"The Monster" (2019), from Iran, prioritizes storytelling and character depth over modern Western identity politics. The plot centers on individual struggle and societal corruption, not box-ticking for representational quotas. Character arcs unfold naturally rather than being propped up by trendy ideological checklists, keeping the narrative grounded.

The show upholds traditional cultural themes, family, religion, and moral ambiguity, without forcing revisionist or anti-traditional messaging. It respects established social structures and doesn’t caricature traditional masculinity, family, or faith. Western audiences looking for subversive takes will find little here.

Alternative perspectives abound: the story explores diverse worldviews within its own cultural context, with no forced consensus on morality or identity. There’s an honest representation of cultural debates, not a one-note ideological narrative.