Phyrne Fisher is described as a "thoroughly modern woman, and though she has no husband, she has sex with many men throughout the series. Nothing explicit is often shown, except she kisses several men passionately in different episodes, sometimes being nude from the waist up (her breasts are never shown, though). Also, in at least two episodes, full rear nudity is shown briefly of both men and women.

The show also involves the topics of abortion, rape, threesomes, incest, and pedophilia.

Also, in Ms. Fishers home, she owns a few portraits that are of women shown in full frontal nudity. They are not seen close up except for in Episode 7, but are in the background for many scenes throughout the series.

As the show focuses on the solving of murders, there are scenes in each episode where characters die violently, from force (strangulation, stabbing, shooting) or by poison. The blood is usually kept to a minimum, and the murders are usually briefly shown before the theme song.

Blastphemy

Vulgarity - episodes contains several "hell" and "damn" but not much else. Profanity - episodes contain several uses of the word "God" and every now and then they will say "Christ". Ethnic slurs are also used by a few characters, though it does not reflect the personal opinions of the creators.

Phryne is a flapper, and she smokes cigarettes regularly in the books, and Essie Davis herself smokes, but Phryne does not smoke in the show, very highly unlikely.

In several episodes, characters casually smoke and drink alcohol. Also, usage of opium and marijuana is described, but never shown.

In many episodes characters die violent deaths, though many are offscreen.

In final two episodes of the first season, the motivations of the main villain, who is part of an ancient cult, can be disturbing to some.