The 2018 'Heathers' series features LGBTQ+ characters, including a gay antagonist and a genderqueer character. The show integrates these identities into its dark, satirical narrative, often linking them with villainy or presenting them through a critical lens without affirming dignity. The overall portrayal leans problematic, as identities are frequently sources of satire rather than positive representation.

The 2018 television series reimagines the character of Heather Duke, originally established as female, as a genderqueer character who identifies as male. This constitutes a clear instance of a gender swap for a major character.

The character Heather McNamara, originally portrayed as white in the 1988 film, is depicted by a Black actress in the 2018 television adaptation, constituting a race swap.

The series consistently portrays parental authority as undermined or absent, with teenagers operating autonomously and engaging in behaviors that normalize sexual freedom. Family units are generally depicted as dysfunctional or peripheral to the narrative.