The film shows Rongen initially misgendering and deadnaming the character before staging a confrontation and reconciliatory scene that includes direct questions about her body, turning the gender-related conflict into a central subplot that drives the coach's personal growth and acceptance lesson. Casting decisions and creator intent further center this element, with director Taika Waititi specifically selecting a fa'afafine performer and describing fa'afafine as a sacred indigenous role while framing the narrative to introduce Polynesian third-gender concepts to Western viewers. These choices make the representation a deliberate thematic priority rather than incidental background, directly contributing to the moderate woke score through the integration of identity-focused messaging into the sports story.