Minor progressive elements appear incidentally, such as the introduction of mixed-race character Duke Shelby (played by Conrad Khan), portrayed as John's illegitimate son within the gypsy underworld, which feels organic to Birmingham's diverse 1930s working-class setting rather than forced DEI casting. The core cast remains predominantly white males true to the Irish-Romani gang origins, with no race-swaps, gender-swaps, or unjustified diversity changes clashing with source material.

Anti-fascist themes are prominent but contextually appropriate to the era's politics, serving the plot's intrigue against Mosley without descending into modern lectures on systemic issues, identity politics, or critiques of traditional norms. Some niche audience complaints label Tommy's acceptance of Duke as 'woke' anachronism or interpret the fascism storyline as anti-right-wing allegory (e.g., Trump parallels), but these are interpretive overreaches lacking widespread backlash.

Creator Steven Knight emphasizes character depth and spectacle over activism, with no interviews signaling inclusion mandates or ideological intent. Reception critiques target pacing, Polly's absence, and heavy politics, not wokeness, allowing the season to prioritize thrilling storytelling and historical authenticity.