The appeal is pretty straightforward: it's a genuinely charming romance that doesn't feel dumbed down or overly sanitized. The banter is witty, the characters feel real (messy families, social anxiety, complicated friendships), and the New York City setting during the holidays is basically catnip for anyone who's ever romanticized city life.

Plus, it tackles some relatable teen experiences—feeling like an outsider, navigating first relationships, dealing with divorced parents, and figuring out who you are when you're not quite a kid but not quite an adult either.

Here's the thing: Dash & Lily is rated TV-14, and that rating is pretty accurate. It's not squeaky clean, but it's also not gratuitous. Let me break down what you're actually dealing with:

There's mild profanity throughout—think "hell," "damn," "ass," and occasional uses of "bitch." No F-bombs, but it's not Disney Channel either. If your kid watches most mainstream teen content, this won't be shocking.

This is where it gets slightly more nuanced. There are frequent suggestive comments and situations—characters discuss sex, there are references to hookups, and one scene involves a character accidentally picking up a gay sex manual during a word search dare (it's played for awkward comedy, not explicit content).

There's kissing and some making out, but nothing beyond that shown on screen. One character mentions losing their virginity in the past. The show treats teenage sexuality as something that exists without being overly explicit about it—which honestly feels pretty age-appropriate for a show aimed at older teens.

This is probably the most significant content concern. There are multiple scenes with underage drinking at parties, and it's not always portrayed with consequences. Characters drink beer and liquor, get drunk, and make questionable decisions while intoxicated. The show doesn't glorify it exactly, but it also doesn't moralize about it heavily.

One character deals with family alcoholism, which is handled with some sensitivity, but the casual teen drinking might be worth a conversation depending on your family's values.

The show deals with anxiety, family dysfunction, and feeling like an outsider—all handled thoughtfully. There's LGBTQ+ representation (Lily's brother is gay, and it's treated as completely normal). No violence, no scary content.

Looking at Screenwise data, about 40% of families use Netflix regularly for kids' content, with another 40% allowing kids access, while 20% avoid it entirely. For families who do use Netflix, shows like Dash & Lily tend to fall into that "watch together first" category for younger teens, or "green light for 15+" territory.

Ages 14-15+: This is the sweet spot. Kids this age can handle the content and will likely relate to the characters' experiences. The drinking scenes might warrant a conversation, but the overall themes are developmentally appropriate.

Ages 12-13: This gets into "know your kid" territory. If they're mature, can handle suggestive humor, and you're comfortable discussing the drinking content, it could work. But it's definitely on the older end for this age group.

Ages 11 and under: Probably not. The romantic content and party scenes aren't designed for this age range, and they'll likely be bored anyway.

Here's what I actually like about this show: it portrays teenagers as complex humans rather than stereotypes. Dash isn't just the brooding loner—he's dealing with his parents' divorce and his own emotional walls. Lily isn't just the quirky girl—she's navigating social anxiety and family expectations.

The show also does something rare: it shows healthy communication in a developing relationship. The characters talk about their feelings, set boundaries, and respect each other's emotional needs. In a media landscape full of toxic relationship dynamics, that's actually refreshing.

The New York City setting is gorgeously shot, the holiday vibes are strong without being saccharine, and the supporting characters (especially Lily's brother Langston and Dash's ex Sofia) are well-developed.

If you're considering this for family viewing:

Watch the first episode together to gauge comfort levels. The tone is established pretty quickly, and you'll know within 30 minutes if it's a fit for your family.

Use the drinking scenes as conversation starters rather than reasons to shut it down. Ask questions like: "Why do you think these characters are making these choices?" or "What would you do in that situation?"

Talk about the relationship dynamics. This show actually models some good stuff—consent, communication, respecting boundaries. Point those out.

Dash & Lily is a genuinely sweet, well-made teen romance with some content that requires parental awareness. It's not appropriate for tweens, but for older teens, it offers a more realistic (while still hopeful) portrayal of teenage life than a lot of sanitized alternatives.

The drinking content is the biggest flag, but if you're comfortable having those conversations and your teen is 14+, this is actually one of the better holiday shows in the teen rom-com genre. It's got heart, humor, and characters who feel like real teenagers rather than 30-year-olds playing dress-up.

Is it perfect? No. Will every family feel comfortable with it? Definitely not. But for families looking for age-appropriate teen content that doesn't talk down to its audience, it's worth considering—with eyes open about what you're getting into.

Want to explore more holiday viewing options? Check out our guide to family-friendly holiday movies and shows or chat with us about finding the right content for your teen.