Like preceding Erimem adventures The Church and the Crown and The Council of Nicaea, it was a so-called "pure historical": a story featuring no science fictional elements outside of the Doctor's TARDIS. Also in common with several other Erimem stories, Dragon contained an element of tension over whether Erimem would be departing. In this case, listeners heard the story of Erimem's first engagement, presaging her eventual royal matrimonial departure in The Bride of Peladon.