In our view, 'World on Fire' frequently foregrounds modern identity themes over World War II narrative realism. Key plotlines focus on contemporary issues of race, sexuality, and intersectionality, sometimes stretching historical plausibility. Representation occasionally comes across as more prioritized than integrating nuanced character development, which for some viewers can disrupt immersion in the period setting.

The show often reframes traditional values, such as patriotism, typically masculine heroism, and religious conviction, through a critique-heavy lens. Masculinity is commonly problematized and familial or national loyalties are depicted as barriers to 'progress.' Traditional cultural touchstones from the era are reinterpreted through a noticeably modern lens, which appears to diminish their original meaning.

Alternative worldviews, especially those aligned with the values of 1940s Britain, are largely portrayed as misguided, villainous, or naïve. Most characters converge around present-day moral assumptions with limited, if any, internal disagreement. The show seldom offers a sincere or positive portrayal of dissenting, more traditional perspectives.