Impulse

The cast features a modern diverse lineup, including a black female deputy (Anna Hulce) and a prominent autistic friend (Townes). Most notably, a main character (Jenna Hope) goes through a lesbian coming-out arc, accompanied by other queer supporting characters. The presence of confirmed LGBTQ+ characters increases this score.

The show does not feature heavy political lectures or explicit activist dialogue about real-world politics. Most of the dialogue is personal and focused on the characters' emotional struggles, trauma, and relationships, though conversations about Jenna's sexuality and Henry's assault carry mild identity-focused themes.

The narrative leans heavily into identity themes. The main sci-fi premise is directly triggered by an attempted sexual assault, framing female trauma as the central focus of Henry's superpowers. Additionally, a major subplot across both seasons revolves around Jenna coming to terms with her lesbian identity, culminating in her being outed to her family. The prominent LGBTQ+ elements add significant weight here.

The series critiques local high school culture and small-town dynamics by framing the town's athletic star as an entitled abuser. It deals with toxic masculinity and the protection of male privilege in local hierarchies. It also depicts conventional family structures as dysfunctional, though it avoids overt critiques of broader Western institutions.

The show heavily departs from Steven Gould's original novel. It changes the main character and replaces the book's plot with a dark story centered on sexual assault and teen identity. While the overhaul is massive, it was done to create a fresh sci-fi drama rather than to fulfill a specific diversity mandate, though it does center on modern gender and identity themes.

The collective track record of the creative team is mostly neutral. Key figures like creator Jeffrey Lieber (27) and director Doug Liman (27) have neutral profiles. However, showrunner Lauren LeFranc (58) and writer Torrey Speer (60) have a stronger history of focusing on feminist, progressive, and LGBTQ+ representation.