball and life at age 14, when a scandal derailed his rapid rise to fame. Now, 25 years later, he reappears in Curry's life with a $90,000 gambling debt and a wild story that soon spirals out of control, pulling Curry into the chaos.
The mockumentary format is well executed, particularly in exposing Danny's duplicity, with the series rising to the top of its genre due to the strong performances from a stacked cast. At the center of Mr. Throwback,Adam Pally of Happy Endings shines as the lovable buffoon, effortlessly pulling off the persona of a man who remains likable despite his awful behavior. His dynamic with Curry's manager, Ego Nwodim of Saturday Night Live, and his ex-wife adds depth to the story, and Stephen Curry proves to be a solid straight man. The show is a delight, using glib and satirical comedy to take aim at virtually everything and everyone.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Curry emphasizes that believing in yourself is key to achieving anything. How does this message play out in the lives of the characters, and what can we learn about the importance of self-confidence and perseverance?
The show satirizes the obsession with wealth and success. How does it use humor to critique these societal values, and what message do you think it conveys about the true meaning of success?
Several characters in the show struggle with addiction. How does the series use comedy to address this serious issue, and what might be the real-life implications of addiction that are hinted at through the characters' experiences?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
suggesting a diversity update.
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
By Stephanie Morgan
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
