Is The Hollow woke?
TV Show · Released June 8, 2018
The Hollow 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
- Explicit gay reveal for protagonist Adam in Season 2 with pride flag and direct statement.
- Mira shown with two adoptive fathers, emphasizing non-traditional family structure.
- LGBTQ elements added with minimal story integration, drawing praise for representation but criticism as forced.
Wokeness analysis
The Hollow (2018) is primarily an adventure-mystery animated series focused on three teens navigating a dangerous fantasy world with puzzles, monsters, and superpowers while uncovering their identities. Season 1 emphasizes teamwork, courage, and problem-solving with natural diversity in the main cast—an Asian girl Mira, a Hispanic boy Adam, and Kai—presented organically without heavy messaging. However, Season 2 introduces explicit LGBTQ+ elements that shift the focus: Mira is revealed to have two adoptive fathers, and Adam comes out as gay with a pride flag in his room and a direct statement that Mira is 'not his type.' These revelations are highlighted in Wikipedia's dedicated 'LGBTQ representation' section and praised in reviews for representation, yet they serve little plot purpose beyond acknowledgment, feeling inserted for inclusivity. Some audience feedback criticizes the additions as forced or pointless, detracting from the core escapism. While not dominating the entire narrative, the intentional elevation of these themes in the second season makes the messaging prominent and shoehorned, aligning with strongly ideological criteria rather than subtle awareness.
Plot
The Hollow follows three teenagers—Adam, Mira, and Kai—who awaken in a mysterious bunker with no memories. They escape into a bizarre fantasy realm filled with monsters, puzzles, and portals, discovering unique superpowers while trying to find their way home. The first season builds to a twist revealing the world as a virtual reality game called The Hollow. Season 2 continues their journey in both the game and real-world contexts, exploring digital copies and glitches. The series blends adventure, mystery, and light sci-fi elements across two seasons on Netflix.
Analyzed by AI on October 17, 2026