Is The Old Guard woke?
The Old Guard (2020)
Movie
Released: January 1, 2020
Wokeness Score
7/10
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 Summary Points
- Prominent gay immortal couple Joe and Nicky receive extended romantic focus and a celebrated love declaration scene.
- Director Gina Prince-Bythewood and cast prioritize racial and gender diversity with Black female leads and varied ethnic backgrounds.
- Representation framed as intentional inclusion for marginalized groups to see heroic reflections, per director comments.
Wokeness Analysis
The Old Guard (2020) delivers a solid action premise centered on immortal mercenaries but layers in prominent diversity elements that align with progressive priorities. Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, the first Black woman to helm a major comic-book film, it features a cast reflecting deliberate inclusivity: Charlize Theron as ancient warrior Andy, KiKi Layne as the new Black female immortal Nile, Marwan Kenzari and Luca Marinelli as the centuries-old gay couple Joe and Nicky, and Veronica Ngô as the Vietnamese immortal Quynh. The standout scene has Joe delivering an extended, poetic declaration of love for Nicky in front of captors, followed by a passionate kiss, which critics hailed as groundbreaking queer representation in the superhero genre. Flashbacks and team dynamics emphasize characters from varied racial, ethnic, and national backgrounds fighting for justice across history. While the core story of immortality, betrayal, and corporate exploitation remains entertaining and not entirely subordinated, the intentional casting choices, explicit LGBTQ romance acknowledgment, and director statements about ensuring audiences 'see themselves reflected heroically' push the messaging into noticeable territory. This creates a balance where diversity feels organic to some but forced or agenda-driven to others, with plot serving both action and representation goals. Conservative-leaning viewers often note it as an example of Hollywood prioritizing identity over pure escapism, even as the film avoids overt political lectures on current events.
Plot
The Old Guard follows Andromache of Scythia, known as Andy, and her team of immortal mercenaries who have battled across centuries to protect humanity. Led by Charlize Theron, the group includes Booker, the gay couple Joe and Nicky, and newcomer Nile, a young Black Marine played by KiKi Layne who discovers her own immortality. When a mission to rescue kidnapped girls in South Sudan exposes their existence, they face pursuit by forces seeking to exploit their regenerative abilities for profit. Betrayals and new threats force the team to confront their endless existence while fighting to stay hidden. The film blends intense action sequences with emotional depth about loss, loyalty, and purpose over millennia.