Is Sharp Objects woke?

Sharp Objects has a woke score of 22/100, which means it is not especially woke compared with higher-scoring titles. Sharp Objects is an eight-episode HBO miniseries about troubled reporter Camille Preaker returning to her Missouri hometown to investigate the murders of two young girls while facing her own history of abuse, self-harm, and a toxic mother. The story blends crime mystery with Southern Gothic family horror, focusing on generational trauma, flawed motherhood, and the capacity for evil in ordinary women. It presents complex female characters capable of both suffering and perpetration without modern identity politics, diversity signaling, or activist messaging.

Is there DEI in Sharp Objects?

The biggest factors in our score are Creator track record context, Identity-driven story themes, Representation / casting choices. Reporter Camille Preaker confronts the psychological demons from her past when she returns to her hometown to investigate the murders of two young girls.

TV Show review

Sharp Objects

Woke Score

22/ 100

Lower is better

DramaMysteryCrime

Release Date: July 8, 2018
Age Rating: TV-MA
Runtime: N/A
TV Status: Ended

Availability country

Where to Watch

United States · Last checked 5/16/2026

Stream

HBO Max

Buy

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Breakdown

Factors & Ratings

These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for Sharp Objects.

Representation / casting choices

Casting fits the rural Missouri small-town world and 2006 novel exactly. No audience-visible diversity emphasis, identity signaling, or mismatches with story logic.

15 / 100

Political / ideological dialogue

No explicit political speeches, modern social justice language, or ideological debates; all focus stays on private trauma and family secrets.

5 / 100

Identity-driven story themes

Explores motherhood, sisterhood, and female psychology with women shown as both victims and aggressors. Some critics call it feminist for female rage, but it avoids queer elements, racial identity arcs, or representation-first plotting and instead shows unflattering human darkness.

20 / 100

Institutional / cultural critique

Critiques small-town hypocrisy and idealized femininity through personal horror and gothic style. It avoids contemporary activist framing of toxic masculinity, patriarchy as systemic power, or identity-based oppression.

Sharp Objects

Factors & Ratings

Summary

Main Cast

Director & Crew