Content & Trigger Warnings for 13 Reasons Why (2017)
23 content warnings identified across 4 seasons for this show.
Quick Summary
Yes, 13 Reasons Why (2017) contains 23 content warnings : Homophobia / transphobia (depicted), Stalking / harassment, Death of a child, Eating disorders, Grief / bereavement (major focus), Suicide (discussed or ideation), Terminal illness, Car accidents / crashes, Gaslighting / emotional manipulation, Infidelity, Kidnapping / abduction, Blood / medical gore, Confined spaces (claustrophobia), Sexual coercion / non-consensual situations, Alcohol abuse (depicted), Drug use (depicted), Overdose scenes, Child abuse / harm to children, Domestic violence / intimate partner abuse, Gun violence, Self-harm / suicide (depicted), Sexual assault / rape, Torture.
The most severe warnings are for Stalking / harassment (severity 4/5), Death of a child (severity 4/5), Grief / bereavement (major focus) (severity 5/5), Suicide (discussed or ideation) (severity 5/5), Terminal illness (severity 4/5), Gaslighting / emotional manipulation (severity 4/5), Blood / medical gore (severity 4/5), Sexual coercion / non-consensual situations (severity 4/5), Drug use (depicted) (severity 4/5), Overdose scenes (severity 4/5), Domestic violence / intimate partner abuse (severity 4/5), Gun violence (severity 5/5), Self-harm / suicide (depicted) (severity 5/5), Sexual assault / rape (severity 5/5).
Check the full breakdown below before you watch.
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Does It Get Worse?
8 series-wide warnings apply across all seasons.
| Warning | Season | Severity | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Identity & Discrimination | ||||
| Homophobia / transphobia (depicted) | S1 | 2/5 | Depicted | A gay student faces homophobic comments and social pressure about his identity |
| Homophobia / transphobia (depicted) | S2 | 2/5 | Depicted | A student continues to face challenges related to his sexual orientation |
| Homophobia / transphobia (depicted) | S3 | 3/5 | Depicted | A character faces homophobic bullying and struggles with coming out to family |
| Homophobia / transphobia (depicted) | S4 | 2/5 | Depicted | LGBTQ characters face ongoing challenges though this season focuses more on acceptance |
| Stalking / harassment | S1 | 4/5 | Depicted | A student is stalked and photographed without consent; voyeuristic behavior is a plot point |
| Stalking / harassment | S2 | 4/5 | Depicted | A stalker sends threatening messages and polaroids to the group; intimidation and harassment escalate |
| Stalking / harassment | S3 | 3/5 | Depicted | Characters are surveilled and followed as secrets about the death are investigated |
| Mental Health & Emotional | ||||
| Death of a child | All | 4/5 | Referenced | The suicide of a teenager is the central inciting event and is discussed extensively throughout. |
| Eating disorders | All | 2/5 | Referenced | Eating disorders are referenced in relation to the pressures characters face. |
| Grief / bereavement (major focus) | S1 | 5/5 | Depicted | Parents and friends grapple with devastating grief throughout as they learn of the death and its causes |
| Grief / bereavement (major focus) | S2 | 4/5 | Depicted | Ongoing grief and trauma processing as characters relive events through testimony |
| Grief / bereavement (major focus) | S3 | 3/5 | Depicted | Continued processing of loss; characters mourn while also dealing with new threats |
| Grief / bereavement (major focus) | S4 | 5/5 | Depicted | A main character dies in the finale; devastating grief scenes as friends and family mourn |
| Suicide (discussed or ideation) | S1 | 5/5 | Depicted | Extensive depiction of suicidal thoughts, planning, and the aftermath of suicide throughout all 13 episodes |
| Suicide (discussed or ideation) | S2 | 4/5 | Depicted | Characters continue to struggle with suicidal thoughts in the aftermath of the previous season's events |
| Suicide (discussed or ideation) | S3 | 3/5 | Depicted | Characters continue to struggle with mental health; references to the previous suicide remain constant |
| Suicide (discussed or ideation) | S4 | 4/5 | Depicted | A character experiences severe anxiety and suicidal ideation; mental health crises are central to the season |
| Suicide (discussed or ideation) | All | 5/5 | Depicted | Suicide is a central theme throughout the entire series, with explicit depiction of a teenager's suicide in Season 1. |
| Terminal illness | S4 | 4/5 | Depicted | A character is diagnosed with a terminal illness and their decline is shown throughout the season |
| Other | ||||
| Car accidents / crashes | S1 | 3/5 | Depicted | A car accident caused by emotional distress is depicted; a student is injured |
| Gaslighting / emotional manipulation | S1 | 4/5 | Depicted | Multiple characters deny and minimize the protagonist's experiences; school administration dismisses her concerns |
| Gaslighting / emotional manipulation | S2 | 4/5 | Depicted | Witnesses are pressured to change their testimony; institutional gaslighting during the trial |
| Gaslighting / emotional manipulation | S3 | 4/5 | Depicted | Characters lie and manipulate to cover up involvement in a classmate's disappearance and death |
| Gaslighting / emotional manipulation | S4 | 3/5 | Depicted | Characters continue to hide secrets and manipulate each other |
| Infidelity | S3 | 3/5 | Depicted | Multiple relationship betrayals and cheating are explored across character storylines |
| Kidnapping / abduction | All | 3/5 | Depicted | A character is held captive against their will in a later season. |
