Is Legacies woke?
TV Show · 2018
Legacies has a wokeness score of 7/10, which we rate as Strongly Ideological. Woke messaging is very prominent and often feels forced or shoehorned in. Characters and plot are primarily shaped to serve the ideology. Many viewers feel the agenda overshadows the entertainment.
Key points
- Prominent casual LGBTQ representation including bisexual and same-sex male romances without stigma.
- Diverse cast with multiple characters of color and emphasis on inclusion as normal.
- Girl-boss dynamics and identity-focused storylines that feel forced and agenda-driven.
Wokeness analysis
Legacies features prominent LGBTQ representation including bisexual Josie Saltzman, her ex-girlfriend Penelope, and a later male same-sex romance between werewolf Jed and demigod Ben, presented as normal without traditional coming-out struggles. The cast includes significant racial diversity with characters of color like Kaleb, Rafael, MG, and Cleo, often highlighted positively in fan discussions as organic inclusion. Multiple queer female characters and fluid sexualities appear across seasons, aligning with progressive trends in CW programming from the late 2010s. Conservative-leaning reviews note annoying girl-boss dynamics, weak male characters, and the turning of straight characters bi or gay as forced inclusion typical of the era's wokeness. While monster-of-the-week plots and school drama provide entertainment, identity themes and diverse casting frequently serve messaging over pure escapism. The show prioritizes themes of acceptance, identity exploration, and teamwork among marginalized supernatural beings in ways that echo social commentary on belonging and otherness. Entertainment remains secondary in episodes emphasizing these elements, leading many viewers to feel the agenda overshadows the supernatural fun inherited from Vampire Diaries and The Originals. This results in a heavily ideological approach where plot and characters advance progressive representation goals.
Plot
Legacies follows the next generation of supernatural beings at the Salvatore Boarding School for the Young and Gifted in Mystic Falls. Centered on Hope Mikaelson, the tribrid daughter of Klaus Mikaelson, along with the Saltzman twins Lizzie and Josie, and other young witches, vampires, and werewolves, the series depicts their coming-of-age experiences while battling monsters drawn from folklore. Created by Julie Plec as a spin-off of The Vampire Diaries and The Originals, it aired on The CW from 2018 to 2022 across four seasons. Students navigate powers, rivalries, romances, and threats to their secret world while learning to control their impulses and protect their community.
Analyzed by AI on May 31, 2026