The film adheres to strict 19th-century heteronormative social structures. No non-cisnormative identities or same-sex intimacy are depicted within the narrative.

The story centers on the intellectual agency of Holmes and Watson, reinforcing traditional masculine leadership. Mary Morsten acts as a plot catalyst, but her role remains defined by her status as an heiress.

Casting reflects a homogeneous European demographic consistent with Victorian London. While the plot involves colonial wealth, the film focuses on internal British class struggles rather than diverse casting.

The narrative operates within traditional detective logic and legalism. It depicts socioeconomic friction but does not overtly critique Western institutions or capitalism through a modern lens.

Jonathan Small is depicted with a wooden prosthesis, introducing a visible physical disability. However, this serves primarily as a plot device and a marker of his criminal history.