Lily's storyline centers on her leading a violent uprising of abused women against men and patriarchal structures, framed explicitly as a response to gender oppression and imposed roles, with dialogue and actions highlighting monstrosity born from systemic unfairness. Dr. Jekyll is race-swapped from the traditional white British literary figure to a mixed-race Indian man, enabling overt exploration of racism, marginalization, and daily prejudice in Victorian London as a recurring theme.

Additional casting includes Native American representation via Wes Studi as Kaetenay and a female alienist (Patti LuPone as Dr. Seward). These choices introduce identity-based conflicts and critiques of traditional norms that extend beyond organic horror storytelling.

While the core premise remains supernatural literary horror and personal demons, the feminist revolution arc and racism subplot exert noticeable influence on narrative focus and character development, drawing targeted audience complaints about the heavy-handed feminist messaging. No creator statements emphasize activism, but the execution prioritizes these modern framings in multiple threads.