The most prominent progressive element is the ongoing arc for Isaac Higgintoot, the Revolutionary War captain ghost played by Brandon Scott Jones: he came out as gay in prior seasons, entered a relationship and engagement with Nigel (a British officer ghost), and Season 4 explicitly deals with the emotional fallout from their breakup, including new romantic tension involving a bi character named Chris. Creators and the actor have highlighted this as deliberate positive LGBTQ+ representation that allows the character to express himself openly after centuries in the closet.

Casting features organic diversity fitting the premise, including Utkarsh Ambudkar as Indian-American Jay and Danielle Pinnock as Black Prohibition-era singer Alberta, with subplots touching historical prejudices like Hetty's anti-Irish views (revealed ironically as she learns her own heritage). These elements influence character subplots and arcs but do not drive the core premise of comedic ghost antics and found-family dynamics. No race- or gender-swapping of established figures occurs, and messaging remains incidental rather than lecture-driven.