Is Monarch woke?
TV Show · 2022
Monarch 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
- Lesbian character Gigi and her interracial marriage to a Black woman featured prominently with same-sex kiss in pilot.
- Body positivity and outsider acceptance themes integrated into Gigi's story as plus-size queer performer in country music.
- Diversity casting and critiques of traditional family/country norms feel intentional to push progressive messaging.
Wokeness analysis
Monarch (2022) is a country music family drama centered on the Roman dynasty, but it incorporates prominent progressive elements that feel intentional and somewhat forced into the narrative. The standout feature is the character Gigi (played by Beth Ditto), portrayed as an overweight lesbian married to a Black woman, with their interracial same-sex relationship highlighted early and tied to themes of acceptance and outsider status in the conservative country music world. Reviews note this representation as a deliberate inclusion likely to appeal to critics and awards voters, with the pilot featuring an interracial same-sex kiss. The matriarch Dottie pushes legacy and family dynamics while navigating her terminal illness, but the show layers in body positivity, LGBTQ+ visibility, and critiques of traditional Southern/country norms through Gigi's arc as an outcast who eventually seeks the spotlight. Additional diversity appears via supporting characters and casting choices that prioritize inclusion over organic fit. While the core plot revolves around family secrets, murder mystery, infidelity, and business intrigue in a soap-opera style reminiscent of Empire or Nashville, these elements often serve to underscore social commentary on acceptance, female empowerment, and challenging 'authenticity' in a traditionally conservative genre. Conservative-leaning critiques highlight how the messaging overshadows entertainment, with characters shaped to deliver points on diversity rather than pure escapism. The show was canceled after one season, partly due to mixed reception where agenda elements drew attention away from the music and drama.
Plot
Monarch follows the Roman family, a powerful country music dynasty led by matriarch Dottie Cantrell Roman (Susan Sarandon) and her husband Albie (Trace Adkins). As Dottie battles terminal illness and seeks to secure her legacy, tensions rise among their adult children: ambitious singer Nicky (Anna Friel), business-minded son Luke (Joshua Sasse), and Gigi (Beth Ditto), who has long felt sidelined due to her size and sexuality. The series blends multigenerational family drama, music performances, infidelity, secrets, and a murder mystery as the family fights to maintain control of their record label and public image amid scandals. It premiered on Fox on September 11, 2022, and was canceled after one season of 11 episodes.
Analyzed by AI on June 2, 2026