The deliberate CW diversity push is evident in the black West family (Joe, Iris, Wally) alongside Latino Cisco, making non-white characters central to the team dynamics and family arcs. While the core superhero action and Thinker villain plot dominate, Iris's expanded role and empowerment moments influence character arcs and dialogue, drawing significant audience backlash for poor writing, spotlight-stealing, and forced SJW vibes, with Quora and Reddit threads labeling the season an SJW fest. Creator intent from earlier seasons emphasizes inclusion, carrying into S4 without overt systemic critiques but with elements that prioritize identity representation over seamless storytelling, contributing to the season's reputation as one of the weakest.