2022 · Based on 1 season, 5 episodes through December 26, 2022 ·
Adam Lawrence is an MI6 deputy in modern London who suddenly becomes acting chief when his boss, Sir Martin Angelis, is poisoned. Adam’s rise is tied to an old Russian spy contact, Kara, who returns and demands his help. Adam must protect his wife Maddy and his two children while he tries to learn who is using secret files to control British politics. The tone is tense and fast, but the show also spends time on family fear, marriage, and the cost of secret work.
Maddy, Kara, and Dede repeatedly take decisive roles in the case. Maddy is a former army officer, Kara is a Russian spy, and Dede is a CIA agent who once served with Maddy in Afghanistan, so the show ties their skills to their jobs. The women rescue a child, fight armed men, expose a blackmail plan, and decide the final outcome after Dede shoots Adam. The main themes are loyalty, family, Russian influence, secret power, and corruption in British politics.
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Breakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for Treason.
Woke representation / casting
The show puts three women in major spy roles. Kara is a Russian operative, Maddy is a former army officer who shoots a killer, and Dede is a Black CIA agent who leads the hunt for Adam and fires the fatal shot. Their choices shape the plot, while several male leaders are corrupt or exposed. Their jobs explain their skills, and the show does not frame this casting as a diversity campaign.
24%
Woke political dialogue
Not present. Characters discuss a British leadership race, Russian influence, blackmail, and secret agents. The show does not use identity politics, DEI language, or activist speeches to make its political points.
0%
Identity-driven story themes
The show repeatedly gives Maddy, Kara, and Dede the decisive action moments. Maddy shoots a killer and helps reveal the blackmail files, Kara rescues a child and drives the search for Dorian, and Dede runs the CIA hunt. Their skills come from their army or spy work, so the pattern is mild rather than a central message about female empowerment. The story stays focused on loyalty and espionage.
18%
Western institutional / cultural critique
Not present. The show exposes corruption inside MI6, the CIA, and British politics. It does not link that corruption to modern claims about capitalism, whiteness, patriarchy, Christianity, or Western culture.
0%
Woke character or canon changes
Not relevant. Treason is an original limited series with no known book, established characters, or historical figures being changed.
0%
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
A tiny anonymous X account called the series “Woke” and joked that it should be renamed “INTERSECTIONALITY.” Another small account called it anti-American propaganda. The reported posts had little reach, and no large right-leaning account, boycott, or review-bombing campaign was tied to the show. The backlash is fringe rather than a broad public dispute.
12%
Creator track record context
Matt Charman has a mild record of writing about elections and supporting more stories about diverse people. Amanda Duke has focused on extraordinary women but has no documented activist or DEI campaign. Public information on Sarah O’Gorman, Louise Hooper, Foz Allan, Valery Ryan, and Sarah Crowe shows little high-confidence activist history. This gives the show mild background context, not strong evidence of an activist production.
24%
Production
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