Playing Gracie Darling is a 2025 Australian mystery drama and psychological thriller created and written by Miranda Nation and directed by Jonathan Brough. The six-part series stars Morgana O’Reilly, Dame Harriet Walter, Rudi Dharmalingam, Celia Pacquola, Annie Maynard, and Anne Tenney.
The story follows Joni Gray, now a child psychologist, who returns to her hometown when a disturbing children’s game brings back the traumatic disappearance of her best friend twenty-seven years earlier. Blending occult undertones with a small-town mystery, the series explores guilt, grief, and the shadows of unresolved trauma.
Produced by Curio Pictures, it premiered on Paramount+ Australia on August 14, 2025, and releases internationally on Netflix on December 1, 2025.
Playing Gracie Darling Age Rating
Playing Gracie Darling is officially rated TV-MA for violence, disturbing supernatural themes, drug use, coarse language, and psychologically intense content. This mature classification signals heavy emotional material and frightening moments not suitable for younger viewers.
Violence & Peril
The series features several unsettling scenes linked to disappearances and occult rituals. Violence is not constant, but when shown, it carries a strong emotional impact. Moments involve frightening imagery during séance sequences, desperate confrontations, and distress related to missing children. The atmosphere is tense, eerie, and designed to induce psychological fear rather than graphic gore.
Language
Coarse language appears throughout the show, especially in moments of fear, stress, and confrontation. Profanity is used by both adults and teens. Some emotionally charged scenes also include harsh exchanges tied to grief, trauma, and long-buried resentment.
Mature Themes
The core of the series deals with childhood trauma, unresolved guilt, and the emotional fallout from a decades-old disappearance. Occult and supernatural elements are depicted in a disturbing manner, particularly involving séances and spiritual beliefs that influence the town’s folklore. The show includes references to substance use, including adults coping with stress or emotional breakdowns. Themes of grief, family dysfunction, psychological instability, and fear of the unknown run throughout the narrative.
Is Playing Gracie Darling Suitable for Teens?
Ages 10–12: Not suitable. The supernatural tension, disappearance of minors, and psychological horror make the series too intense. The TV-MA rating reflects mature emotional content far beyond this age group.
Ages 13–15: Not recommended. Even older early teens may struggle with the show’s disturbing themes, occult imagery, and emotional heaviness. The show deals with trauma that can be unsettling without parental support.
Ages 16–17: With guidance. Mature teens who enjoy psychological thrillers may handle the material, but guidance is advised due to fear-inducing scenes, drug use, and emotionally intense backstory related to lost children. Discussing the themes afterward may help contextualize the story.
Final recommended viewing age: 17+
What Parents Can Do
Prepare teens for the supernatural tone. Explain how séance imagery, legends, and psychological horror are used to explore trauma rather than glorify the occult.
Discuss grief and childhood trauma. Teens may have questions about guilt, memory, or coping after tragic events.
Talk about real-world boundaries. The dangerous game kids play in the series can prompt conversations about peer pressure and unsafe thrill-seeking behavior.
Official Trailer
FAQs
Q: What is the age rating for Playing Gracie Darling?
A: The series is rated TV-MA for violence, drug use, coarse language, and disturbing psychological and supernatural themes.
Q: Is Playing Gracie Darling appropriate for teens?
A: It may be suitable only for older teens (17+). Younger teens may find the series too frightening and emotionally heavy.
Q: Does the show contain frightening scenes or violence?
A: Yes. The disappearances, occult sequences, and tense confrontations create a strong sense of dread, though the violence is not graphic.
Q: How strong is the language in the series?
A: The show includes frequent coarse language, especially during emotional or intense scenes.
Q: Is there any sexual content?
A: No explicit sexual scenes are central to the narrative. The mature rating is driven more by psychological horror and emotional themes.
Q: Where can I watch Playing Gracie Darling?
A: The series is streaming on Paramount+ Australia and will release internationally on Netflix on December 1, 2025.