Domina

The series is explicitly built around feminist themes, showcasing female characters subverting the male-dominated power structures of Rome. Because the show features a confirmed, explicit LGBTQ+ storyline—focusing on Marcellus’s exclusive homosexuality and his sexual relationship with his male slave - added heavier scoring.

The show presents a sharp critique of traditional Roman society, focusing heavily on toxic masculinity, patriarchal control, and the systemic oppression of women and slaves. Male characters are frequently portrayed as power-obsessed, violent, or weak, while traditional family structures and marriage are depicted as inherently flawed tools of male dominance.

The series makes major changes to historical figures for thematic purposes. Marcellus is fictionalized as a purely gay man who cannot bed his wife, a change made to introduce queer representation. Livia is also rewritten as a secret Republican trying to restore democracy, reframing a ruthless historical figure into a modern-style political activist.

Some history enthusiasts and conservative viewers complained about the show's historical inaccuracies, modern feminist tone, and the injection of 21st-century values. However, overall public backlash was relatively quiet compared to major network releases, with much of the online noise actually belonging to an unrelated video game of the same name.

While creator Simon Burke has a neutral profile, lead director Claire McCarthy is known for feminist storytelling. Additionally, executive producers like Patrick Spence and Lucy Bedford have a documented history of supporting diversity-driven and feminist projects, resulting in a moderate overall creative track record score.