Content & Trigger Warnings for The Following (2013)
20 content warnings identified across 3 seasons for this show.
Quick Summary
Yes, The Following (2013) contains 20 content warnings : Hate crimes (depicted), Homophobia / transphobia (depicted), Stalking / harassment, Grief / bereavement (major focus), Suicide (discussed or ideation), Gaslighting / emotional manipulation, Kidnapping / abduction, Blood / medical gore, Body horror, Jump scares, Needles / medical procedures, Sexual coercion / non-consensual situations, Alcohol abuse (depicted), Child abuse / harm to children, Domestic violence / intimate partner abuse, Gore / graphic violence, Gun violence, Self-harm / suicide (depicted), Sexual assault / rape, Torture.
The most severe warnings are for Hate crimes (depicted) (severity 4/5), Stalking / harassment (severity 5/5), Grief / bereavement (major focus) (severity 4/5), Gaslighting / emotional manipulation (severity 5/5), Kidnapping / abduction (severity 5/5), Blood / medical gore (severity 5/5), Body horror (severity 5/5), Jump scares (severity 4/5), Child abuse / harm to children (severity 4/5), Gore / graphic violence (severity 5/5), Gun violence (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?
16 series-wide warnings apply across all seasons.
| Warning | Season | Severity | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Identity & Discrimination | ||||
| Hate crimes (depicted) | S2 | 4/5 | Depicted | Religiously motivated murders targeting specific groups form a major storyline |
| Homophobia / transphobia (depicted) | S2 | 3/5 | Depicted | A cult targets victims based on their identity in hate-crime-adjacent violence |
| Stalking / harassment | S1 | 4/5 | Depicted | Cult followers infiltrate and stalk targets, creating pervasive paranoia about who can be trusted |
| Stalking / harassment | S2 | 4/5 | Depicted | Characters discover they have been surveilled and infiltrated by hidden cult operatives |
| Stalking / harassment | S3 | 4/5 | Depicted | A new antagonist engages in obsessive stalking and surveillance of the protagonist |
| Stalking / harassment | All | 5/5 | Depicted | The entire premise revolves around a serial killer cult leader who stalks and manipulates a network of followers |
| Mental Health & Emotional | ||||
| Grief / bereavement (major focus) | S3 | 4/5 | Depicted | The cumulative deaths across the series weigh heavily on surviving characters in the final season |
| Suicide (discussed or ideation) | S1 | 3/5 | Depicted | Cult members commit suicide on command or as part of planned violent acts |
| Suicide (discussed or ideation) | S2 | 3/5 | Depicted | Suicide is used as a weapon and demonstration of devotion within the cult framework |
| Suicide (discussed or ideation) | S3 | 3/5 | Depicted | Suicidal acts and ideation appear as part of the dark psychological themes |
| Other | ||||
| Gaslighting / emotional manipulation | S1 | 4/5 | Depicted | Joe Carroll psychologically manipulates followers, victims, and the FBI agent hunting him |
| Gaslighting / emotional manipulation | S2 | 4/5 | Depicted | Psychological manipulation continues as a core theme with characters questioning everyone around them |
| Gaslighting / emotional manipulation | S3 | 4/5 | Depicted | The new villain uses sophisticated psychological manipulation to torment Ryan Hardy |
| Gaslighting / emotional manipulation | All | 5/5 | Depicted | Joe Carroll psychologically manipulates followers into killing through charismatic cult leader tactics |
| Kidnapping / abduction | S1 | 4/5 | Depicted | Multiple abductions of both adults and children by the murder cult throughout the season |
| Kidnapping / abduction | S2 | 4/5 | Depicted | Abductions remain central to the plot as different factions target key characters |
| Kidnapping / abduction | S3 | 3/5 | Depicted | Character abductions serve as catalysts for the season's major confrontations |
| Kidnapping / abduction | All | 5/5 | Depicted | Multiple abductions occur throughout the series as the cult kidnaps victims and targets the protagonist's loved ones |
| Phobias & Sensory | ||||
| Blood / medical gore | All | 5/5 | Depicted | Massive amounts of blood in crime scenes, murders, and ritualistic displays throughout every episode |
| Body horror | S1 | 4/5 | Depicted | Victims' bodies are displayed in elaborately staged and grotesque crime scenes |
| Body horror | S2 | 4/5 | Depicted | Crime scenes feature increasingly disturbing presentation of victims' remains |
| Body horror | S3 | 4/5 | Depicted | Disturbing crime scene staging and body modifications continue in the final season |
| Body horror | All | 5/5 | Depicted | Mutilated bodies displayed as art or messages, with graphic post-mortem staging and disfigurement |
