Content & Trigger Warnings for Defending Jacob (2020)
14 content warnings identified across 1 season for this show.
Quick Summary
Yes, Defending Jacob (2020) contains 14 content warnings : Stalking / harassment, Death of a child, Grief / bereavement (major focus), Suicide (discussed or ideation), Car accidents / crashes, Gaslighting / emotional manipulation, Wrongful imprisonment, Blood / medical gore, Sexual coercion / non-consensual situations, Alcohol abuse (depicted), Child abuse / harm to children, Gore / graphic violence, Self-harm / suicide (depicted), Sexual assault / rape.
The most severe warnings are for Death of a child (severity 5/5), Grief / bereavement (major focus) (severity 5/5), Car accidents / crashes (severity 4/5), Wrongful imprisonment (severity 4/5), Sexual coercion / non-consensual situations (severity 4/5), Gore / graphic violence (severity 4/5), Self-harm / suicide (depicted) (severity 4/5), Sexual assault / rape (severity 4/5).
Check the full breakdown below before you watch.
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Does It Get Worse?
6 series-wide warnings apply across all seasons.
| Warning | Season | Severity | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Identity & Discrimination | ||||
| Stalking / harassment | All | 2/5 | Depicted | Characters are followed and surveilled as part of the criminal investigation. |
| Mental Health & Emotional | ||||
| Death of a child | S1 | 5/5 | Referenced | The central plot revolves around the murder of a young classmate; aftermath and grief are shown extensively |
| Grief / bereavement (major focus) | S1 | 5/5 | Depicted | A family is torn apart by suspicion and grief as they cope with the accusation against their son |
| Suicide (discussed or ideation) | S1 | 3/5 | Depicted | A character exhibits signs of severe depression and hopelessness leading to the implied final act |
| Other | ||||
| Car accidents / crashes | S1 | 4/5 | Depicted | A significant car crash occurs that plays a major role in the story's conclusion |
| Gaslighting / emotional manipulation | S1 | 3/5 | Depicted | Characters manipulate and deceive family members about key facts surrounding the case |
| Wrongful imprisonment | S1 | 4/5 | Depicted | A teenager is arrested and faces trial for murder, with extended courtroom and detention scenes |
| Phobias & Sensory | ||||
| Blood / medical gore | All | 3/5 | Depicted | Crime scene and forensic evidence shows significant amounts of blood. |
| Sexual Content | ||||
| Sexual coercion / non-consensual situations | All | 4/5 | Depicted | Non-consensual sexual contact is central to the plot and shown in graphic detail. |
| Substance Use | ||||
| Alcohol abuse (depicted) | All | 2/5 | Depicted | Characters drink to cope with the stress of the trial and accusations. |
| Violence & Physical Harm | ||||
| Child abuse / harm to children | S1 | 3/5 | Referenced | Discussions of a family history involving violence against children as a possible hereditary trait |
| Gore / graphic violence | S1 | 3/5 | Depicted | Crime scene imagery involving a murdered child, including blood and forensic details |
| Gore / graphic violence | All | 4/5 | Depicted | A murder and its aftermath including graphic scenes of a body and blood. |
| Self-harm / suicide (depicted) | S1 | 4/5 | Referenced | The series ends with a strongly implied suicide by a major character; not shown on screen but made clear |
| Sexual assault / rape | S1 | 3/5 | Referenced | A past sexual assault is discussed as part of the investigation into the suspect's history |
| Sexual assault / rape | All | 4/5 | Depicted | A teen is accused of sexual assault and the crime is depicted through flashbacks and testimony. |
Identity & Discrimination
Characters are followed and surveilled as part of the criminal investigation.
Mental Health & Emotional
The central plot revolves around the murder of a young classmate; aftermath and grief are shown extensively
A family is torn apart by suspicion and grief as they cope with the accusation against their son
A character exhibits signs of severe depression and hopelessness leading to the implied final act
Other
A significant car crash occurs that plays a major role in the story's conclusion
Characters manipulate and deceive family members about key facts surrounding the case
A teenager is arrested and faces trial for murder, with extended courtroom and detention scenes
Phobias & Sensory
Crime scene and forensic evidence shows significant amounts of blood.
Sexual Content
Non-consensual sexual contact is central to the plot and shown in graphic detail.
Substance Use
Characters drink to cope with the stress of the trial and accusations.
Violence & Physical Harm
Discussions of a family history involving violence against children as a possible hereditary trait
Crime scene imagery involving a murdered child, including blood and forensic details
A murder and its aftermath including graphic scenes of a body and blood.
The series ends with a strongly implied suicide by a major character; not shown on screen but made clear
A past sexual assault is discussed as part of the investigation into the suspect's history
A teen is accused of sexual assault and the crime is depicted through flashbacks and testimony.
