The film depicts Lord Darnley's homosexuality as a political liability and personal weakness, contributing to scandal and his eventual downfall. David Rizzio, his lover, meets a violent end, with their relationship serving as a catalyst for tragic events rather than being portrayed with dignity or affirmation. The narrative uses their identities as sources of conflict and misery without critique of the societal prejudice.

The film portrays several historical figures, including David Rizzio, Bess of Hardwick, and Lord Randolph, who were historically white, with actors of different racial backgrounds.

The film depicts Christianity, specifically the conflict between Catholicism and Protestantism, as a primary source of political manipulation, persecution, and societal division. Figures like John Knox use religious zealotry to justify misogyny and political oppression, while the broader religious conflict leads to immense suffering and tragedy for its adherents. The narrative critiques the destructive power of religious intolerance and fanaticism.