Casting remains faithful to the established characters with David Duchovny as Mulder, Gillian Anderson as Scully, and Mitch Pileggi as Skinner—no race-swapping, gender-swapping, or other alterations to core figures. New characters, such as a black trans woman in the comedic episode 'Mulder and Scully Meet the Were-Monster,' are incidental victims/witnesses in standalone plots, not focal points for identity politics or lectures on systemic oppression.

Themes touch lightly on contemporary issues like immigration, terrorism, and media conspiracies in a neutral-to-skeptical manner consistent with the franchise's lore, without activist framing, critiques of traditional norms, or centrality to the premise. Creator Chris Carter showed no stated intent for social justice messaging; in fact, the season faced criticism for lacking diversity in its all-male writing/directing team, prompting changes for Season 11. Reception focused on plot inconsistencies and rushed mythology rather than 'woke' complaints, with audiences appreciating the return to classic storytelling free from heavy-handed political intrusion.