Is there DEI in Coroner?

The biggest factors in our score are Woke representation / casting, Identity-driven story themes, Creator track record context. Jenny Cooper investigates unexplained or sudden deaths in the city of Toronto. Fierce and quick-witted, Jenny is a newly-widowed single mother with secrets of her own to unearth.

TV Show review

Coroner

Q: Is Coroner woke?

Coroner has a woke score of 51/100, which means it is mixed, with noticeable woke elements. Coroner follows Jenny Cooper, a widowed single mother and former ER doctor who works as a coroner in Toronto. She investigates sudden or suspicious deaths while struggling with anxiety and raising her teenage son. The show features a diverse cast that includes a trans woman as a main supporting pathologist assistant and a gay son, and marketing highlights celebrating racial and gender diversity in the city.

Review basis: 4 seasons, 38 episodes · through April 7, 2022

January 7, 2019 · 44 min · TV-MA · Ended

Woke Score

51/ 100

Lower is better

6.9 / 10IMDb↗51%Audience↗

DramaMysteryCrime

Review

Summary

Coroner follows Jenny Cooper, a widowed single mother and former ER doctor who works as a coroner in Toronto. She investigates sudden or suspicious deaths while struggling with anxiety and raising her teenage son. The show features a diverse cast that includes a trans woman as a main supporting pathologist assistant and a gay son, and marketing highlights celebrating racial and gender diversity in the city.

Breakdown

Factors & Ratings

These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for Coroner.

Woke representation / casting

Prominent trans woman character River Baitz in the pathology team plus gay son and lesbian assistant. Marketing and lead actress comments frame diversity as something to celebrate. Toronto setting allows some natural mix but the emphasis is audience visible.

68 / 100

Woke political dialogue

No repeated activist lectures or explicit ideological speeches. Cases stay focused on investigations and personal grief.

5 / 100

Identity-driven story themes

Queer supporting characters and single mother arcs appear regularly. Core stories remain procedural mysteries about deaths rather than heavy messaging.

42 / 100

Western institutional / cultural critique

Standard coroner and police teamwork with no activist framing of institutions, patriarchy, or systemic issues.

0 / 100

Woke character or canon changes

Not relevant. The show adapts British novels by localizing to Toronto without ideological swaps to known characters or figures.

Production

Production companies: Muse Entertainment, Back Alley Film Productions, Cineflix Productions
Networks: CBC Television

Main Cast

Serinda Swanas Dr. Jenny Cooper
Roger Crossas Donovan McAvoy
Ehren Kassamas Ross Kalighi
Éric Bruneauas Liam Bouchard
Nigel Bennettas Bryan Da Silva
Michael Healeyas Dr. Ian Peterson
Alli Chungas Taylor Kim
Lovell Adams-Grayas Dr. Dwayne Allen

Director & Crew

Matthew HallWriter38 episodes credited for this role (TMDB aggregate — higher usually means a recurring or lead creative role).
Jon ComerfordCasting Director38 episodes credited for this role (TMDB aggregate — higher usually means a recurring or lead creative role).
Lisa ParasynCasting Director38 episodes credited for this role (TMDB aggregate — higher usually means a recurring or lead creative role).
Brett BurlockProducer38 episodes credited for this role (TMDB aggregate — higher usually means a recurring or lead creative role).
Jonas PrupasProducer38 episodes credited for this role (TMDB aggregate — higher usually means a recurring or lead creative role).
Peter EmersonProducer38 episodes credited for this role (TMDB aggregate — higher usually means a recurring or lead creative role).

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