An A”Woke”ening- The Rebirth of Social Satire
The new Hulu original show “Woke” references many social and political issues that are impacting the United States.
Sep 19, 2020
Release Date: Sep. 9, 2020
MPAA Rating: TV-MA
Director: Maurice Marable, Chioke Nassor
Starring: Lamorne Morris, Blake Anderson, T. Murph, Rose McIver, Sasheer Zamata
Our Rating: A
In this social satire, Keef Knight, played by Lamorne Morris, is a cartoonist who is about to complete a large deal leading to mainstream success. He prides himself on being apolitical and avoiding any controversial subject until he is racially profiled by police. After he hits his head during the altercation, Keef Knight begins to see and hear inanimate objects talk to him and becomes more conscious of the racism that surrounds him daily.
The show made almost each character endearing, yet flawed. They all have both good and bad traits, making them very realistic. The characters are also all hilarious. No laugh track is included in the show, but all of the jokes are funny enough without it. The characters are so well written that you sympathize with them throughout, rooting for them to succeed or feeling bad when trouble comes their way. “Woke” has many harshly realistic moments, which is surprisingly juxtaposed with animated characters. The animated characters that exist in Keef Knight’s imagination provide many comedic moments. With their creepily large eyes, their style may be off-putting to some, but it remains funny and is not overused.
“I think characters with flaws help show the human side of them and bring them closer to the viewer,” sophomore Brian Matute said.
Many controversial themes are covered in this show, but the primary one is racism and its continued involvement in America. No matter your opinion on the social and political aspects of this show, there are many hilarious moments with the abundance of wacky characters. With that being said, social issues and politics do play a major role in the plot and much of the comedy in the show, so if you want a comedy that allows you to suspend reality, go elsewhere. The show is also deserving of its mature rating, as there are many mature themes referenced throughout.
“Animated characters in live-action movies and shows are very hard to make fit, but this show does it quite well,” sophomore Parker Grossman said.
Cinematography is not always integral to a show, but in this particular one, the way it is filmed is very appealing. Its camera shots and angles make the show seem more realistic and more like a film rather than a show meant for television. The music also accompanies the plot well, as the songs they use are relatively well known but do not take away from the story.
Controversial themes and animated characters may be off-putting to some, but “Woke” remains hilarious throughout. There is never a dull-moment in this show, from the music to the zany and endearing characters.