| Phobias & Sensory | ||||
| Blood / medical gore | S1 | 4/5 | Depicted | Blood is shown during the suicide scene and in the aftermath discovered by a parent |
| Blood / medical gore | S2 | 3/5 | Depicted | Blood shown during assault scenes and self-harm depictions |
| Blood / medical gore | S4 | 3/5 | Depicted | Blood present in injury and self-harm scenes |
| Confined spaces (claustrophobia) | S4 | 3/5 | Depicted | The active shooter drill forces students into confined hiding spaces in a panic |
| Sexual Content | ||||
| Sexual coercion / non-consensual situations | S1 | 4/5 | Depicted | Sexual coercion and pressure depicted in party settings with impaired consent |
| Sexual coercion / non-consensual situations | S2 | 4/5 | Depicted | Power dynamics and coercion explored through the trial and flashback sequences |
| Sexual coercion / non-consensual situations | S3 | 3/5 | Depicted | Power imbalances in relationships depicted; sexual pressure and manipulation shown |
| Substance Use | ||||
| Alcohol abuse (depicted) | S1 | 3/5 | Depicted | Underage drinking at parties leads to dangerous situations and impaired judgment |
| Alcohol abuse (depicted) | S2 | 3/5 | Depicted | Continued underage drinking and use of alcohol to cope with trauma |
| Alcohol abuse (depicted) | S3 | 3/5 | Depicted | Underage drinking continues; alcohol used as a coping mechanism for trauma |
| Alcohol abuse (depicted) | S4 | 3/5 | Depicted | Continued underage drinking and alcohol as a coping mechanism |
| Drug use (depicted) | S1 | 2/5 | Depicted | Marijuana use depicted at parties among teenagers |
| Drug use (depicted) | S2 | 3/5 | Depicted | A character develops a drug dependency; steroid use is introduced as a coping mechanism |
| Drug use (depicted) | S3 | 4/5 | Depicted | Steroid abuse and drug dealing become major plot points; a character's substance dependency worsens |
| Drug use (depicted) | S4 | 4/5 | Depicted | Heroin use is depicted; a character's addiction is a major storyline |
| Overdose scenes | S3 | 3/5 | Depicted | Steroid overdose effects depicted; a character's physical health deteriorates from substance abuse |
| Overdose scenes | S4 | 3/5 | Depicted | Overdose risk depicted as a character spirals into addiction |
| Overdose scenes | All | 4/5 | Depicted | A character overdoses on drugs in a later season. |
| Violence & Physical Harm | ||||
| Child abuse / harm to children | All | 3/5 | Depicted | Parental neglect and emotional abuse of teen characters is depicted. |
| Domestic violence / intimate partner abuse | S1 | 3/5 | Depicted | An abusive home environment is depicted; parental neglect and emotional abuse shown |
| Domestic violence / intimate partner abuse | S2 | 3/5 | Depicted | Abusive family dynamics explored further; emotional and physical abuse at home depicted |
| Domestic violence / intimate partner abuse | S3 | 4/5 | Depicted | An abusive relationship between a student and an older partner is depicted with physical violence |
| Domestic violence / intimate partner abuse | S4 | 3/5 | Depicted | An abusive home environment and toxic relationships continue to be depicted |
| Gun violence | S2 | 4/5 | Depicted | A student brings a gun to a school dance; the threat of a school shooting is a major climax |
| Gun violence | S3 | 2/5 | Referenced | References to the previous season's gun threat; characters deal with the trauma of that event |
| Gun violence | S4 | 4/5 | Depicted | An active shooter drill at school is shown in traumatic detail; resembles a real school shooting scenario |
| Gun violence | All | 5/5 | Depicted | A school shooting is depicted in later seasons, and guns are brandished and used multiple times. |
| Self-harm / suicide (depicted) | S1 | 5/5 | Depicted | A teenager's suicide is depicted on screen in graphic detail; the entire season revolves around her reasons for ending her life |
| Self-harm / suicide (depicted) | S2 | 4/5 | Depicted | Self-harm behaviors depicted; characters show signs of suicidal crisis |
| Self-harm / suicide (depicted) | S4 | 4/5 | Depicted | Self-harm depicted; a character's mental health deteriorates significantly; a character dies in the finale |
| Sexual assault / rape | S1 | 5/5 | Depicted | Two separate sexual assaults are shown in graphic detail including rape of the main character and another student |
| Sexual assault / rape | S2 | 5/5 | Depicted | A male student is sexually assaulted with an object in a graphic and extremely disturbing scene; a trial for previous assaults is central to the plot |
| Sexual assault / rape | S3 | 3/5 | Referenced | Previous sexual assaults discussed extensively as characters deal with aftermath; a character's abusive past is explored |
| Torture | All | 3/5 | Depicted | A captive character is physically and psychologically tortured in later seasons. |
Identity & Discrimination
A gay student faces homophobic comments and social pressure about his identity
A student continues to face challenges related to his sexual orientation
A character faces homophobic bullying and struggles with coming out to family
LGBTQ characters face ongoing challenges though this season focuses more on acceptance
A student is stalked and photographed without consent; voyeuristic behavior is a plot point
A stalker sends threatening messages and polaroids to the group; intimidation and harassment escalate
Characters are surveilled and followed as secrets about the death are investigated
Mental Health & Emotional
The suicide of a teenager is the central inciting event and is discussed extensively throughout.
