
TV Show review
Star Trek: Discovery
Woke Score
Lower is better
Breakdown
Factors & Ratings
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for Star Trek: Discovery.
Representation / casting choices
Prominent Black female lead and captain, main gay couple with visible relationship focus, later non-binary character, and marketing that spotlighted diversity as a strength; visible to audiences even in futuristic setting.
Political / ideological dialogue
Some scenes and arcs stress empathy, unity across differences, and tolerance; season 4 includes a clear partisan cameo; not constant preaching but noticeable in character moments and creator framing.
Identity-driven story themes
Burnham's personal growth centers on identity and belonging; queer relationships integrated into main plots; recurring acceptance of "the other" with modern inclusion language in later seasons.
Institutional / cultural critique
Critiques of war, bureaucracy, and exploitation appear through Federation struggles and Mirror Universe; some progressive takes on cooperation, but mostly standard sci-fi conflict rather than targeted modern activist attacks on patriarchy or Western norms.
