The film lacks any presence of non-heteronormative identities or same-sex intimacy. The focus remains on the platonic, professional bond between Holmes and Watson.

Female characters function primarily as victims or peripheral supporting figures. The narrative reinforces mid-20th-century tropes by prioritizing male-driven intellectual and physical leadership.

The casting is largely homogeneous and Anglo-Saxon. No characters of color are featured in roles of agency, reflecting the demographic constraints of 1940s genre cinema.

The story adheres to traditional Western institutional norms and respects established authority. It functions as a reinforcement of social order and classical morality.

There is no meaningful portrayal of neurodivergence or physical disability. Characters with impairments lack central agency within the plot.