Casting features the original white male lead David Duchovny as Mulder and white female lead Gillian Anderson as Scully, established from Season 1 without any race, gender, or sexuality alterations. Themes revolve around alien abductions, monsters-of-the-week like the Flukeman, and mythology arcs such as Scully's abduction, devoid of identity politics, DEI mandates, systemic oppression narratives, or critiques of traditional norms.

Episodes like 'Excelsis Dei' touch on elder abuse in a supernatural context but frame it as horror rather than social justice activism. Creator Chris Carter's intent focused on suspense and mystery, not contemporary activism.

Modern retrospective criticisms highlight 'problematic' elements like dated consent portrayals in the abduction storyline, but these reflect era-typical content, not embedded progressive messaging. Audience reception celebrates the season's entertainment value without 'woke' backlash, confirming its neutral, apolitical appeal rooted in pure genre thrills.