← Back to Directory
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom
Movie

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom

2023 • Action, Adventure, Fantasy

Woke Score
4
out of 10

Plot

Plot unknown. Sequel to the 2018 film 'Aquaman.'

Overall Series Review

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is a superhero sequel that centers its narrative on action, a buddy-comedy dynamic, and a strong pro-family message. The film's primary ideological push comes from its central environmental message. The plot explicitly makes surface-dwellers, or 'the land people,' responsible for climate change and a global crisis, requiring the more enlightened Atlantean kingdom to intervene. This core theme colors the overall production. However, the rest of the story is highly traditional: a heroic, married male protagonist saves his wife and child from an ancient, demonic evil. The film features a diverse cast but avoids intersectional lecturing; characters are defined by their personal motivations, sibling rivalry, and desire to protect their family. The presence of a prominent, celebrated nuclear family structure and strong male heroes prevents a high score in the Feminism or LGBTQ+ categories. The spiritual themes are purely mythological, avoiding any direct engagement with or vilification of traditional real-world religion, focusing instead on ancient Atlantean dark magic.

Categorical Breakdown

Identity Politics2/10

The casting is a continuation of the previous film, featuring a mixed-race hero and a diverse supporting cast. The primary villain is non-white, driven by personal revenge and possession by an ancient evil. The plot avoids overt political lecturing on systemic oppression or white privilege. Character motivation rests on established personal conflicts and saving the world.

Oikophobia8/10

The central conflict involves a global crisis, and the film heavily promotes an environmentalist and climate change alarmist message. The narrative explicitly blames 'the land people' (human, surface-world civilization) for the environmental destruction, framing this home culture as fundamentally corrupt and reckless. The Atlantean kingdom, the 'other' civilization, must intervene to save the planet.

Feminism3/10

The protagonist, Arthur Curry, is portrayed as a King, a strong male hero, a loving husband, and a father who balances royal duties with changing his son's diapers. The story prominently features and celebrates a complete nuclear family structure. The main narrative focuses on the fraternal bond and adventure between Arthur and his brother Orm. Motherhood is not framed as a prison, and no central female character is presented as a flawless 'Girl Boss' who emasculates the males.

LGBTQ+2/10

The narrative centers on the heterosexual, normative family unit of Arthur, Mera, and their son. The movie does not include any explicit LGBTQ+ characters, themes, or lectures on gender ideology. A trans and non-binary actor plays a minor councilwoman, Karshon, but the character's role is purely political opposition, not defined by sexual identity or gender theory.

Anti-Theism4/10

The conflict features a metaphysical battle between a demonic force (Kordax, the ancient king) and the heroes. This provides a clear, objective moral framework of good versus evil. The spiritual elements are mythological and Atlantean-centric, not directly hostile to traditional religion. The film contains no explicit or positive references to the Judeo-Christian God or organized faith as a source of strength, replacing it entirely with comic-book lore.