Casting features organic diversity—such as Laz Alonso as Mother's Milk and Jessie T. Usher as A-Train, both aligning closely with their comic counterparts—with no notable race or gender swaps drawing criticism or clashing with the source material.

Themes center on celebrity corruption, sexual abuse (Starlight's arc nods to Me Too but serves the plot), and fascist undertones in Homelander, but these are broad critiques of power rather than identity politics, systemic oppression lectures, or DEI-driven narratives. Creator Eric Kripke's 2019 interviews emphasize adapting the comic's satire on privatized heroism and media manipulation, with minimal emphasis on activism or inclusion mandates. Audience reception in 2019-2020 was overwhelmingly positive, praising its edginess and anti-MCU freshness, with scant 'woke' complaints reserved mostly for later seasons; any diversity or modern touches feel incidental and enhance the ensemble without compromising entertainment value.