TV Show

Trying

Name: Trying
Released: 2020

2020

13Score

Peak Television

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Is Trying Woke? Quick Answer

Trying scores 13/100 on the IsItWoke scale and lands in Peak Television.

That is the story-first end of the scale for this show. The strongest reasons behind the rating are The dialogue feels mostly natural and serves the comedic tone of the show. and characters are relatable and flawed, rather than merely symbols of representation..

See the full breakdown below.

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Why it received this score

Based on: Published title analysisConfidence: MediumLast updated: 2026-07-13

Key reasons

The dialogue feels mostly natural and serves the comedic tone of the show.
Characters are relatable and flawed, rather than merely symbols of representation.
The storytelling focuses on the personal journey of the protagonists without heavy-handed messaging.

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While there are moments of social commentary, they don't dominate the narrative.
The show maintains a light-hearted approach to serious themes, avoiding overt ideological framing.

Score signals

Signal	What was measured	Strength	Impact
Message-first dialogue	How much the dialogue, monologues, or character interactions feel driven by overt messaging, moral lecturing, ideological framing, or making a point instead of serving the story naturally.	5/20	+3
Tokenistic characters	How much characters feel inserted or shaped primarily for symbolic representation, political signaling, or demographic checkbox value rather than narrative depth, organic fit, or strong characterization.	4/20	+2
Ideology over story	How much the overall storytelling prioritizes ideological framing, message delivery, social commentary, or activism-coded narrative choices over pacing, conflict, immersion, and entertainment.	3/20	+2
Protected protagonist pattern	How much the protagonist fits the protected-protagonist pattern (agenda-driven character construction) rather than competence fantasy. Score HIGH only when: competence appears unearned or unexplained; protagonist rarely faces consequences; antagonists exist mainly to demonstrate protagonist superiority; narrative treats protagonist as symbolically superior; plot shields protagonist from vulnerability. Score LOW when: competence is grounded in training, profession, or past experience; protagonist suffers damage or setbacks; real physical danger and survival tension exist (normal action storytelling). Do not penalize competence fantasy.	3/20	+2
Modern politics injection	How much contemporary political discourse, activist framing, or modern culture-war signaling appears injected into fantasy, sci-fi, historical, or otherwise escapist settings in a way that feels noticeable or immersion-breaking.	2/20	+1

AI cultural analysis

A short read on tone, themes, and messaging — not a plot synopsis.

AI read

Trying offers a refreshing take on the complexities of modern parenthood without succumbing to overt ideological messaging. The dialogue flows organically, allowing for humor and character development rather than moral lecturing.

The characters, while diverse, are not defined solely by their identities; they are well-rounded individuals facing relatable challenges. The narrative prioritizes the emotional journey of Nikki and Jason as they navigate the adoption process, providing a heartfelt exploration of family dynamics.