By Kathy Williams, Features Assignment Editor
The latest series to binge, “Woke,” is made perfectly for those who are too afraid to dive into the world of controversy, social issues and racism in America.
Set in the San Francisco Bay area, the Hulu original series “Woke” follows the life of Keith Knight. Knight, known as Keef amongst friends and locals, is an up-and-coming cartoonist that produces the comic Toast -N- Butter. Keef lived a simple, non-controversial life because he was focused on popularizing his art, until he had an aggressive encounter with the local police. After the incident, Keef is deemed “woke” and does not see his life in the same light.
The show is a dramedy that mixes elements of animation within the episodes. This blends appropriately with the tone of the show because it emphasizes what is going on in Keef’s subconscious.
“Woke” also embodies a well-rounded cast. Lamorne Morris, actor for “New Girl,” plays Keef Knight, Blake Anderson, comedian and one of the creators for show “Workaholics,” plays Keef’s housemate Gunther and Sasheer Zamata, cast member on “Saturday Night Live” and past celebrity ambassador for the American Civil Liberties Union, plays social warrior and writer Ayana.
The script hits expectations. Because it is a drama-comedy, the writers mixed elements of serious tones with lighthearted comments. This, however, can take away from issues they are trying to address. For example, and without giving spoilers, in the first episode Keef has a breakdown and proclaims racial issues that have been affecting him in front of a crowd. This scene could have been really powerful, but the execution of this event came off as a mockery due to the animations and exaggeration. Despite this, the script would still be enjoyable for people that want to start exposing themselves to injustice issues without fully immersing themselves.
The actors embody their characters with ease. Anderson does a good job at providing necessary comedic relief when the show needs it. Morris makes the character believable in the sense he plays an African American dreamer in San Francisco easily, however the acting can be predictable and cheesy when he talks to the animations around him. But, that also adds to the point of the show. The most believable character is Keef’s other housemate Clovis, played by rising actor T. Murph, because it is the most relatable character in regard to pop culture, social media and an identifiable person in one’s own life.
Executive producer and co-creator Marshall Todd executed discussing racial issues in a lighthearted way. This is also the major flaw of the show. These issues are very serious, so it leaves the audience questioning if the show is handling these situations appropriately.
“Woke” aligns with the social issues happening currently in the United States, specifically relating to Black Lives Matter. The series launched at the right time, however the intended audience should not be anyone looking to analyze social problems on a serious, complex level.
williakp18@bonaventure.edu
