In Season 5 specifically, the Mars colony plot centers on friction between Happy Valley residents and Earth nations, prominently featuring an exploited underclass of undocumented 'crater' immigrants who arrive illegally in cargo shipments, face automation threats to their jobs, corrupt 'Peacekeeper' law enforcement with ICE-like tactics, and spark protests and rebellion framed around independence and belonging. The ensemble cast includes multiple actors from diverse backgrounds in key roles among the new generation of characters, with subplots involving murder investigations tied to immigrant communities and generational shifts.

These elements create noticeable progressive framing around immigration, systemic exploitation, and anti-authoritarian colony resistance that influences character arcs and conflicts, though the core remains space exploration drama, scientific discovery (e.g., Titan life), and personal stories rather than identity politics as the singular driver. Audience reactions include criticisms of 'wokeness' in strong female characters, immigration plots, and perceived agenda-driven messaging, but no evidence of race/gender-swapping established figures or overt lectures overriding the narrative.