| Jump scares | S1 | 3/5 | Depicted | Sudden violent attacks and reveals of hidden cult members create frequent shock moments |
| Jump scares | S3 | 3/5 | Depicted | Sudden violent attacks and shocking reveals continue to provide jump scare moments |
| Jump scares | All | 4/5 | Depicted | Sudden violent attacks and reveals of hidden cult members create frequent startling moments |
| Needles / medical procedures | All | 3/5 | Depicted | Medical instruments and sharp objects are used as weapons and torture implements by the killers |
| Sexual Content | ||||
| Sexual coercion / non-consensual situations | All | 3/5 | Depicted | The cult dynamic involves sexual coercion and manipulation of followers through power imbalances |
| Substance Use | ||||
| Alcohol abuse (depicted) | S1 | 3/5 | Depicted | The FBI protagonist is a recovering alcoholic who struggles with relapse throughout |
| Alcohol abuse (depicted) | S2 | 3/5 | Depicted | Ryan Hardy's alcoholism continues as an ongoing struggle alongside the investigation |
| Alcohol abuse (depicted) | S3 | 3/5 | Depicted | Hardy's alcoholism remains a struggle as the psychological toll of the cases mounts |
| Alcohol abuse (depicted) | All | 3/5 | Depicted | The protagonist Ryan Hardy is a recovering alcoholic who struggles with drinking throughout the series |
| Violence & Physical Harm | ||||
| Child abuse / harm to children | S1 | 3/5 | Depicted | A child is caught in the middle of the cult conflict with threats to his safety |
| Child abuse / harm to children | All | 4/5 | Depicted | Children are kidnapped, threatened, and placed in danger by the cult throughout the series |
| Domestic violence / intimate partner abuse | All | 3/5 | Depicted | Intimate partner violence occurs within cult relationships and the killer's manipulation of his ex-wife |
| Gore / graphic violence | S1 | 5/5 | Depicted | Extremely graphic murder scenes with ritualistic staging, mutilation, and copious blood throughout |
| Gore / graphic violence | S2 | 5/5 | Depicted | Murder set pieces become even more elaborate with increased graphic violence and staging |
| Gore / graphic violence | S3 | 5/5 | Depicted | The final season maintains its signature extreme graphic violence in murder sequences |
| Gore / graphic violence | All | 5/5 | Depicted | Extremely graphic murder scenes with elaborate and creative kills shown in disturbing detail throughout the series |
| Gun violence | S1 | 4/5 | Depicted | FBI agents and cult followers engage in frequent lethal gunfights and executions |
| Gun violence | S2 | 4/5 | Depicted | Shootouts and executions continue at a high frequency with multiple fatalities per episode |
| Gun violence | S3 | 4/5 | Depicted | Gun violence remains prominent as the FBI and criminal elements collide in the conclusion |
| Gun violence | All | 4/5 | Depicted | Frequent shootings by both law enforcement and serial killers including mass shooting scenarios |
| Self-harm / suicide (depicted) | S1 | 3/5 | Depicted | Self-inflicted injuries occur both as cult rituals and as part of the Poe-inspired aesthetic |
| Self-harm / suicide (depicted) | S2 | 3/5 | Depicted | Characters engage in self-destructive and self-harming behavior driven by cult ideology |
| Self-harm / suicide (depicted) | All | 3/5 | Depicted | Cult followers commit suicide rather than be captured, and self-harm occurs in devotion to the cult leader |
| Sexual assault / rape | S1 | 3/5 | Depicted | The serial killer protagonist's crimes include sexual violence against his victims |
| Sexual assault / rape | S3 | 3/5 | Referenced | Sexual violence is referenced in connection to criminal backgrounds and victim histories |
| Sexual assault / rape | All | 3/5 | Depicted | Sexual violence is implied and depicted in connection with the cult's predatory behavior toward followers |
| Torture | S1 | 5/5 | Depicted | Extended torture sequences as followers carry out brutal acts under the serial killer's influence |
| Torture | S2 | 5/5 | Depicted | New cult factions bring fresh torture methods and prolonged scenes of inflicted suffering |
| Torture | S3 | 4/5 | Depicted | Torture scenes continue as characters are captured and brutalized by antagonists |
| Torture | All | 5/5 | Depicted | Extended torture sequences are a signature element of the show, with victims subjected to prolonged physical torment |
Identity & Discrimination
Religiously motivated murders targeting specific groups form a major storyline
A cult targets victims based on their identity in hate-crime-adjacent violence
Cult followers infiltrate and stalk targets, creating pervasive paranoia about who can be trusted
