Content & Trigger Warnings for This Is Us (2016)
23 content warnings identified across 6 seasons for this show.
Quick Summary
Yes, This Is Us (2016) contains 23 content warnings : Racial slurs / racism (depicted), Death of a child, Death of a parent, Eating disorders, Forced institutionalization, Grief / bereavement (major focus), Miscarriage / pregnancy loss / stillbirth, Postpartum depression, Suicide (discussed or ideation), Terminal illness, Abortion (depicted or discussed), Car accidents / crashes, Gaslighting / emotional manipulation, Infidelity, War / combat, Blood / medical gore, Needles / medical procedures, Alcohol abuse (depicted), Drug use (depicted), Overdose scenes, Child abuse / harm to children, Domestic violence / intimate partner abuse, Gun violence.
The most severe warnings are for Death of a child (severity 4/5), Death of a parent (severity 5/5), Grief / bereavement (major focus) (severity 5/5), Miscarriage / pregnancy loss / stillbirth (severity 4/5), Terminal illness (severity 5/5), Alcohol abuse (depicted) (severity 4/5).
Check the full breakdown below before you watch.
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Does It Get Worse?
19 series-wide warnings apply across all seasons.
| Warning | Season | Severity | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Identity & Discrimination | ||||
| Racial slurs / racism (depicted) | S1 | 3/5 | Depicted | A Black character faces racism in his daily life and upbringing |
| Racial slurs / racism (depicted) | S2 | 3/5 | Depicted | Racism experienced during the Vietnam War era and in present day |
| Racial slurs / racism (depicted) | S3 | 3/5 | Depicted | Racial prejudice depicted across multiple time periods |
| Racial slurs / racism (depicted) | S4 | 3/5 | Depicted | Racism and its generational impact explored |
| Racial slurs / racism (depicted) | S5 | 2/5 | Depicted | Racial themes woven into family and social storylines |
| Racial slurs / racism (depicted) | S6 | 2/5 | Depicted | Racial identity themes resolved in final character arcs |
| Racial slurs / racism (depicted) | All | 3/5 | Depicted | Racism experienced by Black family members is depicted across multiple time periods |
| Mental Health & Emotional | ||||
| Death of a child | S5 | 2/5 | Referenced | Past loss of a child referenced in emotional family moments |
| Death of a child | All | 4/5 | Depicted | The loss of a child is depicted with intense emotional weight across multiple episodes |
| Death of a parent | S1 | 4/5 | Depicted | A father's death is a central mystery explored through flashbacks |
| Death of a parent | S2 | 5/5 | Depicted | The father's death by fire is graphically revealed in the season finale |
| Death of a parent | S3 | 3/5 | Referenced | Continued aftermath and emotional fallout of the father's death |
| Death of a parent | S4 | 3/5 | Referenced | The father's death continues to shape family dynamics |
| Death of a parent | S5 | 4/5 | Referenced | Impending loss of the mother parallels past loss of the father |
| Death of a parent | S6 | 5/5 | Depicted | The mother's death from Alzheimer's is depicted in the final season |
| Death of a parent | All | 5/5 | Depicted | The death of a father is one of the most emotionally devastating central storylines |
| Eating disorders | All | 3/5 | Depicted | A character's struggle with body image and disordered eating is explored |
| Forced institutionalization | All | 2/5 | Referenced | Mental health facility stays are referenced in recovery storylines |
| Grief / bereavement (major focus) | S1 | 4/5 | Depicted | Multiple characters process deep grief throughout the season |
| Grief / bereavement (major focus) | S2 | 5/5 | Depicted | Intense grief sequences following the revelation of how a parent died |
| Grief / bereavement (major focus) | S3 | 4/5 | Depicted | Ongoing grief processing across multiple timelines |
| Grief / bereavement (major focus) | S4 | 4/5 | Depicted | Characters deal with accumulated loss across generations |
| Grief / bereavement (major focus) | S5 | 5/5 | Depicted | Family prepares for anticipated loss as illness progresses |
| Grief / bereavement (major focus) | S6 | 5/5 | Depicted | The entire family processes loss in the series conclusion |
| Grief / bereavement (major focus) | All | 5/5 | Depicted | Profound grief over multiple losses is explored across the entire series run |
