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, leader of the Aryan brotherhood, is a very intimidating, sadistic, and depraved man. He is also a violent rapist.
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, including: rape, cop murder, racial assault, assassination, arson, and other heinous crimes 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.
Someone pours gasoline over an unconscious man, then burns him alive. In the next episode, staff view photos of his burned face. The next shot is a close-up of the man in a body bag, with a very clear view of his horrifically charred corpse. VERY GRAPHIC AND DISTURBING.
Oz is not at all a series aimed at sensitive or immature viewers, due to its relentlessly graphic, in your face, and authentic look at prison life.
This show is unquestionably one of the most explicit series ever made. Rated TV-MA for strong graphic brutal violence throughout including rape and torture, grisly images, disturbing aberrant behavior, pervasive strong language including racial epithets, strong sexual content, pervasive graphic nudity, and graphic drug use.
This is not a show for children or even young teenagers, it contains graphic violence, rape, full frontal nudity, strong profanity and adult themes, it's probably one of the most TV-MA rated shows, this is properly equivalent to a hard R or even NC-17.
When a prisoner is introduced, their crime is shown. While a narrator says their name and prison number, flashbacks sometimes occur. Some of them are DEEPLY disturbing.
Insane prisoners do things such as cut their faces up, put their waste on themselves, commit self harm, etc.