Characters discover they have been surveilled and infiltrated by hidden cult operatives
A new antagonist engages in obsessive stalking and surveillance of the protagonist
The entire premise revolves around a serial killer cult leader who stalks and manipulates a network of followers
Mental Health & Emotional
The cumulative deaths across the series weigh heavily on surviving characters in the final season
Cult members commit suicide on command or as part of planned violent acts
Suicide is used as a weapon and demonstration of devotion within the cult framework
Suicidal acts and ideation appear as part of the dark psychological themes
Other
Joe Carroll psychologically manipulates followers, victims, and the FBI agent hunting him
Psychological manipulation continues as a core theme with characters questioning everyone around them
The new villain uses sophisticated psychological manipulation to torment Ryan Hardy
Joe Carroll psychologically manipulates followers into killing through charismatic cult leader tactics
Multiple abductions of both adults and children by the murder cult throughout the season
Abductions remain central to the plot as different factions target key characters
Character abductions serve as catalysts for the season's major confrontations
Multiple abductions occur throughout the series as the cult kidnaps victims and targets the protagonist's loved ones
Phobias & Sensory
Massive amounts of blood in crime scenes, murders, and ritualistic displays throughout every episode
Victims' bodies are displayed in elaborately staged and grotesque crime scenes
Crime scenes feature increasingly disturbing presentation of victims' remains
Disturbing crime scene staging and body modifications continue in the final season
Mutilated bodies displayed as art or messages, with graphic post-mortem staging and disfigurement
Sudden violent attacks and reveals of hidden cult members create frequent shock moments
Sudden violent attacks and shocking reveals continue to provide jump scare moments
Sudden violent attacks and reveals of hidden cult members create frequent startling moments
Medical instruments and sharp objects are used as weapons and torture implements by the killers
Sexual Content
The cult dynamic involves sexual coercion and manipulation of followers through power imbalances
Substance Use
The FBI protagonist is a recovering alcoholic who struggles with relapse throughout
Ryan Hardy's alcoholism continues as an ongoing struggle alongside the investigation
Hardy's alcoholism remains a struggle as the psychological toll of the cases mounts
The protagonist Ryan Hardy is a recovering alcoholic who struggles with drinking throughout the series
Violence & Physical Harm
A child is caught in the middle of the cult conflict with threats to his safety
Children are kidnapped, threatened, and placed in danger by the cult throughout the series
Intimate partner violence occurs within cult relationships and the killer's manipulation of his ex-wife
Extremely graphic murder scenes with ritualistic staging, mutilation, and copious blood throughout
Murder set pieces become even more elaborate with increased graphic violence and staging
The final season maintains its signature extreme graphic violence in murder sequences
Extremely graphic murder scenes with elaborate and creative kills shown in disturbing detail throughout the series
FBI agents and cult followers engage in frequent lethal gunfights and executions
Shootouts and executions continue at a high frequency with multiple fatalities per episode
Gun violence remains prominent as the FBI and criminal elements collide in the conclusion
Frequent shootings by both law enforcement and serial killers including mass shooting scenarios
Self-inflicted injuries occur both as cult rituals and as part of the Poe-inspired aesthetic
Characters engage in self-destructive and self-harming behavior driven by cult ideology
Cult followers commit suicide rather than be captured, and self-harm occurs in devotion to the cult leader
The serial killer protagonist's crimes include sexual violence against his victims
Sexual violence is referenced in connection to criminal backgrounds and victim histories
Sexual violence is implied and depicted in connection with the cult's predatory behavior toward followers
Extended torture sequences as followers carry out brutal acts under the serial killer's influence
New cult factions bring fresh torture methods and prolonged scenes of inflicted suffering
Torture scenes continue as characters are captured and brutalized by antagonists
Extended torture sequences are a signature element of the show, with victims subjected to prolonged physical torment
