Genera+ion – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Genera+ion

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

show2021

42%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

HBO Max's edgy Gen-Z drama about sexuality and identity—definitely not family movie night material.

7.2/10

75%

84%

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Genera+ion

show

TV-MA, 2021

42%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

HBO Max's edgy Gen-Z drama about sexuality and identity—definitely not family movie night material.

7.2

75%

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7.2/10

75%

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Screenwise Verdict

Look, this is an HBO drama about Gen-Z teens exploring sexuality and identity, which means it's going to be explicit, provocative, and definitely not something your 14-year-old should be watching.

The decent reviews suggest it's well-made and resonates with its target audience, but that target audience is older teens and adults who can handle mature content. The show got cancelled after one season, which is a bummer if your 17-year-old gets invested.

If you've got a mature older teen who's navigating questions about identity and sexuality, this might offer some representation and spark good conversations. But preview it yourself first—HBO doesn't pull punches, and 'teen drama' on their platform means very different things than 'teen drama' on Disney+.

Age Fit

This is strictly for older teens (17+) and adults. The mature sexual content, explicit themes, and HBO-level adult situations make it inappropriate for anyone younger, despite the high school setting.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

HBO Max teen drama exploring sexuality, gender identity, and modern teenage life. While it models acceptance and self-discovery, the tone is edgy and adult-oriented rather than emotionally nurturing. Common Sense Media's age 17 rating suggests mature themes that push beyond wholesome territory into provocative content territory.

Imaginative

Tackles contemporary Gen-Z identity issues with a fresh lens and explores LGBTQ+ themes in a high school setting. The show attempts to capture the complexity of modern teen culture, though without synopsis or creative details it's hard to assess true originality. Decent critical reception (75% RT critics) suggests some creative merit.

Safe

Age 17 recommendation from Common Sense Media signals mature sexual content, likely explicit discussions of sexuality, potential nudity or sexual situations, and adult language typical of HBO programming. Not suitable for younger viewers who might stumble upon it. HBO Max does offer kids mode, but this show clearly sits in the mature content tier.

Enriching

Addresses important contemporary issues around identity, sexuality, gender expression, and acceptance that are relevant to older teens. The 84% audience score suggests it resonates with viewers and likely offers meaningful representation. However, without knowing execution details, hard to assess depth of insight versus surface-level treatment of these topics.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Strong audience reception (84% RT) suggests authentic portrayal of modern teen experiences
Tackles LGBTQ+ identity, sexuality, and acceptance head-on with contemporary lens
Could provide meaningful representation for older teens navigating similar questions
Decent critical scores indicate quality production and storytelling

⚠

What to Watch For

Age 17+ for a reason—expect explicit sexual content, mature themes, and adult situations
This is HBO, so language and scenarios will be unfiltered and graphic
Not appropriate for family co-viewing or younger siblings in the room
Show was cancelled after one season, so no closure if your teen gets invested

Conversation Starters

"How does the show's portrayal of teen sexuality compare to your actual high school experience?"
"Do you think the characters' struggles with identity feel authentic or overdramatized?"
"What did you think about how the show handled [specific character's] coming out story?"
"How different is Gen-Z's approach to gender and sexuality compared to what I grew up with?"

Stills