As a long-time devotee of cinema and TV, I must say that the ongoing debate about Law & Order: SVU being “woke” is nothing more than a baseless claim. Having followed this series since its early days and watching Ice-T’s character evolve from Jr. Detective to Sergeant over two decades, it’s clear that SVU has always been a reflection of the society we live in – addressing social and racial issues with a blend of realism and fiction.

In approximately a month, Season 26 of “Law & Order: SVU” will start, and following a recent backstage snapshot posted by Ice-T, the actor has refuted allegations that the long-standing drama series is becoming overly politically correct or ‘woke.’ As part of the Dick Wolf team since Season 2, Ice-T has been a prominent figure on “SVU” for over two decades, with his character, Fin Tutuola, advancing from Junior Detective to Sergeant. While juggling a demanding TV career, he’s also made appearances in various films.

On August 1, T shared a photo on the platform (previously known as Twitter) depicting trucks and trailers on the set of SVU. On August 27, user @NicoleTenev responded to T’s post with a question: “Did they bring SVU back to normal? It seems to have become more socially aware.” This phrase is commonly used nowadays, often by conservatives, to criticize anything that addresses social and racial issues such as diversity. Some people believe these topics should not be present in our media consumption because entertainment should provide an escape from reality. However, it appears that this particular platform user may have overlooked the fact that SVU has always been socially conscious, consistently addressing societal issues throughout its series.

Another user tried to give a humorous explanation of what woke meant, saying, “Woke means tearing down my John Wayne statues and forcing me to erect a Spider-Man fountain that sprays gay beer on my lawn that turns it into astroturf.” Ice-T seemed to enjoy that one, reposting the response and adding, “That sounds Dope… F John Wayne.”

Has Law & Order: SVU Become Woke?

Although it’s understandable that some might feel Law & Order: SVU has waned in appeal due to changes in its writing quality over time, labeling it as “woke” is nonsensical. As pointed out earlier, this show has a history of weaving real-world social issues into its narratives, often drawing from current events to shed light on the inequalities and injustices within government institutions, the justice system, and our daily lives.

Last year, Ice-T addressed criticisms that SVU is merely police propaganda in an interview with Variety. He acknowledged the validity of this perspective but emphasized that his character within the show is nothing like a police officer.

As a movie enthusiast, I can acknowledge the perspective that our TV series might be perceived as police propaganda, painting them in a positive light. However, being an SVU detective on this show doesn’t mean I endorse every action taken by real-life officers. During my criminal past, I didn’t harbor hatred towards cops; instead, they were adversaries I had to outmaneuver.

You’ll be able to watch the new season of “Law & Order: SVU” with its modern sensibilities on full display when it premieres on October 3, both on NBC and Peacock streaming platform.

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2024-08-29 22:31