The core premise and plot revolve around discovering keys like the Anywhere Key, Head Key, and Omega Key in Keyhouse, battling the demon Dodge, and personal growth arcs for Tyler, Kinsey, and Bode—traditional fantasy storytelling without systemic oppression narratives or identity politics as central conflicts. Casting maintains the white Locke family from the source material; supporting additions like autistic actor Coby Bird as Rufus Whedon and disabled actor Eric Graise as Logan Calloway provide organic disability representation that does not drive the narrative.

The show merges the comics' Gender Key and Skin Key into a single Identity Key, sidestepping the source's more explicit (and criticized) explorations of gender and race fluidity rather than amplifying them. Creator statements from Joe Hill and showrunners emphasize making a broad-appeal TV series like Harry Potter, with changes approved by the comic creators for storytelling fit, not activist goals.