| Miscarriage / pregnancy loss / stillbirth | S1 | 3/5 | Depicted | Pregnancy complications and the loss of a triplet during birth |
| Miscarriage / pregnancy loss / stillbirth | S2 | 2/5 | Referenced | Past pregnancy loss referenced in family discussions |
| Miscarriage / pregnancy loss / stillbirth | S4 | 2/5 | Referenced | Past pregnancy loss referenced in family context |
| Miscarriage / pregnancy loss / stillbirth | All | 4/5 | Depicted | Miscarriage and pregnancy loss are depicted as deeply painful experiences for multiple characters |
| Postpartum depression | All | 3/5 | Depicted | Postpartum struggles and the overwhelming challenges of new parenthood are explored |
| Suicide (discussed or ideation) | All | 3/5 | Depicted | Characters experience suicidal thoughts during their darkest moments |
| Terminal illness | S1 | 2/5 | Referenced | Early hints of a character's future health decline |
| Terminal illness | S3 | 3/5 | Depicted | Early signs of a character's cognitive decline become apparent |
| Terminal illness | S4 | 4/5 | Depicted | A character's Alzheimer's diagnosis becomes a major storyline |
| Terminal illness | S5 | 5/5 | Depicted | Alzheimer's progression shown with increasing severity and emotional weight |
| Terminal illness | S6 | 5/5 | Depicted | Final stages of Alzheimer's shown with devastating emotional impact |
| Other | ||||
| Abortion (depicted or discussed) | All | 2/5 | Referenced | Abortion is discussed as a consideration during unplanned pregnancy storylines |
| Car accidents / crashes | S1 | 2/5 | Depicted | Car accident depicted in connection with a character's backstory |
| Car accidents / crashes | S2 | 3/5 | Depicted | A serious car accident connected to substance abuse |
| Car accidents / crashes | S5 | 2/5 | Referenced | Past car accident referenced in connection to family trauma |
| Car accidents / crashes | S6 | 2/5 | Referenced | Past accident referenced as part of family history closure |
| Car accidents / crashes | All | 3/5 | Depicted | A major car accident is a pivotal plot point with emotional consequences |
| Gaslighting / emotional manipulation | All | 3/5 | Depicted | Emotional manipulation within toxic relationships is shown |
| Infidelity | S1 | 2/5 | Depicted | Marital tension and emotional unfaithfulness explored |
| Infidelity | S2 | 2/5 | Depicted | Emotional affairs and relationship betrayals explored |
| Infidelity | S3 | 2/5 | Depicted | Relationship complications and betrayals continue |
| Infidelity | S5 | 2/5 | Depicted | Relationship complications arise among the siblings |
| Infidelity | S6 | 2/5 | Depicted | Past relationship betrayals addressed in final storylines |
| Infidelity | All | 3/5 | Depicted | Marital infidelity and its devastating family consequences are recurring storylines |
| War / combat | S2 | 3/5 | Depicted | Vietnam War flashbacks showing combat and its aftermath |
| War / combat | S3 | 3/5 | Depicted | Further Vietnam War flashbacks exploring trauma |
| War / combat | S4 | 2/5 | Depicted | Occasional Vietnam flashbacks continue |
| Phobias & Sensory | ||||
| Blood / medical gore | S2 | 3/5 | Depicted | Blood shown in fire and war sequences |
| Needles / medical procedures | All | 3/5 | Depicted | Hospital scenes with medical procedures are shown during illness and birth storylines |
| Substance Use | ||||
| Alcohol abuse (depicted) | S1 | 3/5 | Depicted | A main character struggles with alcoholism and attempts recovery |
| Alcohol abuse (depicted) | S2 | 4/5 | Depicted | Alcoholism relapse depicted with increasing severity |
| Alcohol abuse (depicted) | S3 | 3/5 | Depicted | Continued depiction of alcoholism and its family impact |
| Alcohol abuse (depicted) | S4 | 3/5 | Depicted | Ongoing battle with addiction depicted across timelines |
| Alcohol abuse (depicted) | S5 | 3/5 | Depicted | Addiction struggles continue to affect family relationships |
| Alcohol abuse (depicted) | S6 | 3/5 | Depicted | Addiction and recovery remain part of the family's story |
| Alcohol abuse (depicted) | All | 4/5 | Depicted | Alcoholism and recovery are major character arcs explored in depth across seasons |
| Drug use (depicted) | S1 | 2/5 | Depicted | Brief depictions of drug use connected to a character's struggles |
| Drug use (depicted) | S2 | 3/5 | Depicted | Drug use depicted among soldiers in Vietnam flashbacks |
| Drug use (depicted) | S3 | 2/5 | Depicted | Drug use shown in Vietnam-era sequences |
