Casting remains largely faithful to George R.R. Martin's source material, with Dorne's storyline featuring a mix of actors that fits the books' depiction of olive-skinned Rhoynar descendants, but without race- or gender-swapping for diversity quotas. Elements like the Sand Snakes introduce some incidental diversity and female empowerment arcs, but these are undermined by notoriously poor writing and dialogue, failing to elevate them as focal points.

Major controversies revolve around the Sansa Stark rape scene, criticized by feminists for misogyny rather than any lack of inclusion, and the mishandled Dorne plot, lambasted for quality issues, not wokeness. No creator interviews from David Benioff or D.B. Weiss emphasize activism, DEI, or challenging norms; the season prioritizes gritty entertainment over lectures on systemic issues or identity politics. Audience reception highlights entertainment value and plot frustrations, praising spectacles like Hardhome while decrying narrative missteps, with zero notable backlash labeling it 'woke.' This purist approach to medieval fantasy delivers unadulterated spectacle, free from modern social justice intrusions.