Eating disorders are referenced in relation to the pressures characters face.
Parents and friends grapple with devastating grief throughout as they learn of the death and its causes
Ongoing grief and trauma processing as characters relive events through testimony
Continued processing of loss; characters mourn while also dealing with new threats
A main character dies in the finale; devastating grief scenes as friends and family mourn
Extensive depiction of suicidal thoughts, planning, and the aftermath of suicide throughout all 13 episodes
Characters continue to struggle with suicidal thoughts in the aftermath of the previous season's events
Characters continue to struggle with mental health; references to the previous suicide remain constant
A character experiences severe anxiety and suicidal ideation; mental health crises are central to the season
Suicide is a central theme throughout the entire series, with explicit depiction of a teenager's suicide in Season 1.
A character is diagnosed with a terminal illness and their decline is shown throughout the season
Other
A car accident caused by emotional distress is depicted; a student is injured
Multiple characters deny and minimize the protagonist's experiences; school administration dismisses her concerns
Witnesses are pressured to change their testimony; institutional gaslighting during the trial
Characters lie and manipulate to cover up involvement in a classmate's disappearance and death
Characters continue to hide secrets and manipulate each other
Multiple relationship betrayals and cheating are explored across character storylines
A character is held captive against their will in a later season.
Phobias & Sensory
Blood is shown during the suicide scene and in the aftermath discovered by a parent
The active shooter drill forces students into confined hiding spaces in a panic
Sexual Content
Sexual coercion and pressure depicted in party settings with impaired consent
Power dynamics and coercion explored through the trial and flashback sequences
Power imbalances in relationships depicted; sexual pressure and manipulation shown
Substance Use
Underage drinking at parties leads to dangerous situations and impaired judgment
Continued underage drinking and use of alcohol to cope with trauma
Underage drinking continues; alcohol used as a coping mechanism for trauma
Continued underage drinking and alcohol as a coping mechanism
A character develops a drug dependency; steroid use is introduced as a coping mechanism
Steroid abuse and drug dealing become major plot points; a character's substance dependency worsens
Heroin use is depicted; a character's addiction is a major storyline
Steroid overdose effects depicted; a character's physical health deteriorates from substance abuse
Violence & Physical Harm
Parental neglect and emotional abuse of teen characters is depicted.
An abusive home environment is depicted; parental neglect and emotional abuse shown
Abusive family dynamics explored further; emotional and physical abuse at home depicted
An abusive relationship between a student and an older partner is depicted with physical violence
An abusive home environment and toxic relationships continue to be depicted
A student brings a gun to a school dance; the threat of a school shooting is a major climax
References to the previous season's gun threat; characters deal with the trauma of that event
An active shooter drill at school is shown in traumatic detail; resembles a real school shooting scenario
A school shooting is depicted in later seasons, and guns are brandished and used multiple times.
A teenager's suicide is depicted on screen in graphic detail; the entire season revolves around her reasons for ending her life
Self-harm behaviors depicted; characters show signs of suicidal crisis
Self-harm depicted; a character's mental health deteriorates significantly; a character dies in the finale
Two separate sexual assaults are shown in graphic detail including rape of the main character and another student
A male student is sexually assaulted with an object in a graphic and extremely disturbing scene; a trial for previous assaults is central to the plot
Previous sexual assaults discussed extensively as characters deal with aftermath; a character's abusive past is explored
A captive character is physically and psychologically tortured in later seasons.
