These arcs center on Atwater's moral struggles as a Black cop confronting systemic racism within the force, influencing his character development. Casting includes ongoing diversity with Black officer Atwater and the introduction of Latina officer Vanessa Rojas, which fits the Chicago setting organically without forced changes or race-swaps. However, the season largely adheres to traditional police procedural storytelling, emphasizing the Intelligence Unit's heroism in tackling drugs, gangs, sex trafficking, and domestic violence, with strong ratings and no major controversies or audience backlash labeling it 'woke.' The progressive themes are prominent in specific plots but do not dominate or compromise the core entertainment value of gritty cop drama.