Common Sense Note

Parents need to know that this well-executed drama deals with mature subjects like sex, intimacy, abortion, death, drugs, and violence. Each episode begins with a death, sometimes violently depicted, and later we often see the corpse being prepared for the funeral. Both adult and older teen characters have sex in and out of healthy and/or committed relationships, and though we don't see genitals, scenes are sometimes explicit. Drug use is common and only sometimes portrayed negatively.

Sexual Content

Graphic sexual content, both straight and gay; nudity, though no genitalia. Non-mainstream sexual practices discussed and exhibited.

Violence

A death opens each episode -- usually of a character outside of the main storyline. These deaths sometimes include blood or violence, but are brief. Rare intense, very scary violence.

Language

Swearing (including "f--k" and "s--t") occurs regularly, though not gratuitously.

Social Behavior

Despite the dark tone of the series, the value of self discovery and the importance of family through thick and thin permeate each episode.

Consumerism

Common household brands are sometimes, though rarely, visible.

Drugs / Tobacco / Alcohol

Some alcohol and tobacco use by main characters. Main characters use drugs fairly frequently for recreational purposes. Negative repercussions sometimes occur. Some characters are heavily medicated.