| Drug use (depicted) | S4 | 2/5 | Depicted | Drug references in historical flashback sequences |
| Drug use (depicted) | S6 | 2/5 | Referenced | Past substance issues referenced in recovery context |
| Drug use (depicted) | All | 3/5 | Depicted | Drug use and addiction issues are part of a major character's storyline |
| Overdose scenes | All | 3/5 | Depicted | Overdose is depicted as part of addiction storylines |
| Violence & Physical Harm | ||||
| Child abuse / harm to children | All | 3/5 | Depicted | Child neglect and an abusive father figure are depicted in flashback sequences |
| Domestic violence / intimate partner abuse | S1 | 2/5 | Depicted | Past domestic abuse referenced in a character's family history |
| Domestic violence / intimate partner abuse | S3 | 2/5 | Depicted | Past abuse depicted in flashback sequences |
| Domestic violence / intimate partner abuse | All | 3/5 | Depicted | An abusive relationship is depicted showing the cycle of domestic violence |
| Gun violence | S2 | 2/5 | Depicted | Gun violence depicted in Vietnam War combat flashbacks |
Identity & Discrimination
A Black character faces racism in his daily life and upbringing
Racism experienced during the Vietnam War era and in present day
Racial prejudice depicted across multiple time periods
Racial themes woven into family and social storylines
Racial identity themes resolved in final character arcs
Racism experienced by Black family members is depicted across multiple time periods
Mental Health & Emotional
The loss of a child is depicted with intense emotional weight across multiple episodes
A father's death is a central mystery explored through flashbacks
The father's death by fire is graphically revealed in the season finale
Continued aftermath and emotional fallout of the father's death
Impending loss of the mother parallels past loss of the father
The mother's death from Alzheimer's is depicted in the final season
The death of a father is one of the most emotionally devastating central storylines
A character's struggle with body image and disordered eating is explored
Mental health facility stays are referenced in recovery storylines
Multiple characters process deep grief throughout the season
Intense grief sequences following the revelation of how a parent died
Ongoing grief processing across multiple timelines
Characters deal with accumulated loss across generations
Family prepares for anticipated loss as illness progresses
The entire family processes loss in the series conclusion
Profound grief over multiple losses is explored across the entire series run
Pregnancy complications and the loss of a triplet during birth
Past pregnancy loss referenced in family discussions
Past pregnancy loss referenced in family context
Miscarriage and pregnancy loss are depicted as deeply painful experiences for multiple characters
Postpartum struggles and the overwhelming challenges of new parenthood are explored
Characters experience suicidal thoughts during their darkest moments
Alzheimer's progression shown with increasing severity and emotional weight
Final stages of Alzheimer's shown with devastating emotional impact
Other
Abortion is discussed as a consideration during unplanned pregnancy storylines
Car accident depicted in connection with a character's backstory
Past car accident referenced in connection to family trauma
Past accident referenced as part of family history closure
A major car accident is a pivotal plot point with emotional consequences
Emotional manipulation within toxic relationships is shown
Marital infidelity and its devastating family consequences are recurring storylines
Phobias & Sensory
Hospital scenes with medical procedures are shown during illness and birth storylines
Substance Use
A main character struggles with alcoholism and attempts recovery
Addiction struggles continue to affect family relationships
Addiction and recovery remain part of the family's story
Alcoholism and recovery are major character arcs explored in depth across seasons
Brief depictions of drug use connected to a character's struggles
Drug use and addiction issues are part of a major character's storyline
Violence & Physical Harm
Child neglect and an abusive father figure are depicted in flashback sequences
Past domestic abuse referenced in a character's family history
Past abuse depicted in flashback sequences
An abusive relationship is depicted showing the cycle of domestic violence
