Stream on Apple TV
Based on 1 season, 10 episodes · through July 27, 2023
The Crowded Room is a suspense drama series set in 1979 Manhattan. A young man named Danny is arrested after a shooting and has his past examined by a psychologist. The show reveals he has multiple personalities that have taken over his actions. The series contains noticeable gender-fluid and queer themes, with a major plotline involving a male alter's gay romance. It also highlights female empowerment and depicts structural sexism within 1970s academic institutions.
Why 93%? See the score breakdownBreakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for The Crowded Room.
Woke representation / casting
The series uses intentional identity casting in prominent roles. A mixed-race actress plays one of the main male character's personalities, and a Black actor plays her lover. The lead female psychologist is depicted as exceptionally brilliant, fighting her way through a male-dominated workspace. These choices align with typical representation priorities rather than strict historical accuracy.
42%
Woke political dialogue
The show includes minor political dialogue, mostly focusing on Rya's struggles with systemic workplace bias and the dismissal of her research by male colleagues. While it highlights issues of sexism and male-dominated barriers in 1970s academia, the script mostly avoids direct, aggressive modern activist slogans.
10%
Production
Identity-driven story themes
The story heavily emphasizes queer and gender-fluid themes in its second half. The main character's multiple personalities include a female personality who has romantic and physical relationships with both men and women. The narrative explicitly explores themes of sexual fluidity and trauma, with several episodes heavily focusing on a gay romance. This prominent LGBTQ+ content elevates the score.
78%
Western institutional / cultural critique
The series critiques traditional Western institutions through a modern lens. The 1970s university system is portrayed as highly sexist and dismissive of female intellect. Traditional male authority figures, like the abusive stepfather and skeptical detectives, are depicted as embodiments of toxic masculinity, male entitlement, and systemic ignorance.
55%
Woke character or canon changes
The TV series makes massive changes to the real-life events detailed in Daniel Keyes' book. The real Billy Milligan was arrested for kidnapping and raping three women. The show completely sanitizes the crimes by renaming the character Danny and changing his offense to a non-fatal shooting, making him a highly sympathetic figure. It also invents a female psychologist to serve as a vehicle for themes of workplace sexism.
68%
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
The series faced significant online backlash after its eighth episode aired. Viewers criticized the show's explicit gay sex scene involving Tom Holland's character. Online critics accused the show of pushing a woke agenda and forcing LGBTQ+ themes into the story, leading to viral social media trends where some fans rejected the actor's performance.
75%
Creator track record context
While showrunner Akiva Goldsman and star Tom Holland have relatively low to moderate scores, several key directors and writers have high scores. Directors Kornél Mundruczó and Mona Fastvold, writer Henrietta Ashworth, and producer Kata Wéber all have a strong history of creating queer, feminist, and progressive projects.
48%
