Content & Trigger Warnings for When They See Us (2019)
15 content warnings identified across 1 season for this show.
Quick Summary
Yes, When They See Us (2019) contains 15 content warnings : Hate crimes (depicted), Racial slurs / racism (depicted), Death of a parent, Grief / bereavement (major focus), Suicide (discussed or ideation), Gaslighting / emotional manipulation, Wrongful imprisonment, Confined spaces (claustrophobia), Drug use (depicted), Child abuse / harm to children, Domestic violence / intimate partner abuse, Police brutality, Self-harm / suicide (depicted), Sexual assault / rape, Torture.
The most severe warnings are for Hate crimes (depicted) (severity 4/5), Racial slurs / racism (depicted) (severity 5/5), Grief / bereavement (major focus) (severity 5/5), Suicide (discussed or ideation) (severity 4/5), Gaslighting / emotional manipulation (severity 5/5), Wrongful imprisonment (severity 5/5), Confined spaces (claustrophobia) (severity 4/5), Child abuse / harm to children (severity 5/5), Police brutality (severity 5/5), Sexual assault / rape (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 | 4/5 | Depicted | The wrongful prosecution functions as a racially motivated hate crime by the system |
| Hate crimes (depicted) | All | 4/5 | Depicted | Racially motivated persecution and violence against the accused teenagers depicted throughout |
| Racial slurs / racism (depicted) | S1 | 5/5 | Depicted | Systemic racism permeates every aspect — police, prosecution, media, and public reaction |
| Racial slurs / racism (depicted) | All | 5/5 | Depicted | Systemic and interpersonal racism against Black and Latino teenagers is the central subject of the series |
| Mental Health & Emotional | ||||
| Death of a parent | S1 | 3/5 | Depicted | One of the boys loses family members while imprisoned and cannot attend the funeral |
| Grief / bereavement (major focus) | S1 | 5/5 | Depicted | Families are devastated watching their children imprisoned; the emotional toll is immense |
| Suicide (discussed or ideation) | S1 | 4/5 | Depicted | Korey Wise experiences suicidal thoughts during his imprisonment |
| Other | ||||
| Gaslighting / emotional manipulation | S1 | 5/5 | Depicted | The justice system gaslights the boys and their families, insisting on guilt despite no evidence |
| Gaslighting / emotional manipulation | All | 5/5 | Depicted | Police and prosecutors manipulate minors into false confessions through sustained psychological pressure |
| Wrongful imprisonment | S1 | 5/5 | Depicted | Five innocent Black and Latino teenagers are wrongfully convicted and imprisoned for years |
| Wrongful imprisonment | All | 5/5 | Depicted | The entire series depicts the wrongful conviction and imprisonment of five innocent teenagers |
| Phobias & Sensory | ||||
| Confined spaces (claustrophobia) | S1 | 4/5 | Depicted | Solitary confinement and cramped prison cells are shown extensively |
| Substance Use | ||||
| Drug use (depicted) | All | 2/5 | Depicted | Drug use is depicted in prison and neighborhood settings |
| Violence & Physical Harm | ||||
| Child abuse / harm to children | S1 | 5/5 | Depicted | Children as young as 14 are psychologically and physically abused by authorities |
| Domestic violence / intimate partner abuse | All | 3/5 | Depicted | Domestic abuse is depicted in the home life of one of the accused |
| Police brutality | S1 | 5/5 | Depicted | Detectives use intimidation, coercion, and physical abuse to extract false confessions from minors |
| Police brutality | All | 5/5 | Depicted | Coercive interrogation tactics, physical intimidation, and abuse of minors by police are depicted graphically |
| Self-harm / suicide (depicted) | S1 | 3/5 | Depicted | Self-harm and suicidal behavior depicted in prison conditions |
| Sexual assault / rape | S1 | 4/5 | Depicted | Sexual assault in prison is depicted, particularly Korey Wise's experience |
| Sexual assault / rape | All | 4/5 | Depicted | The Central Park jogger assault is discussed as the crime the boys were falsely accused of; sexual assault in prison is also depicted |
| Torture | S1 | 4/5 | Depicted | The interrogation scenes depict prolonged psychological and physical coercion of minors |
Identity & Discrimination
The wrongful prosecution functions as a racially motivated hate crime by the system
Racially motivated persecution and violence against the accused teenagers depicted throughout
Systemic racism permeates every aspect — police, prosecution, media, and public reaction
Systemic and interpersonal racism against Black and Latino teenagers is the central subject of the series
Mental Health & Emotional
One of the boys loses family members while imprisoned and cannot attend the funeral
Families are devastated watching their children imprisoned; the emotional toll is immense
Korey Wise experiences suicidal thoughts during his imprisonment
Other
The justice system gaslights the boys and their families, insisting on guilt despite no evidence
Police and prosecutors manipulate minors into false confessions through sustained psychological pressure
Five innocent Black and Latino teenagers are wrongfully convicted and imprisoned for years
The entire series depicts the wrongful conviction and imprisonment of five innocent teenagers
Phobias & Sensory
Solitary confinement and cramped prison cells are shown extensively
Substance Use
Violence & Physical Harm
Children as young as 14 are psychologically and physically abused by authorities
Domestic abuse is depicted in the home life of one of the accused
Detectives use intimidation, coercion, and physical abuse to extract false confessions from minors
Coercive interrogation tactics, physical intimidation, and abuse of minors by police are depicted graphically
Self-harm and suicidal behavior depicted in prison conditions
Sexual assault in prison is depicted, particularly Korey Wise's experience
The Central Park jogger assault is discussed as the crime the boys were falsely accused of; sexual assault in prison is also depicted
The interrogation scenes depict prolonged psychological and physical coercion of minors
