Ghosts

The cast is meticulously constructed to hit diverse demographic markers, including Native American, Black, and Asian-American representation. Storylines often focus on the grievances of marginalized groups, such as the displacement of the Lenape people and the struggles of a Black woman in the 1920s jazz scene. Characters are frequently defined by their relationship to systemic oppression.

Historical figures like the Revolutionary War officer and the Gilded Age matriarch are portrayed as deeply flawed, bigoted, or out of touch. Their traditional values are framed as obstacles to be overcome. The narrative often mocks the foundations of early American society while celebrating the dismantling of those ancestral legacies.

Female characters like Sam and Alberta are portrayed as assertive and highly competent, while male characters like Jay and Pete often fill the role of the 'bumbling' or submissive beta male. The show emphasizes female liberation from historical domesticity, specifically through Hetty’s journey of self-discovery outside of her marriage.

A central, multi-season plot arc involves a Revolutionary War hero coming out as gay and navigating a same-sex relationship. The show also features polyamory and bisexual themes through the character Flower. These elements are not just present but are treated as primary, celebrated plot points.

The series replaces traditional religious views of the afterlife with a secular, comedic system of 'getting sucked off' to a higher plane. Faith is largely absent, and spiritual progression is tied to resolving earthly psychological trauma and adopting modern moral standards rather than adherence to transcendent religious truths.