TV Show review
March 21, 2018 · 45 min · TV-14 · Canceled · Action · Drama · Sci-Fi · Fantasy · Adventure
Based on 2 seasons, 20 episodes · through August 14, 2019
Krypton is a science fiction TV show set on Superman's home planet two generations before its destruction. The story follows Seg-El, Superman's grandfather, as he fights to redeem his family's honor and protect Krypton from the villain Brainiac. The show features notable modern representation choices. These include prominent race-swaps for the House of Zod and a gender-swap for the scientist Jax-Ur. Additionally, there are bisexual and lesbian character relationships that influence the plot and character dynamics.
Why 69%? See the score breakdownBreakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for Krypton.
Woke representation / casting
The series uses prominent identity-focused casting. The House of Zod is entirely cast with Black actors. Additionally, the scientist Jax-Ur is gender-swapped to a female character played by Hannah Waddingham. The show features highly competent female military and rebel leaders.
55%
Woke political dialogue
Most of the dialogue focuses on classic science fiction themes of rebellion, honor, and survival. However, there are occasional lines that reflect modern social-justice language. These lines discuss systemic inequality, class division, and the unfairness of the planet's caste system, but they remain relatively mild and tied to the story's setting.
18%
Identity-driven story themes
The main plot focuses on classic sci-fi class struggles between the ruling guilds and the "Rankless" subclass. It also features a strong theme of systemic inequality. Under our scoring rules, the presence of confirmed LGBTQ+ themes—specifically Nyssa-Vex's bisexuality, her romantic history with Araame, and Adam Strange's implied bisexuality—adds heavier scoring.
45%
Western institutional / cultural critique
The show features a strong critique of the "Voice of Rao," a corrupt religious institution that oppresses the citizens. It also criticizes the decadent, classist high council of Krypton. While this is standard anti-tyranny sci-fi storytelling, the narrative frames these institutions through a lens of systemic exploitation and corrupted traditional authority.
15%
Woke character or canon changes
The show makes major, identity-driven changes to established DC Comics lore. The House of Zod is race-changed to be Black. Jax-Ur is gender-swapped from a male scientist to a female rebel leader. Additionally, the show introduces bisexual identities for Nyssa-Vex and hints at the same for Adam Strange, diverging from traditional comic canon.
60%
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
There was noticeable fan backlash concerning the race-swapping of the Zod family and the gender-swapping of Jax-Ur. Some viewers complained about the insertion of LGBTQ+ elements into the characters' backgrounds. However, the show's niche status and cancellation after two seasons kept the controversy from becoming a major mainstream debate.
30%
Creator track record context
The creative team is a mix of traditional genre writers and progressive activists. While creator David S. Goyer has a low-woke track record, writers like James Patrick Stoteraux, Chad Fiveash, and Lina Patel have a strong history of prioritizing feminist, LGBTQ+, and identity-driven representation in their work.
38%
Production
