Based on 3 seasons, 33 episodes · through July 27, 2023
iCarly is a comedy TV show about Carly Shay starting her popular internet show again as an adult. Her friends Spencer and Freddie help her make new videos while dealing with adult life. The series has very visible progressive elements, including a main character who is bisexual and dates women. Characters also frequently talk about social justice ideas, gender identities, and cancel culture.
Why 95%? See the score breakdownBreakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for iCarly.
Woke representation / casting
The show replaces Carly's original white best friend, Sam, with Harper. Harper is a Black, pansexual roommate who dates women and men. It also adds Millicent, a young Black girl who is Freddie's stepdaughter. Transgender actress Josie Totah guest stars as a social media influencer. These casting choices show a clear goal to have a very diverse and queer-friendly main cast.
71%
Woke political dialogue
The characters often use modern activist words. They make jokes about "cancel culture," "safe spaces," "microaggressions," and "trigger warnings". Harper uses the political phrase "my body, my choice" as a joke when she eats dairy. Carly also talks about dating non-binary partners in the very first episode. The script is full of social justice terms that were never in the original children's show.
Production
55%
Identity-driven story themes
The storylines focus heavily on adult relationships and identity. Multiple episodes show Harper dating other women, like a pop singer named Double Dutch and a girl named Tinsley. Other episodes focus on social media activism and internet culture. The show changes its focus from silly child antics to adult dating themes that prioritize LGBTQ+ storylines.
72%
Western institutional / cultural critique
The show pokes fun at modern internet culture and dating. It also shows traditional family roles in a negative way. For example, Freddie is divorced twice and portrayed as a failure who lives with his mother. His young stepdaughter Millicent acts like the smart adult in charge, which makes Freddie look weak and incompetent.
25%
Woke character or canon changes
The show changes the classic universe to fit a modern progressive tone. Sam is gone, and her place is filled by two new diverse female characters. Carly is written as less smart than she used to be. Freddie is portrayed as a weak failure who gets picked on by his family. The show also adds adult sex talk and LGBTQ+ relationships that were not in the original kid-friendly show.
55%
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
Many fans of the original show complained on social media about the new version. They felt the reboot was "too woke" and focused too much on identity politics and social justice. They also did not like the adult jokes and the heavy focus on LGBTQ+ relationships. Some viewers felt the new cast members were added just to fill diversity quotas.
70%
Creator track record context
The writers and producers have a strong background in making progressive content. Writers like Eliot Glazer and Aydrea Walden have worked on many queer and racially focused projects before. Producer David Holden also has a history of creating shows with LGBTQ+ storylines. This creative background led to the show's focus on progressive ideas.
52%
