King Edward VI is recast as Black and gay, played by Jordan Peters, while Princess Bess is portrayed by Black actress Abbie Hern; these alterations directly invert documented Tudor lineage and personal histories to advance identity-focused casting. Jane Grey, played by Emily Bader, is rewritten as an empowered feminist protagonist who rejects arranged marriage, seizes control, and champions inclusion through anachronistic dialogue and modern swearing that underscore the deliberate departure from period constraints. The series further elevates progressive ideology by framing the Verity-Ethian conflict as an explicit allegory for queer identity and systemic oppression, with shapeshifting Ethians positioned as stand-ins for marginalized groups facing conversion therapy parallels and exclusion from power.

Showrunner Meredith Glynn has stated this metaphor targets queer people and other identity-based outsiders, making the persecution narrative foundational to the premise instead of a neutral fantasy device. These choices function as intrusive messaging that overrides entertainment priorities, substituting historical events and character arcs with contemporary political framing that feels forced and agenda-driven.