FX’s A Christmas Carol takes a classic and infuses it with modern ideological themes. Some viewers may interpret changes to Scrooge’s backstory and the heavier social commentary, especially around issues of workplace abuse, gender, exploitation, and sexuality, as prioritizing ideology over classic storytelling. The tone is much grimmer than traditional tellings, which some may see as sacrificing the heart of Dickens for a lecture.

This adaptation is notably harsh on Victorian family and religious traditions, framing them as complicit or naive in societal evils. Masculinity, especially through Scrooge and his father, is depicted almost exclusively in toxic or abusive terms, while morality becomes a shifting concept judged by modern standards. The spirit of Christmas seems less about redemption and more about social critique.

Alternative or more traditional perspectives are almost entirely absent or villainized. The few ‘good’ characters fit the new moral framework, and dissenting or redeemable figures are rare. The story pushes a very contemporary message with little room for pluralism, resulting in a heavy-handed, top-down ideological delivery.