Movie review
October 11, 2019 · 140 min · R
Woke Score
Lower is better
Review
The King is a 2019 Netflix historical drama directed by David Michôd. It follows a carefree young prince named Hal who reluctantly becomes King Henry V after his father’s death and must deal with palace plots and a war against France. The story draws loosely from Shakespeare’s plays but adds plain modern dialogue and a sharper role for the French princess Catherine near the end.
Breakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for The King.
Woke representation / casting
Period-appropriate European cast fits the 15th-century English and French setting with no visible diversity emphasis, race or gender swaps, or identity signaling in marketing or reviews.
Woke political dialogue
Explores burdens of leadership, war costs, and court manipulation in plain historical terms without modern activist slogans or ideological lectures.
Identity-driven story themes
Late scene gives Catherine a sharper, confrontational role that challenges the king’s ego and male pride; this modern tweak is noticeable but secondary to the main kingship and war story.
Western institutional / cultural critique
Shows palace corruption and personal costs of aggressive power and male ego through the young king’s story; points remain tied to medieval events rather than current activist framing.
Woke character or canon changes
Production
Major shifts from Shakespeare include reluctant pacifist-leaning Hal, bigger Falstaff part, everyday dialogue, and more active Catherine; creators openly discussed these as moves for modern accessibility.
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
Isolated online notes called the Catherine update progressive or “woke,” but no significant right-leaning backlash over representation, DEI, or agenda existed; most criticism stayed historical or artistic.
Creator track record context
Michôd and Edgerton focus on crime, war, and power stories without activist history; Plan B producers bring mild social-theme experience, but this project stays traditional historical drama.
