Among Friends

The plot centers on privilege and systemic oppression as the primary drivers of conflict. New characters are defined by their immutable characteristics and placed into an intersectional hierarchy. The lone remaining original white male character is frequently depicted as a source of accidental microaggressions, requiring re-education by younger, diverse co-stars.

The season contains a continuous, subtle critique of the show’s original setting and the nation's past. Western institutions and traditional holidays are framed as fundamentally problematic and corrupt, being sources of familial stress and outdated values. The narrative deconstructs the heritage of the founding families in the town, finding them complicit in past injustices.

The primary female lead is an instantly perfect and unstoppable 'Girl Boss' with no discernible flaws or character arc outside of her professional advancement. Male characters are consistently emasculated; they are portrayed as emotionally stunted, incapable of handling domestic tasks, or toxic figures who only exist to be corrected by the women in their lives.

Alternative sexual and gender identities are centered in nearly every episode and treated as the most vital aspect of a character's existence. The season features a major arc dedicated to explaining complex gender theory and correct pronoun usage to a confused older character. The nuclear family structure is deconstructed and implicitly framed as an outdated, oppressive relic.

Organized religion, particularly Christianity, is presented as a source of childhood trauma and social repression. The show’s only overtly religious characters are either rigid, judgmental bigots or are undergoing a dramatic crisis of faith that culminates in them denouncing their ancestral beliefs in a climactic monologue.