Progressive elements are present primarily through casting choices that diverge from the book's Irish, presumably white characters: the male lead Oliver is race-swapped to South Asian actor Avan Jogia, and the detectives are recast as a black male (Dorian Missick as Karl) and Latina (Karla Souza as Lee), replacing the book's white Irish female Gardaí. A trans actress, Jesse James Keitel, appears in a supporting role as Alison Meadows across three episodes.

The production features an all-female directors team, praised by stars for facilitating intimate scenes. Isolated audience complaints label it 'diversity slop' with claims of the black detective using anti-white slurs and highlighting the trans actor, but no widespread backlash or 'go woke go broke' narrative exists. These elements influence casting and representation but remain incidental, not central to the premise, plot, character arcs, or emotional drivers, which revolve around toxic romance, secrets, and mystery rather than identity politics, systemic oppression, or social justice lectures.