TV Show review
Review basis: 3 seasons, 47 episodes · through January 18, 2023
November 17, 2020 · 43 min · TV-14 · Canceled
Woke Score
Lower is better
Review
Big Sky is a crime drama about two women private detectives in Montana who team up to solve kidnappings, murders, and other crimes over three seasons. It is loosely based on C.J. Box novels. The show puts a Black woman in the lead detective role as Cassie and features a prominent nonbinary transfeminine character named Jerrie in season one who is a victim and later joins the team.
Breakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for Big Sky.
Woke representation / casting
Lead Cassie Dewell is played by Black actress Kylie Bunbury in a change from the white book character. The show notes her presence in rural Montana. Jerrie, a prominent nonbinary transfeminine character, appears as a victim and joins the agency in season one. Two competent female leads drive the main investigations.
Woke political dialogue
Dialogue stays mostly focused on crime investigations and cases. Some mentions of race appear. Viewer complaints note occasional lecturing but these are not central or frequent.
Identity-driven story themes
Season one emphasizes women abducted by a male predator and rescued by female detectives, with Jerrie adding visible queer identity. Later seasons move toward standard murder and crime cases with less identity focus.
Western institutional / cultural critique
A local sheriff is shown as lazy or corrupt early on. The show presents typical thriller elements of bad powerful people without strong modern activist framing of patriarchy or systemic issues.
Production
Woke character or canon changes
Cassie Dewell was changed to a Black woman from the source novels. Jerrie Kennedy is a new or heavily adapted character built around nonbinary identity and placed centrally in early storylines. These fit representation choices in the adaptation.
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
Scattered viewer comments on Reddit and reviews call out propaganda, negative white male portrayals, strong female leads, and emphasis on the trans character. Complaints exist but stay limited and mixed. Indigenous protests called for more representation rather than opposing it.
Creator track record context
David E. Kelley and most listed writers have low records centered on procedurals. Director Tasha Smith has a higher record of advocating for Black performers and representation. Overall pattern is mild.
