Punk’s Not Dead: Riot Women Review
Trent Loom reviews Riot Women, the latest series from Sally Wainwright, known for Happy Valley. Though Loom hasn’t seen that earlier work, he situates Riot Women within the wider trend of punk narratives on screen.
The show draws strong inspiration from Nida Manzoor’s acclaimed Channel 4 sitcom We Are Lady Parts (2021–2024). Manzoor’s series in turn drew from Eyad Zahra’s 2010 film adaptation of The Taqwacores, itself based on Michael Muhammad Knight’s 2004 novel.
“The Taqwacores depicted an imaginary American Muslim punk scene, which in due course would inspire an actual musical genre of Islamic punk rock now known as Taqwacore.”
This subculture eventually became a genuine musical movement led by groups like The Kominas. We Are Lady Parts expanded the theme with its story of an all-female British Muslim punk band pushing against patriarchy, poverty, and cultural bias as they sought recognition in the music industry.
Context and Influence
- Riot Women continues the exploration of female rebellion through music and identity.
- The series extends the legacy of Taqwacore-inspired art depicting defiance and cultural expression.
Author’s Summary: A sharp reflection on how Riot Women captures the defiant energy of punk through the lens of feminist and cultural revolt in modern television.