Content & Trigger Warnings for Mad Men (2007)

Dismissive and discriminatory attitudes toward disability are shown as period-typical behavior.

A closeted character faces the threat of exposure in 1960s society

A character's sexuality leads to professional and personal crisis in the closeted 1960s

Period-accurate racial attitudes and segregation depicted in the early 1960s setting

Civil rights era tensions reflected in workplace and societal attitudes

Late 1960s racial tensions including reactions to MLK assassination and societal change

Period-accurate racism against Black characters is depicted, including workplace discrimination and slurs.

The death of a child is discussed in connection with historical events depicted in the show.

Parental death and abandonment from the protagonist's childhood resurface as themes

Characters grapple with loss and its professional and emotional aftermath

Characters process endings and change as the era transforms around them

Pregnancy complications and loss experienced by a main character

A character dies by suicide in a shocking scene, and suicidal ideation is explored in other characters.

Emotional manipulation in marriages and workplace relationships throughout

Emotional manipulation intensifies in both personal and professional relationships

Identity deception and emotional manipulation drive key storylines

Emotional manipulation and gaslighting are used by characters to control partners and colleagues.

Rampant infidelity across multiple characters, central to nearly every storyline

Affairs continue to drive multiple plotlines with increasing consequences

Multiple affairs continue with devastating personal consequences

Extramarital affairs are a pervasive and central theme, with nearly every main character involved.

Characters vomit from excessive drinking on several occasions.

Sexual scenes depicting affairs and encounters throughout

Sexual content in affairs and relationships

Sexual content in various relationship contexts throughout

Frequent sexual content depicting affairs and encounters, with partial nudity throughout the series.

Workplace sexual harassment and coercion reflecting 1960s power dynamics

Power imbalances in sexual relationships exploited by characters in positions of authority

Power dynamics in sexual relationships continue to be explored

Sexual harassment and coercion in the workplace are frequent, particularly toward female employees.

Pervasive heavy drinking throughout the workplace and home life, normalized and constant

Drinking escalates as the protagonist spirals following personal upheaval

Alcoholism reaches its peak as the protagonist's dependency becomes undeniable

Constant heavy drinking in the workplace and at home is normalized and depicted throughout every episode.

Casual drug use and heavy smoking normalized in the period setting

Drug use increases including amphetamines and marijuana reflecting the changing era

Drug culture of the late 1960s depicted as it enters the characters' world

Marijuana and other drug use appears in multiple episodes, increasing in later seasons.

A drug-related medical emergency occurs in the later seasons.

Childhood trauma and neglect from the protagonist's past revealed through flashbacks

Controlling behavior and intimidation within marriages

Controlling and emotionally abusive dynamics in domestic settings

Emotional abuse and controlling behavior in marriages and relationships

A major character dies by suicide depicted on screen in a devastating scene

A sexual assault occurs in the office depicted in a disturbing scene

Sexual assault occurs in a significant episode, depicted with its traumatic aftermath.