Randall's arc centers on transracial adoption support groups, imagined childhood racial isolation, and direct confrontations with Kevin and Kate over racial insensitivities and Black Lives Matter protests following George Floyd's death, framing systemic barriers and white privilege as ongoing family conflicts. Kate explicitly admits discomfort discussing social justice with Randall, highlighting identity-based divides.

Tess's storyline introduces a romantic relationship with nonbinary partner Alex using they/them pronouns, with scenes depicting parental adjustment, pronoun practice, and acceptance as a focal point rather than incidental. Creator Dan Fogelman intentionally incorporated COVID-19, BLM, and racial themes into the narrative, leading to audience backlash labeling the season overly political, preachy, and disruptive to the core family story. These elements drive subplots and emotional beats without being the absolute premise, but their explicit activist framing and identity politics elevate the intrusion beyond organic storytelling.