S2 E1 • Justice

Systems of justice in different cultures are examined. Included: tribal justice in the West African nation of Togo and revenge killings in Albania.

Première diffusion : 6 octobre 2003

S2 E2 • Delicacies

In Iceland's traditional Thorrablot celebration in February, a chef prepares rotting shark meat, goat's head and other hard to swallow dishes for their traditional buffet. And in India, an Anglo-indian lady prepares a special luncheon that features a goat foetus stew called kutti pi. In Togo, the cameras follow hunters out into the hot wilderness to hunt a rat to be used in a stew and voodoo ritual. And finally in Taiwan, a chef prepares bull's penis soup to boost his diner's virility.

Première diffusion : 13 octobre 2003

S2 E3 • Creature Cures

Unusual medical procedures include bee stings for arthritis; putting maggots in open wounds; medicine made from baboon claws; therapy with leeches.

Première diffusion : 20 octobre 2003

S2 E4 • After Death

Death ceremonies from around the world are examined. Included: the Aghori sect in India embraces corpses in an effort to break the cycle of reincarnation; in Taiwan, bones are exhumed and cleaned before being reburied. Also: embalming bodies in the U.S.

Première diffusion : 3 novembre 2003

S2 E5 • Body Perfect

On the island off the coast of Indonesian Sumatra, the wife of the Mentawi tribe chieften, undergoes a teeth filing ritual to beautify herself. Her teeth are sharpen with a machete. In Los Angeles, California, Jay wants to have buttock implants, and undergoes a 2 hour long surgery by Dr. Sinclair. Next, a man receives eye lifting surgery by Dr. Griffin to improve his looks. And in Chongqing, China, a short man has the bones in his legs broken, stretched, then healed to make himself taller. The 'bone breaking' and 'leg stretching' procedure is a painful and lengthy process and the recovery takes years.

Première diffusion : 10 novembre 2003

S2 E6 • Sacred Pain

Taboo examines how cultures sometimes use pain in religious rites including tongue boring in Nepal, self stabbing and possession rites in Indonesia, and extreme body piercing and self-mutilation in Thailand.

Première diffusion : 8 décembre 2003

S2 E7 • Rites of Passage

Taboo looks at rites of passage around the world including a boy's circumcision in South Africa, an Apache's girls ritual of womanhood, and American couple's journey into old age.

Première diffusion : 30 décembre 2003

S2 E8 • Child Rearing

Taboo examines how people in different cultures raise children including young gymnasts in China, India children raised in prison, and unsupervised children in Indonesia.

Première diffusion : 12 janvier 2004

S2 E9 • Extreme Entertainers

Entertainment in different cultures. Included: the training of a Japanese geisha; cross-dressing cabaret performers of Thailand; American circus sideshow performers who pierce their bodies with skewers and chew glass.

Première diffusion : 19 janvier 2004

S2 E10 • Blood Bonds

Taboo looks at different family arrangement around the world including the matriarchal Mosuo tribe in China, criminal gang families in South Africa, and polyandry in northern India.

Première diffusion : 26 janvier 2004

S2 E11 • Marks of Identity

Ritualistic body modification in different cultures around the world is examined. Included: neck stretching in Thailand; samurai body tattoos in Japan; branding scarification in the U.S.

Première diffusion : 15 mars 2004

S2 E12 • Initiation

Some rites of initiation may seem bizarre and extreme, but many cultures believe they are worth the pain.

Première diffusion : 23 mars 2004