Based on 3 seasons, 30 episodes · through May 31, 2023
DAVE is a semi-autobiographical comedy series about a neurotic white suburban man who believes he is destined to become a rap superstar. The show follows his awkward climb to fame alongside his diverse circle of friends and manager in Los Angeles. While the series relies heavily on raunchy humor, it also features highly visible identity-focused elements. These include recurring story arcs addressing white privilege, cultural appropriation, and mental health struggles. The series also incorporates clear queer themes, highlighting explicit homoerotic bonding moments and featuring openly LGBTQ+ celebrities playing themselves.
Why 65%? See the score breakdownBreakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for DAVE.
Woke representation / casting
The main cast features natural, statistical diversity with Black and Asian-American friends in prominent roles. However, the casting score is elevated due to the explicit integration of prominent LGBTQ+ guest stars playing themselves, including Lil Nas X in Season 2 and Demi Lovato in Season 3.
40%
Woke political dialogue
The characters regularly engage in discussions about racial politics, white privilege, and cultural appropriation. Dialogues frequently examine Dave's position as a white guest in a historically Black music scene, and other conversations unpack the racial double standards of male emotional intimacy.
45%
Identity-driven story themes
The core narrative regularly focuses on identity politics, exploring the ethics of white artists profiting from Black culture. It also deals heavily with mental health awareness through GaTa's bipolar disorder, and weaves explicit queer/homoerotic themes into Dave's friendship dynamics, such as his intimate boundaries with Benny Blanco.
55%
Western institutional / cultural critique
The series heavily deconstructs traditional male entitlement and "toxic masculinity" by portraying Dave as an incredibly self-absorbed, neurotic, and emotionally stunted man-child. It also challenges traditional boundaries of male friendship by pushing into highly graphic homoerotic vulnerability and mocking standard social norms.
48%
Woke character or canon changes
Not relevant
0%
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
The show received complaints from traditional viewers who objected to the pushy discussions of white privilege and cultural guilt. Additional backlash focused on the highly graphic, bizarrely intimate homoerotic scenes between straight characters in Season 2, which some audiences found unnecessary and off-putting.
30%
Creator track record context
While main creators Jeff Schaffer and Lil Dicky have low-to-moderate woke scores, they staffed their creative team with prominent progressive activists, including writers April Shih and Saladin K. Patterson, and directors Alma Har'el and Ben Sinclair.
45%
Production
