Is New Tricks woke?
TV Show · Released March 27, 2003
New Tricks has a wokeness score of 1/10, which we rate as Not Woke. No political or woke messaging whatsoever. Focuses entirely on story, characters, fun, or escapism.
2003 releases average 1.6/10. See wokeness trends
Key points
- Explicitly framed by creators as counter to political correctness with old-school cop perspectives.
- Minimal diversity in cast and no prominent representation of marginalized groups as core theme.
- Social issues like racism appear only as plot devices integrated into mysteries without dominating.
Wokeness analysis
New Tricks is a straightforward British police procedural comedy-drama centered on a team of retired detectives reinvestigating cold cases under a serving female superintendent. The core premise emphasizes character dynamics between old-school policing methods and modern procedures, personal eccentricities, and episodic mysteries without any overarching progressive agenda. Episodes occasionally touch on topics like racism or immigration in the context of specific cases, but these serve the plot organically and often highlight the clash with traditional views rather than promoting ideological lectures. The show's creator explicitly positioned it as a counterblast to political correctness, and the predominantly older, white British cast reflects the era's typical representation without forced diversity quotas or identity-focused subplots. Later seasons maintain the focus on entertainment and character-driven storytelling over social commentary. No evidence of indoctrination, heavy-handed messaging, or prioritization of marginalized group representation above the narrative.
Plot
New Tricks follows the Unsolved Crime and Open Case Squad (UCOS) at London's Metropolitan Police, led by Detective Superintendent Sandra Pullman and staffed by three retired detectives. The team reopens cold cases using their experience and unorthodox methods, often clashing with contemporary policing. Spanning 2003 to 2015 across 12 series, the show blends procedural investigations with humor derived from the characters' age-related quirks, personal lives, and generational differences. It prioritizes episodic mysteries and ensemble dynamics over serialized arcs.
Analyzed by AI on November 7, 2026