TV Show review
Review basis: 4 seasons, 68 episodes · through June 16, 2022
October 25, 2018 · 43 min · TV-14 · Canceled
Woke Score
Lower is better
Review
Legacies is a CW spin-off of The Vampire Diaries and The Originals. It follows Hope Mikaelson, the tribrid daughter of Klaus and Hayley, along with the Saltzman twins and other young witches, vampires, and werewolves at the Salvatore School for the Young and Gifted. Students learn to control their powers while facing monsters, romances, and personal growth. Prominent queer storylines center on main character Josie Saltzman, who has romantic relationships with girls and early dialogue questioning binary assumptions about sexuality. The ensemble cast features multiple Black and other non-white actors in recurring student roles alongside strong female leads.
Breakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for Legacies.
Woke representation / casting
Diverse school ensemble features several Black actors in main and recurring student roles as vampires and werewolves. Main character Josie Saltzman receives multiple prominent same-sex romantic storylines and explicit early dialogue calling binary assumptions about sexuality dated. Queer elements receive visible screen time across seasons as part of teen drama.
Woke political dialogue
Limited to occasional casual lines on dating and sexuality. No extended activist monologues, institutional lectures, or modern political debates. Most dialogue stays within supernatural teen romance, friendship, and power-control themes.
Identity-driven story themes
Hope's arc centers on personal identity as hero or villain and her unique tribrid power. Josie’s pansexual romances and self-discovery form recurring plot threads. Core focus remains supernatural threats, school life, and coming-of-age rather than explicit social-justice messaging.
Western institutional / cultural critique
The school is framed as a protective haven for supernaturals against an uncomprehending outside world. Minor dialogue questions traditional binary views on sexuality. No sustained reframing of capitalism, patriarchy, colonialism, or Western institutions in activist terms.
Woke character or canon changes
Not relevant. The series creates new stories and characters in the established universe without identity-driven reinterpretations or swaps of legacy figures from prior shows.
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
Scattered Reddit posts accuse the show of pandering through its cast diversity and queer storylines. Complaints stay niche, often bundled with broader criticism of the lighter tone and writing. No major mainstream news stories or large-scale campaigns framed the title as pushing woke ideology.
Creator track record context
Julie Plec built a franchise that gradually expanded queer and diverse character inclusion across Vampire Diaries spin-offs. Key producers focus on commercial supernatural YA production. Other writers and directors show low public profiles on activist or identity-driven work, with isolated mild signals such as animal rights advocacy or industry diversity talk.
Production
