Content & Trigger Warnings for Taboo (2017)
19 content warnings identified across 1 season for this show.
Quick Summary
Yes, Taboo (2017) contains 19 content warnings : Racial slurs / racism (depicted), Death of a parent, Grief / bereavement (major focus), Gaslighting / emotional manipulation, Kidnapping / abduction, Blood / medical gore, Body horror, Confined spaces (claustrophobia), Drowning / underwater scenes, Explicit sexual content / nudity, Incest, Sex trafficking, Alcohol abuse (depicted), Drug use (depicted), Child abuse / harm to children, Gore / graphic violence, Sexual assault / rape, Slavery / forced labor, Torture.
The most severe warnings are for Racial slurs / racism (depicted) (severity 4/5), Grief / bereavement (major focus) (severity 4/5), Blood / medical gore (severity 5/5), Body horror (severity 4/5), Confined spaces (claustrophobia) (severity 4/5), Explicit sexual content / nudity (severity 4/5), Incest (severity 5/5), Child abuse / harm to children (severity 4/5), Gore / graphic violence (severity 5/5), Sexual assault / rape (severity 4/5), Slavery / forced labor (severity 4/5), Torture (severity 5/5).
Check the full breakdown below before you watch.
Set up your trigger profile to see which warnings affect you.
Does It Get Worse?
15 series-wide warnings apply across all seasons.
| Warning | Season | Severity | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Identity & Discrimination | ||||
| Racial slurs / racism (depicted) | All | 4/5 | Depicted | Racial violence and discrimination during the colonial era are depicted extensively. |
| Mental Health & Emotional | ||||
| Death of a parent | S1 | 3/5 | Referenced | The death of a parent initiates the entire plot and drives the protagonist's return |
| Death of a parent | All | 3/5 | Depicted | Parental death and its aftermath drive the protagonist's motivations and revenge plot. |
| Grief / bereavement (major focus) | All | 4/5 | Depicted | The protagonist is consumed by grief and trauma from his past, driving the entire narrative. |
| Other | ||||
| Gaslighting / emotional manipulation | S1 | 3/5 | Depicted | The East India Company and Crown manipulate and deceive to maintain control |
| Gaslighting / emotional manipulation | All | 3/5 | Depicted | Psychological manipulation by powerful figures is used to control and intimidate characters. |
| Kidnapping / abduction | All | 3/5 | Depicted | Characters are abducted and held captive as part of criminal conspiracies. |
| Phobias & Sensory | ||||
| Blood / medical gore | S1 | 4/5 | Depicted | Significant blood in violent confrontations and ritualistic scenes |
| Blood / medical gore | All | 5/5 | Depicted | Heavy amounts of blood are shown in the many violent and gory scenes. |
| Body horror | S1 | 4/5 | Depicted | Disturbing imagery including possible cannibalism aftermath and ritualistic scarification |
| Confined spaces (claustrophobia) | S1 | 4/5 | Depicted | Ship holds and cramped spaces depicted in connection with the slave trade |
| Drowning / underwater scenes | S1 | 3/5 | Depicted | Waterside and maritime settings with drowning threats |
| Drowning / underwater scenes | All | 3/5 | Depicted | Drowning and near-drowning scenes occur in the maritime-themed storylines. |
| Sexual Content | ||||
| Explicit sexual content / nudity | S1 | 4/5 | Depicted | Multiple explicit sexual scenes throughout the season |
| Explicit sexual content / nudity | All | 4/5 | Depicted | Graphic sexual content and full nudity appear throughout the series. |
| Incest | S1 | 5/5 | Depicted | Incestuous relationship between half-siblings is a central and explicit plot element |
| Sex trafficking | All | 3/5 | Depicted | Human trafficking is depicted as part of the colonial-era criminal enterprises. |
| Substance Use | ||||
| Alcohol abuse (depicted) | All | 3/5 | Depicted | Heavy drinking is common among characters throughout the series. |
| Drug use (depicted) | All | 3/5 | Depicted | Opium and other substance use is depicted as part of the 1800s London setting. |
| Violence & Physical Harm | ||||
| Child abuse / harm to children | S1 | 4/5 | Referenced | Childhood abuse and trauma referenced as part of the protagonist's backstory |
| Child abuse / harm to children | All | 4/5 | Depicted | Child exploitation and abuse are depicted as part of the show's dark historical setting. |
| Gore / graphic violence | S1 | 4/5 | Depicted | Graphic period violence including stabbings, mutilation, and bloody aftermath |
| Gore / graphic violence | All | 5/5 | Depicted | Extremely graphic violence including dismemberment, evisceration, and mutilation shown in detail. |
| Sexual assault / rape | S1 | 3/5 | Referenced | Sexual violence referenced in connection with the slave trade and colonialism |
| Sexual assault / rape | All | 4/5 | Depicted | Sexual violence and the threat of it occur in connection with the show's depiction of power dynamics. |
| Slavery / forced labor | S1 | 4/5 | Depicted | The slave trade and its brutality are depicted as part of the East India Company operations |
| Torture | S1 | 4/5 | Depicted | Torture and interrogation scenes in both criminal and governmental settings |
| Torture | All | 5/5 | Depicted | Prolonged and graphic torture scenes are central to the dark, oppressive atmosphere. |
Identity & Discrimination
Racial violence and discrimination during the colonial era are depicted extensively.
Mental Health & Emotional
The death of a parent initiates the entire plot and drives the protagonist's return
Parental death and its aftermath drive the protagonist's motivations and revenge plot.
The protagonist is consumed by grief and trauma from his past, driving the entire narrative.
Other
The East India Company and Crown manipulate and deceive to maintain control
Psychological manipulation by powerful figures is used to control and intimidate characters.
Characters are abducted and held captive as part of criminal conspiracies.
Phobias & Sensory
Significant blood in violent confrontations and ritualistic scenes
Heavy amounts of blood are shown in the many violent and gory scenes.
Disturbing imagery including possible cannibalism aftermath and ritualistic scarification
Ship holds and cramped spaces depicted in connection with the slave trade
Waterside and maritime settings with drowning threats
Drowning and near-drowning scenes occur in the maritime-themed storylines.
Sexual Content
Multiple explicit sexual scenes throughout the season
Graphic sexual content and full nudity appear throughout the series.
Incestuous relationship between half-siblings is a central and explicit plot element
Human trafficking is depicted as part of the colonial-era criminal enterprises.
Substance Use
Heavy drinking is common among characters throughout the series.
Opium and other substance use is depicted as part of the 1800s London setting.
Violence & Physical Harm
Childhood abuse and trauma referenced as part of the protagonist's backstory
Child exploitation and abuse are depicted as part of the show's dark historical setting.
Graphic period violence including stabbings, mutilation, and bloody aftermath
Extremely graphic violence including dismemberment, evisceration, and mutilation shown in detail.
Sexual violence referenced in connection with the slave trade and colonialism
Sexual violence and the threat of it occur in connection with the show's depiction of power dynamics.
The slave trade and its brutality are depicted as part of the East India Company operations
Torture and interrogation scenes in both criminal and governmental settings
Prolonged and graphic torture scenes are central to the dark, oppressive atmosphere.
