- Severe
- The most disturbing part of the show is its graphically disturbing portrayal of how prison drives men insane, and worst of all its sheer authenticity, being just like how it actually happens in real-life.
- There are lots of horrifying and frightening moments throughout the series.
- The character of Vern Schillinger is extremely evil. He is the leader of the Aryan brotherhood and as such is a very intimidating, sadistic, and depraved man; not to mention a violent rapist.
- Rated R for strong brutal and graphic prison violence throughout including rape and grisly images, disturbing aberrant behavior, pervasive strong language throughout including racial epithets and sexual dialogue, strong sexual content, pervasive graphic nudity, and for graphic drug use.
- Oz is an extremely hardcore show. It's cold, brutal, harsh, and wholly unforgiving. In addition to being relentlessly tense with the constant threat of violence looming, Oz is one of the most explicit series ever made and it's for that reason that, despite its gripping story and high quality, it should be approached with great caution.
- This is perhaps the most pervasively and explicitly graphic and disturbing TV series ever made. The tone is relentlessly bleak and cynical. Nearly all of the characters are psychologically broken with many displaying SEVERE, aberrant and antisocial violent and sexual behavior. All of which is shown in explicit detail. NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART.
- The details of the crimes for which characters are in prison for are shown in flashbacks. While some are non-violent and relatively tame, the majority are HIGHLY disturbing, deviant, and savage. They include: rape, cop murder, racial assault, assassination, arson, and other crimes of the most heinous nature against innocents, including children. Perhaps some of the most broken and evil characters ever depicted in television.
- Many instances of sexual assault / abuse, emotional and psychological manipulation, near-constant brutality including torture, execution, and retributive violence between savage and depraved men. Also themes of institutional dysfunction, abuse of power, and corruption in the prison system. This is a story about people with nearly no connection left to their humanity which can be upsetting to even the most hardened of audiences.
- While in confinement, alvarez smears his own feces around his cell and then on himself (very disturbing).