Thing is though, what A&E might say the theme of the show is, is not how you interpret the show. (using you as a general term not a personal one)
And that’s the biggest cop out they could take, TBH.
Authorial voice is important. In our post modern world it is not the end all be all of interpretation, but it is there. The author still has a voice, but I am allowed to disagree with his voice and provide my own, thus making up everything that is “text.” But if A and E want to say that they have no voice and that it’s all interpretation then they’ve given away their own agency for the text they created and that’s…crap.
This video is a really great example of authorial intent in another show and how the author still has a voice, even if we disagree with it.