Janis Ian is recast as Janis ‘Imi’ike with a Native Hawaiian background and portrayed as canonically queer with a same-sex partner, while Karen Smith is changed to Karen Shetty and Gretchen Wieners receives Latina elements. Damian Hubbard is presented as a prominent queer figure.

These modifications prioritize representation over fidelity to the source material, intruding on the original's character dynamics. Creator and cast statements highlight an intent to modernize the story through inclusion and by sanitizing humor deemed problematic, with performers infusing personal identities into the roles. Thematic updates focus on removing offensive elements and racial jokes to align with current sensitivities, even as the core high school plot remains. Such changes compromise the entertainment value by subordinating the narrative to ideological goals rather than organic storytelling.