Alien: Covenant puts story and genre thrills first, with casting and characterization focused more on narrative necessity than ticking identity boxes. There are some diverse cast members, but none of their characteristics are promoted at the expense of plot or coherence. No overpowered flawless heroes here, characters are ultimately flawed and quite vulnerable.

Traditional gender roles aren’t a main theme, but you don’t see classic family, religious, or masculine dynamics portrayed as backward or villainous. The closest the film gets to ‘subversion’ is in its female captain, but she is portrayed with genuine fallibility and isn’t presented as morally superior.

There’s no sweeping ideological monoculture on display. No characters stop to deliver social justice lectures, and nobody gets demonized simply for being ‘old-fashioned.’ The focus is squarely on the sci-fi horror premise, not pushing a modern worldview.