The Nevers Review: Pilot (Season 1 Episode 1)

The Nevers Season 1 Episode 1, “Pilot,” delivers an enthralling world that engages its audience with intrigue and madness. 

To check my own biases here, I am a sucker for gothic fiction, and The Nevers has a lot of Gothic vibes to it. There is also a lot of focus on the female body and the feminine ability. 

In some ways, it feels appropriate to have a Victorian story arrive on our screens this year. In our reality, so much is demanded of women that getting a chance to see a bunch of them subvert societal expectations of the period feels like the exact story we need on our screen right now. 

The story gives us dynamic heroines in the form of Amalia True (Laura Donnelly) and Penance Adair (Ann Skelly). This relationship feels like the true north of the series that should serve as the guiding light. They are surrounded by a colorful cast of characters that seem poised to take on the world. That is, if the dialogue set up by the big bad of the season is any indication. 

Amalia True is an interesting character herself, her powers are briefly explained on this episode, but the way it works hasn’t quite been quantified. It will be interesting to see where the series takes her. Plus, that bit about Amalia’s face not being her own leaves a lot open in terms of mystery.

Likewise, Penance feels like a character perfectly suited to the 21st Century. At a time where characters like Ada Lovelace, Hedy Lamarr, and Katharine Johnson are being put back into S.T.E.M, narratives, giving viewers a characters whose ability is manipulating electricity is a smart move. 

Aside from introducing us to a dynamic duo of heroines, The Nevers also delivers villains that both terrify and inspire us. While there are some men clearly threatened by The Touched, it is the female character Maladie (Amy Manson) who inspires much more interest.

Maladie is the embodiment of the madwoman. Manson’s performance is chaotic in some of the best ways possible. She gives us a character who is ripe for misunderstanding. The final moment at the end where we see her witness the ship overhead is the perfect frame to leave us on. While Maladie might be mad, she’s got more more pieces of the story than anyone else at the moment. 

The Nevers has a lot of potential. It has an interesting storyline, a lot of talk that can easily translate into the world. It gives us heroines that are complicated and complex, and embody roles that defy gender norms. They live in a world where impossible things are starting to become possible and where they’ve found a version of found family.

The series is ripe with relevant and important discussions to be had, and has a world that is easy to get immersed into. As far as the first episode goes, it has done its job. I am interested in learning more, but I will be even more excited once I’ve been able to make some real connections with these characters. 

Stray Thoughts:

• I am literally just waiting for this to turn into a witch narrative.
• Amalia jumping down a staircase and ending up in just her petticoats is one of the BAMF-est scenes I’ve seen in a while. 
• I hate to say this, but I keep thinking one of these characters is going to die in a few episodes and I really want to be wrong. 

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 streams on HBO Max.

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