Kaos

What’s it about?

In this modern reimagining of Greek mythology, the people of “Krete” worship Zeus and the other Greek gods, including Hera, Poseidon, Prometheus and Hades.

Zeus becomes increasingly paranoid and unhinged as he believes a prophecy that predicts his downfall is about to come true.

The facts 

• Created by Charlie Covell (The End of the F***ing World)
• English language
• Runtime: 8 episodes, each around 50 minutes
• Stars Jeff Goldblum (Jurassic Park, Thor: Ragnarok), Cliff Curtis (Ka Whawhai Tonu) Stephen Dillane (Game of Thrones), David Thewlis (Harry Potter) and Janet McTeer (Ozark)
• This is a Netflix original series

Why did it get this rating? 

This series was self-rated Netflix You can find out more about self-rating by streaming providers here.

Suicide

Two people commit suicide by shooting themselves in the head. These acts take place off-screen but the lead up and aftermath is shown. 

A woman willingly sacrifices herself for Zeus by drinking poison at a ceremony – this act is shown several times from different perspectives. 

Violence

There are some moments of bloody violence. Some of the stronger moments include:

• People are shot, stabbed, or have their throats are cut. 
• Two people fight to the death during a battle and are cheered on by others.
• A woman has her head forcefully submerged underwater.
• Characters are tortured or attacked by a mythical monster. These events take place off screen, but the aftermath is shown briefly.
• A newborn baby has its neck snapped off screen.

Sex scenes

Sexual activity is implied by movement, positioning and sound. The gods have sex with humans, and with each other even though they are siblings.

There are occasional sexual references. The word “f**k and its derivatives are used to mean sex in conversations. 

A bum is shown briefly, and there is a quick shot of a penis in Episode 4.

Offensive Language

Variations of the word “f**k” are used regularly. Other offensivewords, such as “a**”, “sh*t”, “pr*ck” and “d**k” are also used regularly. The language is generally used to expressfrustration or surprise.

Cruelty and content that may disturb

The series deals with cruelty and some darker themes that could be disturbing. These scenes are intended for ‘dark humour’ rather than to scare audiences. Some of the more intense moments include: A character is punished by having his liver continuously pecked by an eagle.

• A woman experiences a full-term pregnancy and birth within a few seconds.
• Some people are turned into stone.
• Some people are damned to 200 years of suffering
• Tongueless women and a collection of disembodied tongues whisper secrets.
• A young boy becomes a mythical Greek monster after he is imprisoned underground.

Drug use

A character smokes a marijuana joint in one scene.

Helplines:

Scenes with suicide, cruelty and violence could be upsetting for some viewers. If you are struggling with what you have seen on-screen please reach out for help. If you or someone you know needs to talk:

• 1737
• Safe to talk
• Lifeline
• Youthline

Further information 

• Why are ratings and content warnings important for me and my whānau? – Blog
• Staying safe when your parenting downtime gets hijacked by tough storylines - Blog