Many TV shows push the boundary regarding their themes, characters, and narratives; critics have rebuked some; many shows have been banned in many other countries and provoked heated debates about their role in social discourse. While some series take on sensitive topics like social justice and mentality, s*xuality, and politics, others involve graphic violence, dark humor, or supernatural themes that directly conflict with cultural, religious, or moral values worldwide. The following list of 20 banned or censored shows have explicit scenes, are highly controversial, or infringe on social norms somehow.
1. The Simpsons
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The Simpsons animated American sitcom satirizes America's culture, politics, and society through the misadventures of the father, Homer, the sarcastic Marge, rebellious Bart, brainy Lisa, and baby Maggie. Known for its humor and social critique style, this show has been banned in countries as far-flung as China and North Korea, where it's deemed disrespectful towards authority and traditional values depicting family life.
2. Game of Thrones
Game of Thrones is based on the novels by George R.R. Martin. It outlines the power struggle between noble families in the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos. The show has become notorious for its graphic violence, adult content, and themes of betrayal, with complex plots, character development, and shocking twists. Due to these things, it has faced censorship in countries like Saudi Arabia and Indonesia because most of the material portrayed is not deemed to be viewed.
3. South Park
Trey Parker and Matt Stone created the animated series South Park, which revolves around four boys—Stan, Kyle, Cartman, and Kenny, through the town of South Park in Colorado. South Park is known for dark humor and irony when commenting on current events and touching on sensitive issues such as politics, religion, and other social problems.
4. Breaking Bad
Breaking Bad is an award-winning television drama based on the life of Walter White, a chemistry teacher who becomes a methamphetamine manufacturer after being diagnosed with terminal cancer. White allies with former student Jesse Pinkman to secure his family's financial future. The show touches on the grey areas that create moral dilemmas and has been prohibited in countries such as Afghanistan and Iran because of its depiction of illicit substance use and violence.
5. The Handmaid’s Tale
From the dystopian novel of Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid's Tale series depicts an autocratic regime where women are taken away from their rights and put in servitude. Offred, a handmaid fighting to be free, explores the plot as the show features poignant discussion on gender and oppression coupled with graphic material, making it banned in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates for the state being sensitive to political dissent and female independence themes.
6. Euphoria
Euphoria teen drama series follows the life histories of a group of adolescents in school who experience problems with their identities, trauma, addiction, and s*xuality. The show is explicit and provocative because of its gritty portrayal of modern adolescence, which makes it appealing to the young. Its graphic depiction of drugs and s*xuality has been banned in countries like India and Indonesia because they view those themes as valueless themes for young people.
7. American Horror Story
American Horror Story is an American anthology horror television series created by Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk. Each season has a different story and characters but combines horror, society, and supernatural elements. Too violent and s*xual with disturbing themes, the show was banned in Malaysia and Saudi Arabia as censorship rules are strictly followed in those countries when it comes to horror and explicit content.
8. Sex and the City
Sex and the City series chronicles the lives of four women, Carrie, Charlotte, Miranda, and Samantha, navigating relationships, careers, and friendships in New York City. The series is known for candid discussions about s*xuality and empowerment and touches on ideas of love and independence. There have even been restrictions on the show in Singapore and Saudi Arabia, where such topics are considered taboo.
9. The Sopranos
The Sopranos crime series focuses on mob boss Tony Soprano and attempts to navigate the challenge of managing his crime family and associated personal and professional conflict. The series is known for its depth of character and profound discussions of morality, family dynamics, and the American Dream. Organized crime and violence depictions in this series have been banned in countries like Italy and China due to the sensibility of the mafia culture portrayed.
10. How to Get Away with Murder
How to Get Away with Murder is a dramatic law thriller based on the life of Annalise Keating, a brilliant law professor, and her students, who get involved in murder. The show interlinks complex legal cases with personal struggles and ethical dilemmas. Because of its violent content and themes surrounding murder, it has been banned in Pakistan and Afghanistan due to such obnoxious content that is not worth being viewed by the masses.
11. Dexter
Dexter series concerns Dexter Morgan, a blood-spatter analyst at the Miami Metro Police Department who lives outside work as a vigilante serial killer who is preying on other criminals. The program explores themes of justice and morality and highlights human nature's duality. Its graphic content and vigilantism themes have led to its banning in Iran and Saudi Arabia.
12. The L Word
The L Word series is about the lifestyles and relationships of a collective group of LGBTQ+ women from Los Angeles and their focus on raising awareness of love, identity, and community. Being one of the few shows with solely LGBTQ+ center stage, it focuses on issues regarding representation and acceptance. The show is banned in conservative countries like Saudi Arabia and Egypt due to its heavy censorship of LGBTQ+ themes.
13. The Walking Dead
The Walking Dead is about a group of surviving people in a post-apocalyptic, zombie-inhabited world. The series is character-driven and graphic violence-centered, addressing survival, morality, and the human condition. This has led to censorship, including the prohibition of violent portrayals, by countries like Malaysia and Egypt.
14. Rick and Morty
The animators Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon lead the sci-fi animated comedy Rick and Morty. The film tells the misadventures of peculiar scientist Rick Sanchez and his good-hearted but worried grandson Morty as they travel through dimensions and encounter bizarre creatures. Known for its dark humor and satirical take on science fiction tropes, the series contains crude humor and adult themes, which led to bans in countries like China and Saudi Arabia.
15. 13 Reasons Why
13 Reasons Why is a teen drama serial where a teenager, Hannah Baker, has left behind a series of tapes explaining the reasons behind her suicide. The show maneuvers some of the most sensitive issues in the world: mental health, bullying, and s*xual assault. That's why its open display has been banned in some countries, like New Zealand and the Philippines, which is considered graphic and potentially disturbing.
16. Shameless
Shameless, a dark comedy-drama series, revolves around the dysfunctional Gallagher family, led by an alcoholic, Frank Gallagher, who navigates their life in poverty, addiction, and family dynamics in Chicago. On account of its raw portrayal of social issues and explicit content, the show was banned in Indonesia and Saudi Arabia, as such themes are deemed inappropriate.
17. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia chronicles the lives of four friends running a bar in Philadelphia, airing their strife with unpopular themes and societal conditions, all said with sharp, dark humor. Known for politically incorrect jokes and controversial themes, it often offends and leads to bans where content regulations are strict in countries like India and Australia.
18. The Boondocks
The Boondocks animated series, based on the comic strip by Aaron McGruder, travels through two African American brothers' lives as they experience racial and social issues in America while staying with their grandfather in a predominantly white neighborhood. It earned fame due to its sensitive topics and uses of explicit language that made China and Saudi Arabia ban it for discussing racial and political views, which is controversial.
19. Orange Is the New Black
Orange Is the New Black is a dramedy series set in an all-female federal prison. The show describes the life experiences of serving a sentence with a diverse group of inmates led by Piper Chapman. The issues dramatized and explored in this series are racism, s*xism, and s*xuality. The series has been outlawed in countries such as Iran and Saudi Arabia.
20. Daredevil
Daredevil is a superhero drama based on the lawyer Matt Murdock, who fights crime at night as the vigilante Daredevil. The show deals with themes of justice, morality, and the consequences of vigilantism. It is pretty famous for its aggressive action and graphic violence. Because of its mature content, the show has been restricted in some countries, such as Singapore and Malaysia, since such themes can only suit some ages in those nations.
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