While "Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom" features some emphasis on diverse casting and operates in a fantasy comic book world, the focus remains mostly on classic adventure tropes. The story primarily centers around Arthur Curry and traditional hero’s journey elements, though there are callbacks to modern identity themes that feel wedged in at times.

The film sprinkles in critiques of masculinity, particularly through its depiction of Arthur’s struggles as a father and king, occasionally poking fun at traditional roles. However, it avoids heavy-handed attacks on family or tradition, keeping its approach more palatable than many recent blockbusters.

There’s a mix of perspectives, with both traditional and modern viewpoints represented, though the film steers clear of showing dissenters or traditional types as outright villains. Ideological debates are light, making it less didactic than other contemporary superhero entries.