The co-lead, Norma, is autistic and South Asian, layering intersectional elements onto the characters. Creator Hamish Steele, a queer activist, explicitly frames the show as queer YA horror with trans journeys, LGBTQ+ representation, and found family themes central to the coming-of-age narrative amid demon battles at a theme park.

These progressive intrusions—prominent trans lead, autistic rep, diverse casting—dominate promotional discourse and character arcs, compromising the supernatural adventure premise by embedding identity politics as focal points for impressionable young viewers. Massive 2025 backlash, fueled by Elon Musk and Libs of TikTok, accuses it of shoving pro-trans propaganda on kids, sparking Netflix boycotts and confirming the ideology's centrality, which overrides entertainment value in this highly consequential children's media.