Black Summer primarily focuses on survival and chaos rather than pushing overt identity politics. Characters are diverse, but their backgrounds and identity play little role in the narrative. There is no clear agenda forcing representation for its own sake, and almost everyone is equally vulnerable. While there is diversity, it's not intrusive or unrealistic in the context of an apocalypse story.

The show sidesteps most cultural commentary, focusing on individual survival. Traditional themes like family, sacrifice, and responsibility are present, particularly through the main character's drive to find her daughter. Masculinity and femininity are not really lampooned or subverted, and the story doesn’t critique religion or tradition.

Black Summer mostly avoids heavy-handed ideology. There are no caricatured 'bigot' villains, nor is there a parade of lectures about modern social issues. Different worldviews emerge in desperate circumstances, but the show refrains from picking moral favorites, everyone’s just trying to survive.