Somebody's Been Asleep: The Heated Debate Over 'Woke' TV Shows

In a recent post on Imgur titled "Somebody's been asleep. ;) Aslep? :P," a provocative image has sparked a fiery debate about popular television shows and their perceived "wokeness." The image, featuring white text on a solid black background, challenges viewers' understanding of TV and movies, particularly citing shows like "The Boys," "Star Wars," "Star Trek," "Doctor Who," and "X-Men."

The text in the image reads:

"If you're asking 'when did The Boys get woke' or 'when did Star Wars get woke' or 'when did Star Trek get woke' or 'when did Doctor Who get woke' or 'when did X-Men get woke' it might be time to face facts: you don't have the mental capacity to understand TV or movies, and should stick to your main form of entertainment, eating paint chips."

This statement, attributed to threads.net/@azalben, has ignited a discussion among Imgur users, many of whom have shared their thoughts and reactions in the comments section.

One user pointed out, "Wait, there are people who didn't think The Boys was woke from the get go? Like... it's not even subtle about the whole thing." Another user added, "Science fiction has been, since its first day, a vehicle for social commentary. To believe anything else is silly & unsupportable."

The conversation also touched on the history of some of these shows, with a user stating, "X-Men has been woke since the 60s. So has Star Trek. Their whole point was 'Hey! We see everyone!'" Other users echoed similar sentiments about "Star Trek," noting that its core message has always been about inclusivity and social justice.

However, not all comments were in agreement. Some users expressed concerns about the quality of writing in modern adaptations of these shows. One user commented, "I don’t mind the topic of the message in these shows, but when the quality of the writing goes in the crapper in lieu of an overt message, it makes me not as engaged in the show." Another user agreed, saying, "There's a difference between always being woke and going out of their way to use it to cover poor writing."

The heated exchange also saw some users defending the evolution of these shows, highlighting the importance of addressing current social issues through popular media. One insightful comment read, "Read the damn books! Witcher was very much about systemic racism and bigotry and how you can't stay truly neutral because that makes you just as bad."

While the debate rages on, it's clear that these discussions are more than just about entertainment. They reflect broader societal conversations about inclusivity, representation, and the role of media in shaping public perception.

What are your thoughts on this topic? Do you believe that these shows have always been "woke," or do you see a significant shift in their messaging? Join the conversation and share your views on this ongoing debate.