Teen fantasy pod tackles prejudice & cultural significance.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Language
a lot
Teens frequently direct ethnic slurs at Arya, mocking his culture and insinuating he has ties to terrorism with terms like "curry-eating creep" and "Arya Bin Laden." Arya, likewise, passes this negativity on to his parents calling them "clueless" and a "royal pain in the ass." Other strong language includes terms like "p--y out," "badass" and "s--t."
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Arya is constantly dealing with aggressive behavior at school. At one point, bullies try to hold him down and beat him up. A car crash, which results in a serious injury for a main character, is pivotal to the story. There's frequent talk of demons and dark forces, including ominous sounds and scary voices.
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Everyone has their own personal struggles and have the choice to not let their hardships define them. The importance of deepening your connection to your culture and ancestry. You shouldn't have to sacrifice who you are to fit in. Teens all face challenges, but some have a more difficult time with acceptance than others. The greatest strengths we have in life are humility and pride. Lessons of compassion, humility and perseverance.
Diverse Representations
a lot
Arya's South Asian background and Indian culture are integral to the story. Shadow Realm frequently references key parts of his family's nation and culture, including its cuisine, religion, and mythology.
Arya makes bad decisions like giving in to peer pressure and ignoring his family. But it's all in service of his coming of age. So Shadow Realm doesn't advocate for this bad behavior, but uses it as a relatable learning experience for tween and teen listeners.
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Shadow Realm is, at first glance, a fantasy adventure with a coming-of-age story at its center. But the show is more mature than it might initially seem. Arya's story centers largely on prejudice and racism against individuals with a South Asian background and the decision to embrace or dismiss his culture. As such, there are numerous scenes featuring strong language including ethnic slurs, bullying, and aggressive behavior. Although the show never condones hateful behavior, Arya himself makes poor choices along the way as his character arc develops and he has to make the decision whether to fit in or embrace who he is and where he comes from. There are some instances of underage drinking and a teenager riding a skateboard under the influence. This is a great podcast for teens or for older tweens to listen to with an adult and have important conversations after.
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What’s It About?
SHADOW REALM follows 15-year-old Arya, who's consistently bullied and terrorized at school for being the only person of South Asian descent in his class. But his personal demons become more literal threats as he's soon swept up into a fantasy adventure steeped in Indian mythology. With his family and future hanging in the balance, Arya must reconnect with his culture and battle his way through countless dark forces to win the day.
A strong fantasy adventure, Shadow Realm uses supernatural elements to build on its main character's coming-of-age story in service of an emotionally satisfying journey. The show aims for a teen audience and holds nothing back with its bold approach to just how cruel adolescence can be. Ultimately, this podcast grounds the story, putting very real social issues in the spotlight. Shadow Realm is a testament to connecting with culture and embracing our own unique identity and heritage. It offers a story of empowerment, sure to touch teen listeners and their parents, as well.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Arya treats his parents and falls prey to peer pressure. What value does Shadow Realm gain by letting listeners hear how his negative behavior and poor choices play out? Have you experienced peer pressure? What are some ways you navigate peer pressure?
Much of Shadow Realm hinges on the struggle to keep one's culture alive in another country. Why might Arya's parents see the significance in staying true to his family's culture when he cannot? What are ways your family celebrates or passes on traditions and honors your culture?
Shadow Realm uses fantastical and supernatural elements as an extension of its themes. Does this approach enrich the coming-of-age story at the heart of the podcast or distract from it? Why?
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 Robert Yaniz Jr.
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
