Content & Trigger Warnings for Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013)
12 content warnings identified across 8 seasons for this show.
Quick Summary
Yes, Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013) contains 12 content warnings : Homophobia / transphobia (depicted), Racial slurs / racism (depicted), Stalking / harassment, Death of a parent, Miscarriage / pregnancy loss / stillbirth, Gaslighting / emotional manipulation, Kidnapping / abduction, Wrongful imprisonment, Alcohol abuse (depicted), Drug use (depicted), Gun violence, Police brutality.
Check the full breakdown below before you watch.
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Does It Get Worse?
5 series-wide warnings apply across all seasons.
| Warning | Season | Severity | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Identity & Discrimination | ||||
| Homophobia / transphobia (depicted) | S2 | 1/5 | Referenced | Mild jokes touching on sexuality and masculinity in the workplace; Captain Holt's experiences as a gay Black man in the NYPD are referenced |
| Homophobia / transphobia (depicted) | S4 | 2/5 | Depicted | Rosa's coming out as bisexual involves her parents' initial rejection; the emotional impact is depicted sincerely |
| Homophobia / transphobia (depicted) | S5 | 1/5 | Referenced | Captain Holt references past discrimination he faced as a gay officer; these moments are treated respectfully and used to build his character |
| Homophobia / transphobia (depicted) | S7 | 1/5 | Referenced | Holt and Kevin's relationship is depicted positively; occasional references to past institutional homophobia in the NYPD |
| Racial slurs / racism (depicted) | S4 | 3/5 | Depicted | Terry is racially profiled while off-duty in 'Moo Moo'; the episode directly addresses systemic racism in policing and is emotionally heavy |
| Racial slurs / racism (depicted) | S8 | 3/5 | Depicted | Systemic racism within law enforcement is a central theme; characters grapple with their roles in a broken system |
| Stalking / harassment | All | 1/5 | Depicted | Stalking and harassment cases are occasionally investigated. |
| Mental Health & Emotional | ||||
| Death of a parent | All | 1/5 | Referenced | Parental relationships and abandonment are discussed, particularly Jake's relationship with his father. |
| Miscarriage / pregnancy loss / stillbirth | S6 | 2/5 | Referenced | Amy and Jake's struggles with trying to conceive are addressed; fertility challenges discussed with emotional sincerity |
| Other | ||||
| Gaslighting / emotional manipulation | S1 | 1/5 | Referenced | Criminal suspects use deception and manipulation in interrogation scenarios; played for comedic effect |
| Gaslighting / emotional manipulation | S3 | 2/5 | Depicted | Jake's undercover persona involves sustained deception of both criminals and his colleagues; the emotional toll is briefly addressed |
| Kidnapping / abduction | S1 | 1/5 | Referenced | Criminal cases involve kidnapping references but nothing graphic or distressing is shown |
| Kidnapping / abduction | S2 | 1/5 | Referenced | Cases involving missing persons and abductions are investigated; no graphic content shown |
| Kidnapping / abduction | S3 | 1/5 | Referenced | Criminal investigations reference abductions as plot points for cases |
| Kidnapping / abduction | S5 | 2/5 | Depicted | Jake is kidnapped and held captive; while handled with humor, the captivity situation has tense moments |
| Kidnapping / abduction | S6 | 1/5 | Referenced | Criminal investigations involve missing persons and abduction cases as routine plot elements |
| Kidnapping / abduction | S7 | 1/5 | Referenced | Criminal case elements reference abductions |
| Wrongful imprisonment | S8 | 2/5 | Depicted | The show explores wrongful convictions and the failures of the justice system as part of its police reform narrative |
| Wrongful imprisonment | All | 3/5 | Depicted | Jake goes to prison and another character is wrongfully accused, depicted as a serious storyline. |
| Substance Use | ||||
| Alcohol abuse (depicted) | S1 | 1/5 | Depicted | Casual drinking at bars after work; Hitchcock and Scully's unhealthy habits are played for laughs |
| Alcohol abuse (depicted) | S2 | 1/5 | Depicted | Social drinking continues; bar scenes with the squad |
| Alcohol abuse (depicted) | S3 | 1/5 | Depicted | Casual drinking continues as a social backdrop |
| Alcohol abuse (depicted) | S4 | 1/5 | Depicted | Social drinking scenes continue at typical levels |
| Alcohol abuse (depicted) | S5 | 1/5 | Depicted | Social drinking at Shaw's bar continues as a regular backdrop |
| Alcohol abuse (depicted) | S6 | 1/5 | Depicted | Casual drinking scenes continue |
| Alcohol abuse (depicted) | S7 | 1/5 | Depicted | Casual drinking continues in social scenes |
| Alcohol abuse (depicted) | S8 | 1/5 | Depicted | Social drinking continues at typical levels |
| Alcohol abuse (depicted) | All | 2/5 | Depicted | Characters drink frequently, and Hitchcock and Scully's habits are played for laughs. |
| Drug use (depicted) | S1 | 1/5 | Referenced | Drug-related crimes are investigated by the squad; references to narcotics cases but no on-screen drug use |
| Drug use (depicted) | S2 | 1/5 | Referenced | Drug cases referenced in the precinct's work; drug busts mentioned but substance use not shown in detail |
| Drug use (depicted) | S3 | 1/5 | Referenced | Jake's undercover work with the mob involves drug trafficking references; no graphic depictions |
| Drug use (depicted) | S5 | 1/5 | Referenced | Drug crimes investigated as part of police cases; no graphic depictions of drug use |
