Jessica Davis leads an anti-rape culture student government campaign through the "Hands Off" group and forms a survivors' coalition, with dialogue explicitly invoking "topple the patriarchy" and critiques of jock culture. These feminist activism elements and systemic rape culture framing drive multiple episodes and character arcs, making progressive accountability themes central rather than incidental. LGBTQ representation includes Monty's internalized homophobia arc and Tony's established gay identity, which draws Bury Your Gays criticism, while additional contemporary issues such as immigration and ICE enforcement, abortion, gun violence, and steroids are addressed through progressive lenses of marginalization and accountability.

Chloe's abortion storyline depicts pro-life figures negatively. The cumulative weight of these plotlines across the season produces a moderate woke score without the ideology serving as the sole premise.