Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin places heavy emphasis on identity-driven casting and social issues. Many characters are defined primarily by their race, sexuality, or gender, rather than compelling personal arcs. Diverse characters are often portrayed as nearly faultless, which can undermine tension and organic development. This approach can make the ideological messaging more important than authentic storytelling.

The show repeatedly critiques or subverts traditional values like family, religion, or masculinity, often positioning them as sources of trauma or backwardness. Characters who embrace these values are regularly sidelined or depicted in a negative light, while the narrative celebrates rebellion against norms as virtuous and necessary.

Alternative or more traditional viewpoints are largely absent or reduced to overtly villainous caricatures. There's minimal nuanced exploration of dissent; instead, the story promotes a very uniform set of modern ideological perspectives, with little internal debate among the main characters.