Based on 2 seasons, 20 episodes · through August 23, 2020
NOS4A2 is a horror television show about Vic McQueen, a young woman who can use a magical bridge to find lost things. She fights Charlie Manx, an immortal monster who kidnaps children and steals their souls. The show features a major focus on female strength, with Vic as a tough, motorcycle-riding hero. It also prominently features an on-screen romantic relationship between two lesbian characters of color.
Why 77%? See the score breakdownBreakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for NOS4A2.
Woke representation / casting
The show changes minor characters from the book to add more diverse casting. Maggie Leigh and detective Tabitha Hutter are both cast as Black women and written as openly lesbian. Their romantic relationship is a major part of both seasons. Because of the clear emphasis on modern LGBTQ+ representation and identity-driven casting choices, this factor receives a strong score.
62%
Woke political dialogue
The dialogue mostly focuses on the scary horror plot, family problems, and character actions. While there are modern characters, the show avoids political speeches, preachy social-justice lectures, or direct political arguments.
Production
0%
Identity-driven story themes
The story includes clear identity-driven elements, especially the romance between Maggie and Tabitha. This lesbian relationship is a visible, recurring part of the story. In the second season, they live together, and their love is shown as a source of strength. While the main plot is about stopping the bad guy, the focus on female power and queer themes is hard to miss.
55%
Western institutional / cultural critique
The series critiques traditional family values and male authority through the villain Charlie Manx. His creepy "Christmasland" is a twisted version of traditional 1950s family life. Normal fathers, like Vic's dad, are shown as weak and bad, while the non-traditional Lou Carmody is the ideal supportive partner. There is a noticeable critique of traditional gender roles and social norms.
38%
Woke character or canon changes
The TV show makes noticeable identity-driven changes to the original book. In Joe Hill's novel, Maggie Leigh is a minor, white librarian, and Agent Tabitha Hutter is a minor character. The show makes them both major characters, changes their races to Black, and puts them in a lesbian relationship that was not in the book. This is a clear, identity-driven change to increase queer and racial representation.
58%
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
The show faced some backlash from book fans and viewers online. Critics complained that the creators forced "woke" themes into the horror plot by adding the lesbian relationship. They also disliked how the female lead, Vic, was made to look overly masculine with tattoos in Season 2. However, because the show was canceled quickly and had a small audience, the backlash remained small and mostly on horror websites.
30%
Creator track record context
The creative team has a mixed progressive track record. While book creator Joe Hill has an apolitical profile, producer and star Zachary Quinto is a vocal gay activist, and writer Lucy Thurber is an openly queer writer who focuses on feminist themes. Producers Shana Fischer Huber and Lauren Corrao, along with showrunner Jami O'Brien, also have a history of prioritizing diversity and queer representation.
48%
