Content & Trigger Warnings for Designated Survivor (2016)
18 content warnings identified across 3 seasons for this show.
Quick Summary
Yes, Designated Survivor (2016) contains 18 content warnings : Hate crimes (depicted), Racial slurs / racism (depicted), Death of a parent, Grief / bereavement (major focus), Car accidents / crashes, Gaslighting / emotional manipulation, Infidelity, Kidnapping / abduction, Plane crashes, War / combat, Needles / medical procedures, Explicit sexual content / nudity, Alcohol abuse (depicted), Drug use (depicted), Gore / graphic violence, Gun violence, Sexual assault / rape, Torture.
The most severe warnings are for Grief / bereavement (major focus) (severity 4/5), Gaslighting / emotional manipulation (severity 4/5), Kidnapping / abduction (severity 4/5), War / combat (severity 4/5), Gun violence (severity 4/5).
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 | ||||
| Hate crimes (depicted) | All | 2/5 | Depicted | Hate-motivated attacks and discrimination are depicted in several plotlines. |
| Racial slurs / racism (depicted) | S1 | 3/5 | Depicted | Muslim Americans face backlash and discrimination after the terrorist attack |
| Racial slurs / racism (depicted) | S2 | 2/5 | Depicted | Ongoing themes of racial profiling in the political thriller context |
| Mental Health & Emotional | ||||
| Death of a parent | S1 | 3/5 | Depicted | Characters lose parents and family members in the bombing |
| Death of a parent | All | 3/5 | Depicted | Main character deals with the death of family members and colleagues who are parents. |
| Grief / bereavement (major focus) | S1 | 4/5 | Depicted | Nation mourns the loss of nearly the entire government in the attack |
| Grief / bereavement (major focus) | S2 | 3/5 | Depicted | Characters continue processing trauma from the Capitol attack |
| Grief / bereavement (major focus) | S3 | 3/5 | Depicted | Personal losses compound as the political thriller grows darker |
| Other | ||||
| Car accidents / crashes | S2 | 2/5 | Depicted | Vehicular attacks and high-speed chase crashes |
| Gaslighting / emotional manipulation | S1 | 3/5 | Depicted | Deep state conspirators manipulate the new president and public |
| Gaslighting / emotional manipulation | S2 | 4/5 | Depicted | Elaborate political conspiracies involve sustained deception and manipulation |
| Gaslighting / emotional manipulation | S3 | 4/5 | Depicted | Government conspiracies and political manipulation reach new depths |
| Infidelity | S3 | 2/5 | Depicted | Relationship complications and betrayals among the political figures |
| Kidnapping / abduction | S1 | 3/5 | Depicted | Key figures are abducted as part of the conspiracy |
| Kidnapping / abduction | S2 | 4/5 | Depicted | Major kidnapping storyline drives the central plot |
| Kidnapping / abduction | S3 | 3/5 | Depicted | Characters are captured and held as leverage in political schemes |
| Plane crashes | All | 2/5 | Depicted | A plane-related incident occurs in the series with some visual depiction. |
| War / combat | S1 | 4/5 | Depicted | Massive terrorist attack destroys the Capitol during the State of the Union |
| Phobias & Sensory | ||||
| Needles / medical procedures | S2 | 3/5 | Depicted | Bioterrorism plot involves medical threats and hazmat scenarios |
| Sexual Content | ||||
| Explicit sexual content / nudity | S3 | 2/5 | Depicted | More mature sexual content in the Netflix season compared to ABC run |
| Substance Use | ||||
| Alcohol abuse (depicted) | All | 2/5 | Depicted | A major character struggles with alcohol dependency across multiple episodes. |
| Drug use (depicted) | S3 | 3/5 | Depicted | Drug trafficking subplot becomes prominent in this season |
| Violence & Physical Harm | ||||
| Gore / graphic violence | All | 3/5 | Depicted | Graphic aftermath of explosions and violent attacks shown, particularly in the Capitol bombing storyline. |
| Gun violence | S1 | 4/5 | Depicted | Assassination attempts and shootouts as conspiracies unfold |
| Gun violence | S2 | 4/5 | Depicted | Continued assassination plots and armed confrontations |
| Gun violence | S3 | 4/5 | Depicted | Multiple shootings and armed standoffs in the darker Netflix season |
| Gun violence | All | 4/5 | Depicted | Frequent gun violence including shootouts, assassinations, and armed standoffs across all seasons. |
| Sexual assault / rape | All | 2/5 | Referenced | Sexual assault is referenced in a storyline but not graphically depicted. |
| Torture | S1 | 2/5 | Depicted | Interrogation scenes involving coercive techniques |
| Torture | S2 | 3/5 | Depicted | Suspects and hostages subjected to violent interrogation |
| Torture | S3 | 3/5 | Depicted | More graphic interrogation and violence in the grittier Netflix season |
| Torture | All | 3/5 | Depicted | Interrogation and torture scenes appear in several episodes, particularly involving government operatives. |
Identity & Discrimination
Hate-motivated attacks and discrimination are depicted in several plotlines.
Muslim Americans face backlash and discrimination after the terrorist attack
Ongoing themes of racial profiling in the political thriller context
Mental Health & Emotional
Main character deals with the death of family members and colleagues who are parents.
Nation mourns the loss of nearly the entire government in the attack
Characters continue processing trauma from the Capitol attack
Personal losses compound as the political thriller grows darker
Other
Deep state conspirators manipulate the new president and public
Elaborate political conspiracies involve sustained deception and manipulation
Government conspiracies and political manipulation reach new depths
Characters are captured and held as leverage in political schemes
A plane-related incident occurs in the series with some visual depiction.
Massive terrorist attack destroys the Capitol during the State of the Union
Phobias & Sensory
Bioterrorism plot involves medical threats and hazmat scenarios
Sexual Content
More mature sexual content in the Netflix season compared to ABC run
Substance Use
A major character struggles with alcohol dependency across multiple episodes.
Violence & Physical Harm
Graphic aftermath of explosions and violent attacks shown, particularly in the Capitol bombing storyline.
Frequent gun violence including shootouts, assassinations, and armed standoffs across all seasons.
Sexual assault is referenced in a storyline but not graphically depicted.
Interrogation and torture scenes appear in several episodes, particularly involving government operatives.