| Drug use (depicted) | S6 | 1/5 | Referenced | Drug-related cases continue as standard precinct work; no graphic content |
| Drug use (depicted) | S7 | 1/5 | Referenced | Drug investigations continue as standard police work; no on-screen substance use |
| Violence & Physical Harm | ||||
| Gun violence | S1 | 1/5 | Referenced | References to gun use in police work; firearms are carried but violence is minimal and played for comedy |
| Gun violence | S2 | 1/5 | Referenced | Standard police comedy references to firearms; occasional shootout situations played comedically |
| Gun violence | S3 | 2/5 | Depicted | Some more serious gun-related scenes as Jake goes undercover with the mob; still largely comedic framing |
| Gun violence | S4 | 1/5 | Referenced | Standard police comedy firearms references continue |
| Gun violence | S5 | 2/5 | Depicted | Some more intense action sequences as the squad faces dangerous criminals; still within comedic framing |
| Gun violence | S6 | 1/5 | Referenced | Firearms referenced in police work at typical comedy levels |
| Gun violence | S7 | 1/5 | Referenced | Standard police comedy firearms references |
| Gun violence | S8 | 2/5 | Depicted | More serious gun violence scenarios as the show addresses real-world policing issues |
| Gun violence | All | 2/5 | Depicted | Police officers carry and occasionally use firearms, but violence is typically played for comedy or handled lightly. |
| Police brutality | S4 | 2/5 | Referenced | The racial profiling episode discusses police abuse of power against Black citizens; referenced and discussed earnestly |
| Police brutality | S8 | 3/5 | Depicted | The final season directly confronts police brutality and systemic racism in policing following the murder of George Floyd; serious and earnest treatment |
Identity & Discrimination
Mild jokes touching on sexuality and masculinity in the workplace; Captain Holt's experiences as a gay Black man in the NYPD are referenced
Rosa's coming out as bisexual involves her parents' initial rejection; the emotional impact is depicted sincerely
Captain Holt references past discrimination he faced as a gay officer; these moments are treated respectfully and used to build his character
Holt and Kevin's relationship is depicted positively; occasional references to past institutional homophobia in the NYPD
Terry is racially profiled while off-duty in 'Moo Moo'; the episode directly addresses systemic racism in policing and is emotionally heavy
Systemic racism within law enforcement is a central theme; characters grapple with their roles in a broken system
Stalking and harassment cases are occasionally investigated.
Mental Health & Emotional
Parental relationships and abandonment are discussed, particularly Jake's relationship with his father.
Amy and Jake's struggles with trying to conceive are addressed; fertility challenges discussed with emotional sincerity
Other
Criminal suspects use deception and manipulation in interrogation scenarios; played for comedic effect
Jake's undercover persona involves sustained deception of both criminals and his colleagues; the emotional toll is briefly addressed
Criminal cases involve kidnapping references but nothing graphic or distressing is shown
Cases involving missing persons and abductions are investigated; no graphic content shown
Criminal investigations reference abductions as plot points for cases
Jake is kidnapped and held captive; while handled with humor, the captivity situation has tense moments
Criminal investigations involve missing persons and abduction cases as routine plot elements
The show explores wrongful convictions and the failures of the justice system as part of its police reform narrative
Jake goes to prison and another character is wrongfully accused, depicted as a serious storyline.
Substance Use
Casual drinking at bars after work; Hitchcock and Scully's unhealthy habits are played for laughs
Social drinking at Shaw's bar continues as a regular backdrop
Characters drink frequently, and Hitchcock and Scully's habits are played for laughs.
Drug-related crimes are investigated by the squad; references to narcotics cases but no on-screen drug use
Drug cases referenced in the precinct's work; drug busts mentioned but substance use not shown in detail
Jake's undercover work with the mob involves drug trafficking references; no graphic depictions
Drug crimes investigated as part of police cases; no graphic depictions of drug use
Drug-related cases continue as standard precinct work; no graphic content
Drug investigations continue as standard police work; no on-screen substance use
Violence & Physical Harm
References to gun use in police work; firearms are carried but violence is minimal and played for comedy
Standard police comedy references to firearms; occasional shootout situations played comedically
Some more serious gun-related scenes as Jake goes undercover with the mob; still largely comedic framing
Some more intense action sequences as the squad faces dangerous criminals; still within comedic framing
More serious gun violence scenarios as the show addresses real-world policing issues
Police officers carry and occasionally use firearms, but violence is typically played for comedy or handled lightly.
The racial profiling episode discusses police abuse of power against Black citizens; referenced and discussed earnestly
The final season directly confronts police brutality and systemic racism in policing following the murder of George Floyd; serious and earnest treatment
