Content & Trigger Warnings for High School Musical: The Musical: The Series (2019)
8 content warnings identified across 4 seasons for this show.
Quick Summary
Yes, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series (2019) contains 8 content warnings : Homophobia / transphobia (depicted), Death of a parent, Eating disorders, Grief / bereavement (major focus), Gaslighting / emotional manipulation, Infidelity, Alcohol abuse (depicted), Drug use (depicted).
Check the full breakdown below before you watch.
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Does It Get Worse?
2 series-wide warnings apply across all seasons.
| Warning | Season | Severity | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Identity & Discrimination | ||||
| Homophobia / transphobia (depicted) | S1 | 1/5 | Referenced | A character's journey toward self-acceptance touches on fear of others' reactions to their identity |
| Homophobia / transphobia (depicted) | S2 | 2/5 | Depicted | A character navigates coming out and faces some resistance from peers and family |
| Homophobia / transphobia (depicted) | S3 | 2/5 | Depicted | Continued exploration of LGBTQ+ identity with some pushback from certain characters |
| Homophobia / transphobia (depicted) | S4 | 2/5 | Depicted | LGBTQ+ characters continue to navigate acceptance and identity |
| Mental Health & Emotional | ||||
| Death of a parent | S1 | 2/5 | Referenced | A character's absent parent situation is explored emotionally |
| Death of a parent | S3 | 2/5 | Referenced | A character references the loss of a parent and its impact on their life choices |
| Death of a parent | S4 | 2/5 | Referenced | Parental absence and its emotional impact explored as characters prepare for adulthood |
| Eating disorders | S2 | 1/5 | Referenced | Brief reference to body image pressures in the performing arts context |
| Eating disorders | All | 1/5 | Referenced | Body image and performance pressure are touched on in the context of theater and dance. |
| Grief / bereavement (major focus) | S1 | 2/5 | Depicted | Characters process the loss of friendships and romantic relationships through musical theater |
| Grief / bereavement (major focus) | S2 | 3/5 | Depicted | A character deals with the emotional fallout of their parents' divorce |
| Grief / bereavement (major focus) | S3 | 3/5 | Depicted | Characters deal with loss and change as they prepare for their futures beyond high school |
| Grief / bereavement (major focus) | S4 | 3/5 | Depicted | Characters face the bittersweet grief of endings as they graduate and part ways |
| Other | ||||
| Gaslighting / emotional manipulation | S1 | 2/5 | Depicted | A character manipulates situations to undermine others in the school musical auditions |
| Gaslighting / emotional manipulation | S2 | 2/5 | Depicted | A rival school and its students employ mind games to undermine the main cast |
| Gaslighting / emotional manipulation | S3 | 2/5 | Depicted | Camp counselors and peers use manipulation to gain advantages in casting |
| Gaslighting / emotional manipulation | S4 | 2/5 | Depicted | Competition pressures lead to manipulative behavior among cast members |
| Infidelity | S1 | 2/5 | Depicted | A love triangle involves a character pursuing someone while in a relationship |
| Infidelity | S2 | 3/5 | Depicted | Multiple characters involved in love triangles and emotional cheating during the Beauty and the Beast production |
| Infidelity | S3 | 3/5 | Depicted | Romantic entanglements and jealousy at the summer camp drama program |
| Infidelity | S4 | 2/5 | Depicted | Romantic complications and jealousy in the final season |
| Substance Use | ||||
| Alcohol abuse (depicted) | S1 | 1/5 | Depicted | Brief depiction of a parent drinking at a party |
| Alcohol abuse (depicted) | S2 | 1/5 | Depicted | Brief party scenes with underage drinking referenced |
| Alcohol abuse (depicted) | S3 | 1/5 | Depicted | Minor party scenes at the summer camp setting |
| Alcohol abuse (depicted) | All | 1/5 | Depicted | Minor instances of teen drinking appear in party scenes in later seasons. |
| Drug use (depicted) | S4 | 1/5 | Referenced | Brief mention of substance use in a cautionary context |
Identity & Discrimination
A character's journey toward self-acceptance touches on fear of others' reactions to their identity
A character navigates coming out and faces some resistance from peers and family
Continued exploration of LGBTQ+ identity with some pushback from certain characters
LGBTQ+ characters continue to navigate acceptance and identity
Mental Health & Emotional
A character's absent parent situation is explored emotionally
A character references the loss of a parent and its impact on their life choices
Parental absence and its emotional impact explored as characters prepare for adulthood
Brief reference to body image pressures in the performing arts context
Body image and performance pressure are touched on in the context of theater and dance.
Characters process the loss of friendships and romantic relationships through musical theater
A character deals with the emotional fallout of their parents' divorce
Characters deal with loss and change as they prepare for their futures beyond high school
Characters face the bittersweet grief of endings as they graduate and part ways
Other
A character manipulates situations to undermine others in the school musical auditions
A rival school and its students employ mind games to undermine the main cast
Camp counselors and peers use manipulation to gain advantages in casting
Competition pressures lead to manipulative behavior among cast members
A love triangle involves a character pursuing someone while in a relationship
Multiple characters involved in love triangles and emotional cheating during the Beauty and the Beast production
Substance Use
Minor instances of teen drinking appear in party scenes in later seasons.
