TV Show review
February 7, 2017 · 41 min · TV-14 · Canceled · Comedy · Drama · Mystery · Crime
Based on 2 seasons, 20 episodes · through June 7, 2018
Imposters is a dark comedy and drama series that follows Maddie, a beautiful and masterly con artist who works for a mysterious ringleader known as the Doctor. Maddie targets wealthy men and women, gets them to fall deeply in love with her, marries them, and then vanishes after stealing all their money and leaving behind blackmail material to keep them from going to the police. The main conflict starts when three of her former victims, Ezra, Richard, and Jules, cross paths and decide to team up to track her down and get their revenge. For viewers looking to avoid modern identity politics, the show features noticeable LGBTQ+ representation. Jules is openly lesbian, and her past marriage to Maddie under a fake persona is a major part of the story. Maddie is also depicted as bisexual, and the series regularly explores Jules's queer relationships and identity themes. These elements are presented naturally within the thriller plot, but they are clearly visible throughout both seasons.
Breakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for Imposters.
Woke representation / casting
The series features a diverse main cast, most notably Marianne Rendón as Jules, an openly lesbian artist, and Inbar Lavi as Maddie, a bisexual con artist. Their queer identities are central to the show's premise and characters rather than background details, which increases the representation focus.
45%
Woke political dialogue
The show avoids preachy political speeches or activist lectures. However, because the characters frequently discuss their sexual orientations, same-sex marriages, and queer relationships, the dialogue carries a mild presence of LGBTQ+ themes.
30%
Identity-driven story themes
The narrative features prominent queer storylines, as Jules's heartbreak over her marriage to Maddie is a key driver of her journey. The series frequently explores Jules's dating life with other women and Maddie's bisexuality, giving identity-driven themes a noticeable presence.
45%
Western institutional / cultural critique
The show lightly critiques traditional romantic norms, marriage, and domestic expectations by showing how easily they can be manipulated and exploited by a con artist. It also features mild commentary on male vulnerability, but it lacks a heavy-handed systemic critique of Western institutions.
25%
Woke character or canon changes
Not relevant
0%
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
There was no documented anti-woke or conservative backlash against the show during its two-season broadcast run.
0%
Creator track record context
Co-creator Paul Adelstein has an apolitical profile, but co-creator Adam Brooks and several key writers have a notable track record in progressive and queer media. Writers like Kathy Greenberg, Neena Beber, and Andy Parker have a strong history of creating LGBTQ+ and feminist-led content.
45%
Production
