The film focuses on political intrigue and supernatural mysteries within a Tang Dynasty setting. There is no prominent depiction of non-cisnormative identities or narratives that explicitly critique heteronormativity.

Empress Wu Zetian serves as a central pillar of power, demonstrating intellectual and political dominance. This positioning challenges patriarchal structures and subverts the trope of the submissive female figure.

The predominantly East Asian cast provides a culturally authentic foundation for the setting. It centers an Eastern perspective, offering a nuanced look at non-Western social structures and power dynamics.

The narrative critiques centralized authority by framing the imperial court as a site of conspiracy. It uses a postmodern lens to question how power maintains control through manufactured truths.

Physical transformations and supernatural masks drive the plot, but they function as tools for spectacle. Characters with unique physicalities lack the agency required for a nuanced exploration of disability.