The show sticks closely to traditional romantic drama elements with clear, relatable character development. Identity markers are not the focus, and characters earn their place in the story more through actions than ideology. Forced representation or one-note unflawed characters aren't a major presence here. Any nods to modern sensibilities are subdued and secondary to authentic storytelling.

Set in Joseon-era Korea, the series largely respects historical cultural values, centering on themes like marriage, harmony, and duty. While the female protagonist is bold by the standards of the era, the story doesn’t fundamentally attack family, religion, or tradition. Instead, it uses tradition as a backdrop and even celebrates aspects of it on multiple occasions.

Alternative values, traditions, and the importance of family are all given fair weight. There's little evidence here of the more modern moral uniformity or the demonization of traditionalism that plagues so many contemporary shows. Characters hold different worldviews, and there is actual debate and tension between perspectives.