The film depicts Henri d'Anjou with implied homosexuality and effeminacy, consistently linking these traits to his decadence and political weakness within the morally ambiguous Valois court. This portrayal reinforces historical stereotypes of queer identity being associated with moral decay and contributes to a generally negative characterization without offering any affirming or counterbalancing perspectives.

The film portrays the royal family as a highly dysfunctional unit where traditional family values are entirely absent; marriage is a political tool, gender roles are subverted by a manipulative matriarch, parental authority is tyrannical, and sexual freedom is normalized, leading to widespread conflict and destruction.

The film portrays the Catholic establishment and the religious conflicts of 16th-century France as fundamentally oppressive, cruel, and hypocritical. It depicts the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre, orchestrated by Catholic leaders against Protestants (Huguenots), highlighting the devastating consequences of religious fanaticism and the political manipulation of faith.