Syd's secret crush on best friend Dina drives multiple episodes, culminating in a kiss, a public outing by antagonist Brad using homophobic slurs like 'dyke,' and Syd exploding his head in rage. This framing positions homophobia and compulsory heterosexuality as key conflicts, with 1980s songs recontextualized as lesbian anthems and the narrative explicitly aimed at queer teen girls.

Co-creator Christy Hall has described the powers as tied to 'the liquidity of what sexuality looks like' and the story as a modern correction to straight coming-of-age tropes like John Hughes films. While the core premise involves family trauma, grief over a father's suicide, and uncontrolled abilities, the queer subplot and identity exploration are prominent drivers of character arcs and the season's emotional climax rather than incidental background.

Casting features white lead Sophia Lillis as Syd alongside Sofia Bryant as Dina, with no established-character race or gender swaps from the source graphic novel. Audience and critic reception highlighted the representation positively in queer outlets, with no major backlash over messaging.