Creator Adrian Hodges and the actor explicitly framed this as a homage to Alexandre Dumas père's Black Haitian grandfather, General Alexandre Dumas, with Charles preparing via 'The Black Count' and the show incorporating Porthos' African maternal heritage, Court of Miracles upbringing, and family revelations into Season 2 Episode 8 ('The Prodigal Father'). Additional plot elements include Porthos confronting a slave trader in one episode and broader storylines touching interracial dynamics and slavery.

This intentional change to a core canon character, combined with creator statements prioritizing the homage and resulting audience criticism labeling it political correctness over accuracy, establishes a clear progressive ideological signal in casting and character development. The core premise remains classic swashbuckling adventure across the ten episodes (rescues, royal protection, treason plots, eclipses, political marriages), with no evidence of gender-swaps, prominent LGBTQ+ arcs, or overt modern lectures on systemic oppression as the narrative driver. The race-focused elements elevate the score above the minimum floor but do not dominate the season's entertainment-focused storytelling.