Episode 8 'Black and Blue' explores Atwater's encounters with departmental racism and neighborhood dynamics tied to drug violence. Episode 13 'Night in Chicago' directly tackles a Black Lives Matter-inspired plot where a white racist cop shoots Atwater's undercover partner (an unarmed black man), sparking protests over excessive force, though critics noted it failed to fully commit to systemic critique. Episode 7 'Trigger' involves Atwater undercover in a mosque bombing case, touching on Islamophobia and diversity in counter-terrorism.

These arcs integrate social justice themes like police accountability and racial bias into character development and plots, influencing casting emphasis on LaRoyce Hawkins and prompting discussions of real-world issues, but they do not dominate the 22-episode season, which remains a traditional cop procedural focused on drug busts, murders, and internal unit drama. Casting is organically diverse for a Chicago PD unit with no race/gender-swapping or forced changes noted. No prominent LGBTQ+ representation or creator-stated activist intent from showrunner Rick Eid; reception mixed with progressive critics faulting it for not going far enough on anti-police messaging while pro-cop analyses highlight heroic violence. No significant audience backlash labeling it 'woke' specifically for this season.