Content & Trigger Warnings for Big Little Lies (2017)
15 content warnings identified across 2 seasons for this show.
Quick Summary
Yes, Big Little Lies (2017) contains 15 content warnings : Stalking / harassment, Grief / bereavement (major focus), Suicide (discussed or ideation), Gaslighting / emotional manipulation, Infidelity, Blood / medical gore, Drowning / underwater scenes, Age-gap relationships (predatory), Explicit sexual content / nudity, Sexual coercion / non-consensual situations, Alcohol abuse (depicted), Child abuse / harm to children, Domestic violence / intimate partner abuse, Gun violence, Sexual assault / rape.
The most severe warnings are for Grief / bereavement (major focus) (severity 4/5), Gaslighting / emotional manipulation (severity 5/5), Infidelity (severity 4/5), Explicit sexual content / nudity (severity 4/5), Sexual coercion / non-consensual situations (severity 5/5), Child abuse / harm to children (severity 4/5), Domestic violence / intimate partner abuse (severity 5/5), Gun violence (severity 4/5), Sexual assault / rape (severity 5/5).
Check the full breakdown below before you watch.
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Does It Get Worse?
12 series-wide warnings apply across all seasons.
| Warning | Season | Severity | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Identity & Discrimination | ||||
| Stalking / harassment | S2 | 2/5 | Depicted | Unwanted surveillance and boundary-crossing behavior from a peripheral character |
| Stalking / harassment | All | 3/5 | Depicted | Stalking and obsessive surveillance behavior depicted in multiple storylines |
| Mental Health & Emotional | ||||
| Grief / bereavement (major focus) | S1 | 3/5 | Depicted | Characters deal with emotional trauma and the aftermath of violence |
| Grief / bereavement (major focus) | S2 | 4/5 | Depicted | Characters struggle with PTSD, guilt, and grief in the aftermath of a death |
| Suicide (discussed or ideation) | S2 | 2/5 | Referenced | A character's emotional state raises concerns about self-destructive behavior |
| Other | ||||
| Gaslighting / emotional manipulation | S1 | 4/5 | Depicted | An abusive spouse systematically manipulates and controls his partner |
| Gaslighting / emotional manipulation | S2 | 3/5 | Depicted | Emotional manipulation continues among family members and in legal proceedings |
| Gaslighting / emotional manipulation | All | 5/5 | Depicted | Extensive psychological manipulation and gaslighting by an abusive spouse throughout the series |
| Infidelity | S1 | 3/5 | Depicted | Extramarital affairs are explored among multiple characters |
| Infidelity | S2 | 2/5 | Depicted | Past and present infidelity continues to create tension among the characters |
| Infidelity | All | 4/5 | Depicted | Multiple affairs and infidelity are major plot points throughout the series |
| Phobias & Sensory | ||||
| Blood / medical gore | All | 3/5 | Depicted | Blood visible in scenes of violence and their aftermath |
| Drowning / underwater scenes | All | 3/5 | Depicted | A near-drowning scene is depicted with significant tension |
| Sexual Content | ||||
| Age-gap relationships (predatory) | All | 3/5 | Depicted | A storyline involves a sexual relationship between an adult and a teenager |
| Explicit sexual content / nudity | S1 | 3/5 | Depicted | Several sexual scenes with partial nudity throughout the season |
| Explicit sexual content / nudity | S2 | 3/5 | Depicted | Sexual content continues at a similar level to the first season |
| Explicit sexual content / nudity | All | 4/5 | Depicted | Explicit sexual content and nudity in multiple scenes throughout the series |
| Sexual coercion / non-consensual situations | S1 | 4/5 | Depicted | Sexual coercion within a marriage is shown as part of the abuse dynamic |
| Sexual coercion / non-consensual situations | All | 5/5 | Depicted | Sexual coercion and marital rape are major thematic elements depicted in detail |
| Substance Use | ||||
| Alcohol abuse (depicted) | S1 | 3/5 | Depicted | Frequent social drinking that sometimes crosses into problematic use |
| Alcohol abuse (depicted) | S2 | 3/5 | Depicted | Characters use alcohol as a coping mechanism for stress and trauma |
| Violence & Physical Harm | ||||
| Child abuse / harm to children | S1 | 3/5 | Referenced | Bullying among children is shown and emotional impact on kids is a recurring theme |
| Child abuse / harm to children | S2 | 3/5 | Depicted | A custody battle reveals past childhood trauma and its lasting effects |
| Child abuse / harm to children | All | 4/5 | Depicted | Child abuse and its effects on children are significant themes explored in the narrative |
| Domestic violence / intimate partner abuse | S1 | 5/5 | Depicted | Sustained and graphic depiction of intimate partner abuse throughout the season |
| Domestic violence / intimate partner abuse | S2 | 4/5 | Referenced | Domestic violence is no longer ongoing but its aftermath and trauma pervade every storyline |
| Domestic violence / intimate partner abuse | All | 5/5 | Depicted | Severe domestic violence and spousal abuse depicted extensively throughout both seasons |
| Gun violence | S1 | 3/5 | Depicted | A firearm plays a role in a pivotal late-season scene |
| Gun violence | All | 4/5 | Depicted | Shooting death is a pivotal plot event depicted on screen |
| Sexual assault / rape | S1 | 5/5 | Depicted | Sexual assault is depicted and is central to a major character's backstory |
| Sexual assault / rape | S2 | 4/5 | Referenced | Past sexual assault is discussed and processed in therapy and legal contexts |
| Sexual assault / rape | All | 5/5 | Depicted | Rape and sexual assault are central to the plot with graphic and disturbing depictions |
Identity & Discrimination
Unwanted surveillance and boundary-crossing behavior from a peripheral character
Stalking and obsessive surveillance behavior depicted in multiple storylines
Mental Health & Emotional
Characters deal with emotional trauma and the aftermath of violence
Characters struggle with PTSD, guilt, and grief in the aftermath of a death
A character's emotional state raises concerns about self-destructive behavior
Other
An abusive spouse systematically manipulates and controls his partner
Emotional manipulation continues among family members and in legal proceedings
Extensive psychological manipulation and gaslighting by an abusive spouse throughout the series
Past and present infidelity continues to create tension among the characters
Multiple affairs and infidelity are major plot points throughout the series
Phobias & Sensory
A near-drowning scene is depicted with significant tension
Sexual Content
A storyline involves a sexual relationship between an adult and a teenager
Several sexual scenes with partial nudity throughout the season
Sexual content continues at a similar level to the first season
Explicit sexual content and nudity in multiple scenes throughout the series
Sexual coercion within a marriage is shown as part of the abuse dynamic
Sexual coercion and marital rape are major thematic elements depicted in detail
Substance Use
Frequent social drinking that sometimes crosses into problematic use
Characters use alcohol as a coping mechanism for stress and trauma
Violence & Physical Harm
Bullying among children is shown and emotional impact on kids is a recurring theme
A custody battle reveals past childhood trauma and its lasting effects
Child abuse and its effects on children are significant themes explored in the narrative
Sustained and graphic depiction of intimate partner abuse throughout the season
Domestic violence is no longer ongoing but its aftermath and trauma pervade every storyline
Severe domestic violence and spousal abuse depicted extensively throughout both seasons
Sexual assault is depicted and is central to a major character's backstory
Past sexual assault is discussed and processed in therapy and legal contexts
Rape and sexual assault are central to the plot with graphic and disturbing depictions
