Is there DEI in The Sinner?

The biggest factors in our score are Creator track record context, Woke representation / casting, Western institutional / cultural critique. In a small New York town, a haunted detective hunts for answers about perplexing crimes while wrestling with his own demons.

TV Show review

The Sinner

Name: Is The Sinner woke?
Item: The Sinner
Rating: 24
Author: Woke or Not

Review basis: 4 seasons · through December 1, 2021

August 2, 2017 · TV-MA · Ended

Woke Score

24%

Lower is better

7.8 / 10IMDb↗92%Critics73%Audience↗

DramaCrime

Review

Summary

The Sinner is a four-season anthology crime drama that follows haunted detective Harry Ambrose as he investigates perplexing murders in small American communities. Each self-contained season unpacks the "why" behind shocking crimes through psychological flashbacks, repressed memories, and family secrets. The series stays focused on individual trauma, guilt, and personal accountability with no prominent identity politics, systemic critiques, or representation-driven storytelling that stands out to average viewers.

Breakdown

Factors & Ratings

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

Woke representation / casting

Fits natural demographics of rural New York towns and Maine fishing communities; supporting diversity present but unemphasized and without mismatches or signaling.

18%

Woke political dialogue

Sparse personal reflections on trauma and morality; any incidental comments on gender or society remain background and non-thematic.

12%

Identity-driven story themes

Centers individual repressed trauma, family abuse, and personal guilt; elements like sexual repression or masculinity stay character-specific and story-logical rather than group-identity or activist-framed.

14%

Western institutional / cultural critique

Examines dysfunctional families and isolated communities through personal accountability lenses; avoids modern activist framing of patriarchy, systems, or cultural institutions.

15%

Production

Production companies: UCP, Iron Ocean, Zaftig Films, Midnight Choir
Networks: USA Network
Studio/network: Universal

Main Cast

Bill Pullmanas Harry Ambrose
Jessica Bielas Cora Tannetti
Christopher Abbottas Mason Tannetti
Frances Fisheras Meg Muldoon
Orlagh Cassidyas Elsa Belmont
Alice Kremelbergas Percy Muldoon
Abby Milleras Caitlin Sullivan
Neal Huffas Sean Muldoon

Director & Crew

Brad CarpenterProducer32 episodes credited for this role (TMDB aggregate — higher usually means a recurring or lead creative role).
Douglas AibelCasting Director32 episodes credited for this role (TMDB aggregate — higher usually means a recurring or lead creative role).
Cami PattonCasting Director32 episodes credited for this role (TMDB aggregate — higher usually means a recurring or lead creative role).
Stephanie HolbrookCasting Director32 episodes credited for this role (TMDB aggregate — higher usually means a recurring or lead creative role).
Henry Russell BergsteinCasting Director32 episodes credited for this role (TMDB aggregate — higher usually means a recurring or lead creative role).
Jennifer LareCasting Director32 episodes credited for this role (TMDB aggregate — higher usually means a recurring or lead creative role).

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