Parents' Guide to

Silicon Valley

By Kari Croop, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Cheeky, crass tech comedy nails (male) geek culture.

TV HBO Comedy 2014
Silicon Valley Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

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age 12+

Based on 6 parent reviews

Miketrent
Miketrent Adult
February 9, 2021
age 14+
Yeeyee725
Yeeyee725 Adult
May 6, 2020
age 13+

Incredible, hilarious show.

Hear me out: the only thing that makes this show inappropriate is the swearing. Many, many uses of f--k, s--t, b--ch, etc. in each episode. However, if a 13 year old can hear one f bomb in a pg13 movie what can a few more do? As long as they know not to use that language themself, let them watch. One warning is that in season 1, episode 6 a nude woman is briefly shown in a non sexual situation. You can skip it if you want but you might not even notice it and that’s the only nudity in all 6 seasons. No sex ever. This show is hilarious fun for 13 year olds and up.
See all 6 parent reviews

What's the Story?

When an algorithm he's developed for a start-up music site goes viral, mild-mannered computer programmer Richard Hendrix (Thomas Middleditch) finds himself fielding lucrative offers from two of the most powerful names in SILICON VALLEY. But deciding his product isn't for sale means Richard and his friends will have to build their own brand from the ground up.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (6 ):
Kids say (8 ):

Based on creator Mike Judge's own experiences working at a Silicon Valley startup, HBO's Silicon Valley has shades of Judge's cult classic Office Space (sans the TPS reports) and largely nails the eccentricities of Bay Area tech culture. But its central character is hardly the kind of hero you feel compelled to root for, leaving most of the show's appeal in the hands of its quirky ensemble, an array of socially awkward man-boys who share a house -- and have no idea what to do with a stripper.

Of course, that's not necessarily a criticism, but the series does take a while to get going, so it won't have instant appeal for every viewer. It's also full of crass humor -- and a disappointing lack of female role models -- making it an iffy choice for impressionable teens who might be attracted to the Valley's geeky charms.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Silicon Valley's take on the actual Silicon Valley and whether it takes creative liberties for the sake of comedy. Does the series glorify tech culture or poke fun at it? How close does Silicon Valley come to nailing the eccentricities of the startup world?

  • How has technology affected the way young people think about the future in terms of college and careers? How is today's job market different than the one your parents entered after high school and college?

  • Why does the tech industry seem to attract a disproportionate number of men to women? Is there a gender advantage to being male, or is something else at play?

TV Details

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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.

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