Asher Wolke) and Black and South Asian female doctors, which some viewers criticized as forced DEI reshuffling that prioritizes identity over merit in a hospital setting. Thematically, the season opens with a heavy COVID-19 frontline storyline in the first two episodes, perceived by some as pandemic propaganda before jumping to post-COVID, alongside episodes like 'Waiting' that depict political protests, Trump/Biden supporter clashes, and calls for unity across divides, seen as liberal lecturing.

Other installments, such as 'Irresponsible Salad Bar Practices' and 'Venga,' incorporate overt social justice dialogues on racism, sexism, ethics (e.g., abortion), and identity politics, with IMDb reviews decrying every scene as a 'social justice lesson' or 'cringy ham-fisted' messaging. Audience reception shows division, with Reddit threads, Steam forums, and X posts lamenting the shift to 'super liberal/woke' content starting in Season 4, race/gender focus disrupting the Shaun-Lea romance and medical focus, prompting some fans to quit. While not overwhelming the core autistic savant protagonist narrative, these elements significantly influence character introductions, subplots, and reception, aligning with mid-high progressive integration without creator-stated activist intent.