The Nevers Review: Exposure (Season 1 Episode 2)
It’s hard not to walk away from The Nevers Season 1 Episode 2, “Exposure,” and not feel like you’ve experienced one of Amalia’s visions. The series continues to unspool its universe small glimpses, not giving away the story, but providing enough intrigue to keep us riveted.
After reviewing The Nevers Season 1 Episode 1, “Pilot,” last week, it occurred to me that this show bears a striking resemblance to The 4400.
That series follows abductees who were returned in a ball of light to a lake outside Seattle. At its core were two agents from the National Threat Assessment Command (NTAC) agents as they attempted to identify the returnees and figure out why they were returned.
The Nevers has a similar feel to it, in that we don’t know why the Touched are here or what their purpose is. The two episodes have done a great job at setting the stage as to who is trying to figure it out.
When “Exposure” starts, we are introduced to another member of the Touched, Beth Cassini, and while it first looked like we may be setting up a “monster-of-the-week” style structure where we’d find new members of the Touched each week, The Nevers quickly subverts that notion. Beth does not join the ranks of the orphanage but instead falls victim to a Doctor attempting to find the cause of the Touched.
It’s a terrifying notion, but it makes all the more sense once we find out that Lavinia Bidlow is connected. The Nevers is laying a heavy veil over Lavinia’s motivations for helping the Touched, and right now it’s working. The question we have is, is she a villain or a ally?
Given her conversations with her brother, I suspect that she may be experiencing some jealousy. We are too early into The Nevers Season 1 to truly know any of these characters yet, but Olivia Williams has delivered a stunning performance. Her tempered delivery has given us just a glimpse as to what Lavinia’s life is like without needing to say too much more.
As the pieces start to fall together, I am starting to think that she may feel left out. Further episodes will probably illuminate this further, but I get the sense that this being somewhat personal for her.
The ball scene itself is an interesting turn. The way that Lavinia turns the Touched from something to be feared to something of amusement feels like a very Victorian sentiment, even if it doesn’t sit right with our modern sensibilities.
When we see Lavinia putting on balls during the episode and later stating that there is an oncoming war, feels dichotomous. This should lead to something deeper that hopefully cuts to the bone.
While we may be getting a better look at the big picture we also go a glimpse at that Amalia knows. Amalia True is cloaked in mystery but she almost lets the identity of Mary’s turn slip. At this moment, we know that Amalia knows much more, now the question is when she’ll tell everyone else.
Her encounter with Maladie is even more interesting. It feels a little early to put Amalia in a position where she has to choose between two people, but she finds a clever, though reckless, way out. The banter between Laura Donnelly and Amy Manson is captivating, and the way she taunts Amalia gives us a promising look at what’s to come.
It’s hard to connect with Amalia, in part because of how guarded she is. Maladie feels like the character who is trying to drop nugget after nugget of information to the audience, but if Amalia is supposed to be our protagonist, there is only so far the story can go until we absolutely need to trust her.
In two episodes, The Nevers has given us an intriguing story to follow, but it’s going to have to start focusing on its ensemble more if it wants to maintain the intrigue.
Stray Thoughts:
- The idea of a prostitute that makes her clients spill their guts to her but forgets their names is an interesting one but feels somewhat useless in the grand scheme of things.
- So, did Amalia know Maladie was Sarah? Or did she just find that out?
- I am waiting for some Schitt’s Creek crossover memes to come out in the realm of “the crows have eyes,” after August watched Penance drive away.
- Adding in a personal bit about how Mary stood a guy up at the altar was an interesting detail.
- I have to hand it to Anna Devlin as Primrose. The effects used on this episode must have been a challenge.
What did you think of this episode of The Nevers? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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The Nevers airs Sundays at 9/8c on HBO and HBO Max.
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Lauren Busser
Lauren Busser is an Associate Editor at Tell-Tale TV. She is a writer of fiction and nonfiction whose work has appeared in Bitch Media, Popshot Quarterly, Brain Mill Press Voices, and The Hartford Courant.
One thought on “The Nevers Review: Exposure (Season 1 Episode 2)”
The Never is extremely like the 4400. Episode 6 just tops the cake with the similarities. It’s so similar it’s almost a rip off but different enough that you aren’t left bored if you were a 4400 fan.
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