Should Your Teen Watch Berserk?

Some stories entertain. Others leave scars. Berserk falls firmly in the latter camp. Hailed by many adult anime fans as a masterwork of storytelling, it’s also one of the most emotionally grueling and disturbing shows ever made.

So if your teenager is asking to watch it—or already has—it’s worth slowing down. This isn’t just another dark fantasy filled with monsters and swords. It’s a brutal meditation on trauma, betrayal, and the cruel side of human nature. And while its themes are powerful, they’re also deeply uncomfortable, graphic, and emotionally heavy.

Berserk follows Guts, a mercenary raised in a world soaked in blood and betrayal. The story’s most famous arc—The Golden Age—focuses on his rise as a soldier, his relationship with a group of fighters known as the Band of the Hawk, and his growing bond with their charismatic leader, Griffith.

But what begins as a story about camaraderie and ambition slowly transforms into something much darker. The characters endure heartbreak, betrayal, and some of the most emotionally and physically violent scenes in anime history.

There are multiple adaptations of Berserk, including the 1997 anime series and a set of films. All cover the Golden Age arc. There’s also a 2016 continuation—but it’s the older material that’s most commonly recommended (and most intense).

Berserk doesn't hold back. Battle scenes are realistic and brutal, with limbs flying and bodies crushed in combat. Violence is used not as decoration, but as a reflection of the world’s cruelty. Still, it’s often hard to watch—even for adults.

The most disturbing content comes from scenes of rape and sexual exploitation, including the traumatic events of the infamous "Eclipse" episode. These moments are graphic, central to the plot, and emotionally devastating. For many viewers, this is the point where they either step away or commit to finishing the story with emotional caution.

Beyond physical trauma, Berserk dives deep into emotional pain. Betrayal, the search for purpose, and the slow loss of faith in humanity are constant. It's not a hopeful show—most characters suffer, and few find peace.

Recommended for: Adults (18+) only

Berserk is absolutely not intended for children or young teens. While older, emotionally mature teens might be curious, this is a story that demands adult-level emotional awareness and psychological safety.

Even adults have reported needing time to recover from certain episodes. The emotional weight is significant.

For those who are ready for it, Berserk delivers harsh but profound lessons. Guts—who has every reason to give up—keeps moving forward. His will to survive, despite having nothing left, becomes a symbol of raw human endurance.

The story also explores the seductive nature of power, the corruption of ideals, and the emotional cost of trusting the wrong person. Guts’s relationship with Griffith is both inspiring and terrifying—a cautionary tale about blind loyalty and ambition.

But these lessons don’t come easily. They’re earned through watching immense suffering, and they require a viewer who can handle complex emotions and moral ambiguity.

Berserk is not a casual anime. It’s not something to put on for fun. It’s raw, haunting, and emotionally demanding. But it’s also brilliantly written and beautifully tragic—for viewers ready to handle its depth and darkness.

If your teen brings up Berserk, don’t just dismiss or allow it blindly. Ask why they’re interested. Talk through what they know. Consider co-watching parts—or suggest waiting until they’re older and more emotionally equipped to face it.

Because Berserk doesn’t just tell a story. It makes you feel it—and that’s not something every teen is ready for.