Is The Get Down woke?

The Get Down has a woke score of 25/100, which means it is not especially woke compared with higher-scoring titles. The Get Down is a 2016 Netflix musical drama series created by Baz Luhrmann and Stephen Adly Guirgis. It follows a group of teenagers in 1977 South Bronx as they form crews, chase music dreams, deal with gangs and family struggles, and help birth hip-hop, disco, and graffiti culture amid city decay. The show uses a large Black and Latino cast that fits the historical setting and includes storylines about local politics and neighborhood neglect, presented through energetic musical numbers and character stories rather than direct modern messaging.

Is there DEI in The Get Down?

The biggest factors in our score are Institutional / cultural critique, Identity-driven story themes, Political / ideological dialogue. In 1977 New York City, the talented and soulful youth of the South Bronx chase dreams and breakneck beats to transform music history.

TV Show review

The Get Down

Woke Score

25/ 100

Lower is better

Drama

Release Date: August 12, 2016
Age Rating: TV-MA
Runtime: N/A

Availability country

Where to Watch

United States · Last checked 5/13/2026

Stream

Netflix

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8.2 / 10IMDb↗

Breakdown

Factors & Ratings

These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for The Get Down.

Representation / casting choices

Large Black and Latino cast accurately reflects 1977 South Bronx demographics and story world; no audience-visible forced diversity, race/gender swaps, or mismatches with setting or characters.

10 / 100

Political / ideological dialogue

Includes era-appropriate talk of local politics, corruption, community services, and city neglect through characters like Papa Fuerte and mayoral figures; delivered as plot context rather than explicit modern lectures.

15 / 100

Identity-driven story themes

Centers on Black and Latino youth experiences, ambition, and cultural creation in a marginalized neighborhood, with one secondary character arc touching on personal/queer exploration in the art scene; narrative prioritizes music, friendship, and coming-of-age over identity politics as the driver.

20 / 100

Institutional / cultural critique

Portrays 1970s NYC political machines, mayoral tough-on-crime stances, and abandonment of South Bronx communities as historical reality; framed through character stories and Luhrmann's stylized lens without contemporary activist reframing of systemic issues.

The Get Down

Factors & Ratings

Summary

Main Cast

Director & Crew