Content & Trigger Warnings for Absentia (2017)
15 content warnings identified across 3 seasons for this show.
Quick Summary
Yes, Absentia (2017) contains 15 content warnings : Death of a child, Grief / bereavement (major focus), Suicide (discussed or ideation), Gaslighting / emotional manipulation, Kidnapping / abduction, Wrongful imprisonment, Confined spaces (claustrophobia), Drowning / underwater scenes, Drug use (depicted), Child abuse / harm to children, Gore / graphic violence, Gun violence, Self-harm / suicide (depicted), Sexual assault / rape, Torture.
The most severe warnings are for Kidnapping / abduction (severity 4/5), Torture (severity 4/5).
Check the full breakdown below before you watch.
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Does It Get Worse?
9 series-wide warnings apply across all seasons.
| Warning | Season | Severity | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mental Health & Emotional | ||||
| Death of a child | S2 | 3/5 | Referenced | Cases involving harm to children feature as part of the criminal investigation |
| Grief / bereavement (major focus) | S1 | 3/5 | Depicted | Intense portrayal of a family coping with the disappearance and return of a loved one |
| Grief / bereavement (major focus) | S2 | 3/5 | Depicted | Ongoing struggle with trauma and its impact on family relationships |
| Grief / bereavement (major focus) | S3 | 3/5 | Depicted | Final reckoning with accumulated trauma and loss throughout the series |
| Grief / bereavement (major focus) | All | 3/5 | Depicted | The protagonist struggles with trauma, grief, and fractured family relationships after her ordeal |
| Suicide (discussed or ideation) | S1 | 2/5 | Referenced | References to suicidal ideation in the context of captivity trauma |
| Suicide (discussed or ideation) | All | 2/5 | Depicted | Characters experience dark psychological states including suicidal thoughts |
| Other | ||||
| Gaslighting / emotional manipulation | S1 | 3/5 | Depicted | Characters question the protagonist's mental state and reliability of her memories |
| Gaslighting / emotional manipulation | S2 | 3/5 | Depicted | Deepening conspiracy involves manipulation and deception from trusted figures |
| Gaslighting / emotional manipulation | S3 | 3/5 | Depicted | The conspiracy's full scope reveals layers of manipulation and betrayal |
| Kidnapping / abduction | S1 | 4/5 | Depicted | Central plot revolves around an FBI agent held captive for six years in horrific conditions |
| Kidnapping / abduction | S2 | 4/5 | Depicted | New abduction cases and continued flashbacks to the protagonist's captivity |
| Kidnapping / abduction | S3 | 3/5 | Depicted | Abduction remains central to ongoing cases and the protagonist's past |
| Kidnapping / abduction | All | 4/5 | Depicted | Kidnapping and captivity are central to the plot; the protagonist was held prisoner for years |
| Wrongful imprisonment | S2 | 2/5 | Depicted | Themes of false accusations and institutional betrayal |
| Phobias & Sensory | ||||
| Confined spaces (claustrophobia) | S1 | 3/5 | Depicted | Flashbacks to prolonged captivity in small enclosed spaces |
| Confined spaces (claustrophobia) | S2 | 2/5 | Depicted | Continued flashback sequences featuring captivity in enclosed spaces |
| Confined spaces (claustrophobia) | S3 | 2/5 | Depicted | Captivity trauma continues to manifest in flashbacks and psychological sequences |
| Confined spaces (claustrophobia) | All | 3/5 | Depicted | Captivity scenes involve confinement in small, enclosed spaces |
| Drowning / underwater scenes | S1 | 3/5 | Depicted | Water-based scenes used as torture and a recurring source of terror |
| Substance Use | ||||
| Drug use (depicted) | All | 2/5 | Depicted | Drug use appears in connection with criminal elements in the storyline |
| Violence & Physical Harm | ||||
| Child abuse / harm to children | All | 3/5 | Referenced | The impact of a parent's disappearance on a child is a major emotional thread; threats to children occur |
| Gore / graphic violence | S1 | 3/5 | Depicted | Crime scene investigations reveal graphic injuries and violent deaths |
