"Oxen" puts emphasis on diverse casting and modern identity themes, but generally maintains believable character arcs. The focus on the protagonist’s trauma and military background is authentic, though there is a slight sense that representation was a consideration when creating several supporting roles. The balance is better than many contemporary shows, but some narrative moments do feel created to tick modern boxes.

The series critiques certain masculine archetypes, showing the military and authority figures with a critical eye. Religion and family are not majorly disparaged, but traditional values are depicted as flawed or complicit in societal problems. Still, it avoids outright hostility toward cultural traditions, which keeps it from scoring higher on the ‘woke’ scale.

While dissenting viewpoints make brief appearances, the main thrust is persistently aligned with modern social assumptions. Traditional perspectives tend to be embodied by antagonists, lacking nuance or complexity, but there are moments when alternative worldviews are given some room, though not enough to feel truly balanced.