Is the sexual stuff really that bad?

It's not graphic (no nudity), but it is persistent. The main character frequently touches the female lead inappropriately under the guise of 'humor.' If that's going to annoy you or set a bad example for your kid, it's the main reason to skip.

How violent does it get compared to something like Naruto?

It's a step up from the early days of Naruto. There's more blood, and characters are occasionally impaled or lose limbs, though magic usually fixes it. It stays within the 'teen' realm, but it's not for sensitive younger kids.

Can I watch this on Netflix?

Yes, Netflix has the exclusive streaming rights for the entire series, including the movies and the sequel series, Four Knights of the Apocalypse.

Is there a lot of 'filler' episodes?

Compared to long-running shows like One Piece, it's actually pretty tight. Most episodes move the main plot forward, though the pacing can feel rushed in the final seasons.

7 Deadly Sins – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

7 Deadly Sins

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

show2014

70%

WISE Score

An epic Arthurian remix with top-tier action that unfortunately doubles down on some of anime's most annoying 'pervy' tropes.

7 Deadly Sins

show

TV-14, 2014

70%

WISE Score

An epic Arthurian remix with top-tier action that unfortunately doubles down on some of anime's most annoying 'pervy' tropes.

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Screenwise Verdict

Seven Deadly Sins is a heavy hitter in the shonen genre for a reason. It has the scale of Naruto with a Western fantasy skin that feels fresh. The mystery of why the knights were framed keeps the plot moving at a clip, and the power-ups are satisfying.

The catch is the 'fan service.' The lead character, Meliodas, is written with a 'perverted' personality that feels out of place and often uncomfortable. If your kid is deep into anime, they’ve seen this before, but it’s worth a conversation about why that kind of 'humor' doesn't fly in the real world.

Age Fit

Best for 14 and up. While the action is standard for middle-schoolers, the sexualized humor and non-consensual touching are better suited for teens who can recognize it as a dated and problematic trope.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

The core themes of friendship and protecting the weak are solid, but the protagonist's recurring 'gag' of groping the female lead is a major drag on the wholesome factor.

Imaginative

Excellent high-fantasy world-building that remixes Arthurian legend with unique power systems and creative character designs.

Safe

Stylized shonen violence (blood, lost limbs that regenerate) is standard, but the pervasive sexualized humor involving non-consensual touching is the real safety flag for parents.

Enriching

Explores the complexity of morality—how heroes are branded as villains and the corrupting nature of power—while offering a high-stakes narrative.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Epic world-building that pulls from British folklore and turns it into a high-stakes shonen battleground.
Character-driven stakes where each of the 'Sins' has a legitimate, emotional backstory that explains their past failures and current powers.
Top-tier animation in the early seasons (produced by A-1 Pictures) makes the fight choreography genuinely exciting to watch.
Subversion of tropes where the 'evil' outcasts are the ones actually fighting for the kingdom's soul.

⚠

What to Watch For

Meliodas's behavior toward Elizabeth is the big one; he frequently gropes her or makes suggestive comments, which the show treats as a joke.
Violence gets graphic with swords, magic, and demons; expect blood spray and occasional dismemberment, even if the characters often have magical healing.
Animation quality drop in later seasons (specifically season 3 and 4) is notorious among fans—it looks significantly worse than the start.

Conversation Starters

"Why do you think the Holy Knights were able to convince everyone that the Sins were the bad guys?"
"Meliodas is the 'Dragon's Sin of Wrath,' but he usually seems calm. What does that say about how he handles his power?"
"If you were branded with a 'sin' based on a mistake you made, would you want to change your name or prove the label wrong?"
"How does the show handle the idea of forgiveness for characters who have done terrible things in their past?"

Deep Dive

The Arthurian Remix You Didn't Expect

At its best, Seven Deadly Sins is a masterclass in how to build a fantasy ensemble. By the time you meet Ban (Greed) or King (Sloth), you aren't just looking at power levels; you're looking at centuries of regret. The show thrives on the idea that these characters are 'sins' for a reason—they've all lost something or someone because of their own flaws.

The Animation Rollercoaster

If you're watching this with a kid who cares about visuals, be warned: the show's production history is messy. The first two seasons are gorgeous. Then, a studio switch happened, and the quality tanked. There's a famous scene in season 3 involving a fight between Meliodas and Escanor that became a meme because of how poorly it was drawn. If your kid starts complaining that it 'looks weird' later on, they aren't imagining it.

Handling the Meliodas Problem

The biggest hurdle for intentional parents is the protagonist. Meliodas is a great hero in battle, but his interactions with Elizabeth are a relic of a specific type of anime writing that hasn't aged well. He frequently violates her personal space. Elizabeth often plays the 'damsel' who just accepts it. It's the perfect opening to talk about consent and boundaries—specifically how media sometimes tries to make harassment look like a harmless joke.

What Parents Ask

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