However, it prominently introduces new characters Lou Kelly and her transgender boyfriend Reb Keane (born Rebecca, played by non-binary actor Zoe Terakes), whose relationship and gender-related plotlines—including Reb's HRT withdrawal, requests for sex reassignment surgery, conversion therapy backstory, and placement in the women's prison—form a recurring focal point across multiple episodes. These elements receive explicit modern framing around identity, medication access, and protection dynamics, shifting focus away from the core prison drama into identity-driven subplots that feel inserted rather than organic. The season further elevates these themes through queer actor casting choices and creator statements stressing representation of LGBTQ+ stories alongside 'diversity and inclusivity,' making the romance between Lou Kelly and Reb Keane a vehicle for specific arcs like surgery funding schemes and cult backstories.

This approach pairs with the addition of Judy Bryant as an activist Wikileaker and whistleblower who brings government confrontation and hunger strike elements into the narrative. Such choices prioritize ideological messaging over straightforward storytelling, resulting in a noticeable dilution of the series' established tension and character focus.