The showrunner explicitly stated the intent to establish Clarke as bisexual through a female partner in the premiere, framing the relationship with Lexa as groundbreaking representation within a supposedly post-identity world. This choice drives key plot developments as the two characters reunite, form strategic alliances, and advance the Grounder-Sky People conflict through their personal connection. Lexa's death immediately after the consummation scene in episode 7 "Thirteen" triggered intense audience backlash over the "Bury Your Gays" trope, including review-bombing and demands for accountability.

Rothenberg's subsequent apology acknowledged the real-world implications of the timing, while earlier interviews promoted the casual inclusion of LGBTQ elements and the bisexual lead as progressive milestones. These elements combine to give the season a moderate woke score through the centrality of the queer romance and the creator's foregrounding of identity messaging amid the survival narrative.