TV Show review
September 23, 2016 · 42 min · TV-14
Woke Score
Lower is better
Review
Van Helsing is a Syfy post-apocalyptic fantasy series about Vanessa Van Helsing, a descendant of the legendary vampire hunter Abraham Van Helsing. She awakens from a coma in a world taken over by vampires after a massive volcanic eruption blocks the sun and discovers her blood has the power to turn vampires human again. She leads survivors in a fight to reclaim the world while searching for her missing daughter and uncovering her own family history. Later seasons add a prominent all-female vampire group called the Sisterhood, multiple queer characters and relationships, and a heavier focus on female-led power dynamics alongside the core action and survival story.
Breakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for Van Helsing.
Woke representation / casting
Female lead is story-justified by her unique blood power and lineage; post-apocalyptic setting allows natural diversity; later seasons visibly emphasize an all-female Sisterhood and multiple queer characters in prominent roles.
Woke political dialogue
Almost no explicit political speeches or modern activist language; story stays focused on survival, family, and fighting vampires with occasional gender-tinged interpersonal drama.
Identity-driven story themes
Strong female protagonist and later all-female vampire faction create visible girl-power arcs; queer relationships and characters increase noticeably in seasons 3–5; family and sister bonds are central but framed through empowered women.
Western institutional / cultural critique
No modern activist critiques of patriarchy, capitalism, traditional norms, or Western institutions; the conflict is straightforward supernatural good-versus-evil in a fantasy apocalypse.
Woke character or canon changes
Van Helsing reimagined as a woman with special powers and Dracula given female elements or ties to an all-female group; these were intentional creative choices by the creator rather than strict canon adherence.
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
Real but limited fan complaints on social media and review sites about LGBT “agenda,” misandry, and feminist shifts in later seasons; not a major mainstream issue and mostly mixed with general quality criticism.
Creator track record context
Neil LaBute has a documented history of edgy, gender-probing work that challenges traditional roles and satirizes norms; his deliberate choice of a female Van Helsing and female Dracula elements directly shaped the series’ representation focus.
Production
