TV Show review
August 12, 2016 · TV-MA
Woke Score
Lower is better
Review
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.
Breakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for The Get Down.
Woke representation / casting
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.
Woke political 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.
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.
Western 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.
Woke character or canon changes
Not relevant; original fictional core story incorporates real hip-hop figures and events respectfully via consultants and cameos with no ideological reinterpretations.
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
Minimal to none; praised in some coverage for diverse cast and cultural storytelling, with no notable backlash treating it as agenda-driven or identity-focused propaganda.
Creator track record context
Baz Luhrmann emphasized authentic collaboration with hip-hop insiders and respect for the creators' story; Nelson George adds deep cultural history expertise; most other writers and directors have mainstream or gritty urban drama backgrounds with limited activist patterns (one writer has stronger identity-focused prior work).
Production
