The foundational story draws from Garth Ennis's comic without centering identity politics, systemic oppression, or critiques of traditional norms as primary drivers. The main progressive element is the established race-swap of Tulip O'Hare (white in the source material) to Ruth Negga, a mixed Ethiopian-Irish actress, which enabled subplots addressing racial issues in the American South.

This change occurred at the series outset and carries into Season 4 but does not define the narrative or emotional core. No prominent LGBTQ+ representation, gender-swaps of other characters, explicit DEI mandates, lecture-style dialogue on patriarchy or masculinity, or creator statements framing the season around social justice activism appear in the material.

Audience and critical reception focused on pacing, weirdness, and fidelity to the comic's edgy tone rather than backlash over wokeness. The result is incidental modern diversity layered onto an otherwise traditional, source-faithful dark fantasy satire.