Dogs of Berlin largely avoids the usual pitfalls of sacrificing story for identity politics. While it includes diverse characters and touches on issues of race and crime in Berlin, these are woven into the crime narrative instead of dominating the story. Occasionally, choices feel a bit on-the-nose, but overall, character motivations and arcs remain grounded in the gritty world of law enforcement and organized crime.

The show doesn’t aggressively undermine traditional values, but it certainly puts many social issues under a harsh, unflattering spotlight. Masculinity, family dynamics, and culture are portrayed with complexity, sometimes falling into negative stereotypes, but not systematically ridiculing or rewriting them for modern sensibilities.

There’s a range of viewpoints in Dogs of Berlin, including traditional perspectives, flawed heroes, and various shades of villainy, nobody gets a free pass. While the script does lean into certain provocative themes, it doesn’t treat alternative worldviews as cartoonishly evil. Debates and cultural tensions feel real, rather than staged for ideological comfort.