TV Show review
Review basis: 3 seasons, 36 episodes · through May 28, 2020
March 29, 2018 · 42 min · TV-PG · Canceled
Woke Score
Lower is better
Review
Siren is a fantasy drama set in the coastal town of Bristol Cove. A young mermaid named Ryn arrives and proves old legends true, leading to conflict between humans and predatory merpeople. Marine biologists Ben and Maddie help her while a polyamorous relationship forms among the three. Pollution and overfishing from humans drive more mermaids ashore and fuel the fight.
Breakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for Siren.
Woke representation / casting
Maddie is a prominent Black female marine biologist in the central romantic and professional story alongside white leads Ben and Ryn. The cast includes other visible minority actors in supporting roles. The poly relationship among the three leads adds another layer of modern identity emphasis in prominent positions.
Woke political dialogue
Limited direct lectures. Characters discuss human damage to the ocean and overfishing as threats to merpeople survival.
Identity-driven story themes
The polyamorous relationship between Ryn, Ben, and Maddie is a major ongoing plot point across later seasons and is shown positively. Environmental harm to merpeople and the historical human massacre of mermaids form recurring threads.
Western institutional / cultural critique
The fishing industry, oil company, and military are shown causing harm through pollution, sonic waves, and experiments on merpeople. Human greed and overreach drive the central conflict.
Production
Woke character or canon changes
Not relevant
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
No significant public complaints treating the show as pushing woke, DEI, or identity politics messaging were found.
Creator track record context
Key creators and most directors have standard professional credits without strong activist patterns. Martha Coolidge has a history of advocating for women in directing.
