The film centers a romantic and sexual connection between Mary Anning and Charlotte. This non-heteronormative bond serves as the primary driver of character development rather than a peripheral subplot.

The narrative disrupts Victorian hierarchies by centering female intellectual labor. Mary Anning is portrayed with significant agency, navigating a male-dominated scientific landscape and subverting traditional submissive tropes.

Reflecting the demographic homogeneity of 1840s England, the film lacks a diverse racial cast. It focuses instead on the 'otherness' of the working class within its period setting.

The film critiques 19th-century Western institutions, specifically rigid class and religious establishments. It frames social propriety as an oppressive force that barriers authentic human connection.

Themes of convalescence and emotional vulnerability are present throughout the drama. However, these elements are integrated into the broader romance rather than serving as specific disability-centric plot devices.