Is The Exorcist woke?

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.

Wokeness Analysis

The 2016 Fox series The Exorcist explicitly positions one lead priest, Father Tomas Ortega, as the 'new face of the Catholic Church: progressive, ambitious and compassionate,' contrasting him with the traditionalist Father Marcus Keane to highlight generational and ideological divides within the institution. The show features prominent diversity in its cast, including Mexican-American actor Alfonso Herrera as Tomas, Asian-American John Cho as a foster father in season 2, and multiple female leads such as Geena Davis reprising a version of Regan MacNeil. A key element is the confirmation and exploration of Father Marcus Keane's bisexuality, including a same-sex kiss in season 2 that drew some viewer backlash but was defended by showrunner Jeremy Slater as intentional representation of a bisexual older character rarely seen on network TV. Analyses from progressive outlets praise the series for subverting the original 1973 film's perceived misogyny and conservatism through 'heroic feminists and queer people,' casual diversity reflecting modern America, and characters who challenge Church hierarchy from within on issues of sexuality and authority. While the core narrative remains a supernatural horror thriller centered on demonic possession and exorcism, these elements feel intentional and foregrounded rather than incidental, serving to update the franchise with contemporary social themes around inclusion, identity, and institutional critique. The messaging integrates into character backstories and plot conflicts but often draws attention to itself, contributing to perceptions that the series prioritizes ideological updating over pure escapism.

Plot

The Exorcist is a supernatural horror TV series created by Jeremy Slater for Fox, serving as a direct sequel to the 1973 film. It follows two priests—progressive Father Tomas Ortega (Alfonso Herrera) and veteran exorcist Father Marcus Keane (Ben Daniels)—as they investigate cases of demonic possession. Season 1 centers on the Rance family in Chicago, where Angela Rance (Geena Davis), revealed as the adult Regan MacNeil, seeks help for her possessed daughter amid family struggles including dementia and trauma. Season 2 shifts to a new case involving a foster home run by Andy Kim (John Cho) and social worker Rose Cooper, expanding into broader conspiracies within the Catholic Church. The series blends intense exorcism sequences, psychological tension, and character-driven drama across two 10-episode seasons before cancellation in 2018.