| Gore / graphic violence | S2 | 3/5 | Depicted | Graphic crime scenes and violent deaths throughout the investigation |
| Gore / graphic violence | S3 | 3/5 | Depicted | Continued graphic crime scenes and violent confrontations |
| Gore / graphic violence | All | 3/5 | Depicted | Graphic crime scenes and violent injuries shown throughout the series |
| Gun violence | S1 | 3/5 | Depicted | Multiple shootings and armed confrontations throughout the investigation |
| Gun violence | S2 | 3/5 | Depicted | Escalating armed confrontations as the conspiracy deepens |
| Gun violence | S3 | 3/5 | Depicted | Armed standoffs and shootings intensify as the series reaches its conclusion |
| Gun violence | All | 3/5 | Depicted | Frequent gun violence as part of the thriller and law enforcement storylines |
| Self-harm / suicide (depicted) | S1 | 2/5 | Depicted | Protagonist shows signs of self-destructive behavior following prolonged trauma |
| Self-harm / suicide (depicted) | S3 | 2/5 | Depicted | Protagonist's self-destructive tendencies continue as trauma takes its toll |
| Sexual assault / rape | All | 3/5 | Referenced | Sexual violence is implied and referenced as part of the captivity storyline |
| Torture | S1 | 4/5 | Depicted | Graphic depictions of captivity and physical torture endured during imprisonment |
| Torture | S2 | 3/5 | Depicted | Continued depictions of torture in both present cases and past trauma flashbacks |
| Torture | S3 | 3/5 | Depicted | Torture elements continue in both investigations and unresolved trauma |
Mental Health & Emotional
Cases involving harm to children feature as part of the criminal investigation
Intense portrayal of a family coping with the disappearance and return of a loved one
Ongoing struggle with trauma and its impact on family relationships
Final reckoning with accumulated trauma and loss throughout the series
The protagonist struggles with trauma, grief, and fractured family relationships after her ordeal
References to suicidal ideation in the context of captivity trauma
Characters experience dark psychological states including suicidal thoughts
Other
Characters question the protagonist's mental state and reliability of her memories
Deepening conspiracy involves manipulation and deception from trusted figures
The conspiracy's full scope reveals layers of manipulation and betrayal
Central plot revolves around an FBI agent held captive for six years in horrific conditions
New abduction cases and continued flashbacks to the protagonist's captivity
Abduction remains central to ongoing cases and the protagonist's past
Kidnapping and captivity are central to the plot; the protagonist was held prisoner for years
Phobias & Sensory
Flashbacks to prolonged captivity in small enclosed spaces
Continued flashback sequences featuring captivity in enclosed spaces
Captivity trauma continues to manifest in flashbacks and psychological sequences
Captivity scenes involve confinement in small, enclosed spaces
Water-based scenes used as torture and a recurring source of terror
Substance Use
Drug use appears in connection with criminal elements in the storyline
Violence & Physical Harm
The impact of a parent's disappearance on a child is a major emotional thread; threats to children occur
Crime scene investigations reveal graphic injuries and violent deaths
Graphic crime scenes and violent deaths throughout the investigation
Continued graphic crime scenes and violent confrontations
Graphic crime scenes and violent injuries shown throughout the series
Multiple shootings and armed confrontations throughout the investigation
Armed standoffs and shootings intensify as the series reaches its conclusion
Frequent gun violence as part of the thriller and law enforcement storylines
Protagonist shows signs of self-destructive behavior following prolonged trauma
Protagonist's self-destructive tendencies continue as trauma takes its toll
Sexual violence is implied and referenced as part of the captivity storyline
Graphic depictions of captivity and physical torture endured during imprisonment
Continued depictions of torture in both present cases and past trauma flashbacks
