Banacek, starring George Peppard, keeps narrative front and center, with character depth and plot intrigue prioritized over identity politics. No obvious shoehorning of diversity or ideology into casting; the focus is on clever mysteries and sharp dialogue. This is pretty much the opposite of forced representation, character development and story come first.

The show reflects early-'70s American norms, portraying masculinity, traditional roles, and family without irony or mockery. Banacek himself is confident, resourceful, and thoroughly masculine. There’s little interest in critiquing religion or tradition, and the series doesn’t problematize old-school values, quite the opposite.

Banacek rarely, if ever, mocks or villainizes traditional viewpoints and steers clear of modern ideological messaging. Characters hold varying perspectives typical of the era, but there’s no heavy-handed moralizing or homogenized groupthink.