Content & Trigger Warnings for Scarlet Heart: Ryeo (2016)
17 content warnings identified across 1 season for this show.
Quick Summary
Yes, Scarlet Heart: Ryeo (2016) contains 17 content warnings : Hate crimes (depicted), Racial slurs / racism (depicted), Death of a parent, Grief / bereavement (major focus), Suicide (discussed or ideation), Forced marriage, Gaslighting / emotional manipulation, Kidnapping / abduction, Wrongful imprisonment, Blood / medical gore, Sexual coercion / non-consensual situations, Domestic violence / intimate partner abuse, Gore / graphic violence, Gun violence, Self-harm / suicide (depicted), Sexual assault / rape, Torture.
The most severe warnings are for Death of a parent (severity 4/5), Grief / bereavement (major focus) (severity 4/5), Wrongful imprisonment (severity 4/5), Gore / graphic violence (severity 4/5), Torture (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) | S1 | 2/5 | Depicted | Discrimination based on social status and birth origins drives character persecution |
| Racial slurs / racism (depicted) | All | 2/5 | Depicted | Class-based and ethnic discrimination within Goryeo society is depicted. |
| Mental Health & Emotional | ||||
| Death of a parent | S1 | 4/5 | Depicted | Parental deaths occur as part of political assassinations and power struggles |
| Grief / bereavement (major focus) | S1 | 4/5 | Depicted | Intense grief pervades the story as beloved characters die in political conflicts |
| Grief / bereavement (major focus) | All | 4/5 | Depicted | Profound grief over lost loved ones and tragic separations is a central emotional theme. |
| Suicide (discussed or ideation) | S1 | 3/5 | Depicted | Suicide occurs and is contemplated by characters facing impossible political situations |
| Suicide (discussed or ideation) | All | 3/5 | Depicted | Characters express suicidal thoughts when facing impossible political and personal situations. |
| Other | ||||
| Forced marriage | All | 3/5 | Depicted | Arranged and politically coerced marriages are central to the plot, with characters forced into unwanted unions. |
| Gaslighting / emotional manipulation | S1 | 3/5 | Depicted | Court politics involve extensive manipulation, deception, and psychological control |
| Gaslighting / emotional manipulation | All | 3/5 | Depicted | Palace intrigue involves extensive emotional manipulation and psychological abuse among royals. |
| Kidnapping / abduction | S1 | 3/5 | Depicted | Characters are forcibly taken and held captive as political pawns |
| Wrongful imprisonment | S1 | 4/5 | Depicted | Multiple characters are unjustly imprisoned as part of palace political schemes |
| Phobias & Sensory | ||||
| Blood / medical gore | All | 3/5 | Depicted | Blood is frequently shown during battle scenes, assassinations, and violent confrontations. |
| Sexual Content | ||||
| Sexual coercion / non-consensual situations | S1 | 3/5 | Depicted | Forced marriages and coerced romantic relationships are central to the palace intrigue |
| Violence & Physical Harm | ||||
| Domestic violence / intimate partner abuse | S1 | 3/5 | Depicted | Abusive relationships within the royal household depicted through controlling behavior and physical harm |
| Gore / graphic violence | S1 | 4/5 | Depicted | Graphic sword combat and battlefield violence throughout the Goryeo dynasty setting |
| Gun violence | S1 | 1/5 | Referenced | Pre-firearms era but arrow violence and weapon attacks are frequent |
| Gun violence | All | 1/5 | Referenced | While set before firearms, arrow and weapon violence serves a similar function in battle sequences. |
| Self-harm / suicide (depicted) | All | 3/5 | Depicted | Characters contemplate or attempt suicide in moments of desperation and political defeat. |
| Sexual assault / rape | S1 | 2/5 | Referenced | Threat of sexual violence implied in the context of forced royal marriages |
| Torture | S1 | 4/5 | Depicted | Characters are subjected to brutal torture including whipping and confinement |
Identity & Discrimination
Discrimination based on social status and birth origins drives character persecution
Class-based and ethnic discrimination within Goryeo society is depicted.
Mental Health & Emotional
Parental deaths occur as part of political assassinations and power struggles
Intense grief pervades the story as beloved characters die in political conflicts
Profound grief over lost loved ones and tragic separations is a central emotional theme.
Suicide occurs and is contemplated by characters facing impossible political situations
Characters express suicidal thoughts when facing impossible political and personal situations.
Other
Arranged and politically coerced marriages are central to the plot, with characters forced into unwanted unions.
Court politics involve extensive manipulation, deception, and psychological control
Palace intrigue involves extensive emotional manipulation and psychological abuse among royals.
Characters are forcibly taken and held captive as political pawns
Multiple characters are unjustly imprisoned as part of palace political schemes
Phobias & Sensory
Blood is frequently shown during battle scenes, assassinations, and violent confrontations.
Sexual Content
Forced marriages and coerced romantic relationships are central to the palace intrigue
Violence & Physical Harm
Abusive relationships within the royal household depicted through controlling behavior and physical harm
Graphic sword combat and battlefield violence throughout the Goryeo dynasty setting
Pre-firearms era but arrow violence and weapon attacks are frequent
While set before firearms, arrow and weapon violence serves a similar function in battle sequences.
Characters contemplate or attempt suicide in moments of desperation and political defeat.
Threat of sexual violence implied in the context of forced royal marriages
Characters are subjected to brutal torture including whipping and confinement
