Welcome to the good, the bad, and the ugly of Netflix’s Cursed! We break down what we loved, what set our hearts racing, and what we wish we could return and never see again in this hybrid season one review. So, stay for us falling for Nimue and hating Iris at the same time. *narrows eyes* We definitely have some feelings about Iris.
The Good – Katherine Langford’s Everything
A majority of the reason why I love Cursed is because of Katherine Langford. In the beginning, I’m not going to lie, I was hesitant in the very beginning. She was the girl from 13 Reasons Why and I couldn’t unsee that character or her journey when I looked at Langford. Ultimately, I’m glad I gave her a chance because she is Nimue to me when I look at her now. No 13 Reasons Why in sight for me!
Langford’s Nimue was fierce, loyal, and slowly but surely finding her place in the world of Cursed. She was also commanding, kind, and one of the best people you can have at your side when you need someone who treats everyone with respect. All of these qualities came together and formed a person you cheered for and who you wanted to win when facing the Red Paladins.
On a special side note, I wanted to talk about Nimue not being stick thin. Usually when you have shows like this, the protagonist or female lead is stick thin and not entirely relatable. That’s not the case with Langford. She actually looks like she has meat on her bones and the ability to take down bad guys. And for that, I appreciate Langford even more as Nimue.
Finally, Nimue’s relationship with Arthur (Devon Terrell) was *chefs kiss.* Yes, it was a bit messy in the beginning. They were just starting to get to know each other and Arthur had his “honor” to get back. But slowly but surely, these two came to trust each other. They complimented each other’s skills and it wasn’t just him saving her because he’s the man. She did the saving too! That is why I ship them so hard and can’t wait to see what happens in season 2!
The Bad – The Red Paladins
The Red Paladins made me mad every single time they appeared on screen. It’s that type of prejudice, that type of anger, that sours the world. It’s actual poison that turns communities against each other and makes us worse off at the end of the day. And it really did just that in the world of Cursed, especially because of the Red Paladins and their mission to cleanse the world of things and people they simply didn’t understand or give the opportunity to understand in the first place. Which, the fae are a complicated and beautiful looking group of individuals. Get to know them before judging them!
Also, did anyone ask for the Red Paladins to come galloping into lands unknown to destroy the way of living for peaceful fae folk? No. No one did. And yet, there they were, acting like they were on some holy mission from God when it was an old mean wisp of a man who didn’t like the fae or what they stood for in the eyes of God, according to him and him alone. The Pope’s poison is what drove the Red Paladins to destroy entire communities, their traditions, and their legacies. It’s also what drove them to brand their heads and wear those silly looking robes that would never be as clean as Cursed made them out to be.
This poison that the Pope spread far and wide is also a reminder of the cruelty of Christianity during the Crusades or when they invaded the Americas. Yes, I said invaded. Every time they tried to force others to either take in God, Jesus, and the whole shebang or suffer the wrath of a vengeful God. And I’m talking real life here, not Cursed. This isn’t the first time the cruelty of Christianity is put front and center and it won’t be the last. But the fact remains that I’m tired of it and it’s a reminder that some people still have cruelty like this in their hearts and would flip on their neighbor at the drop of a dime just because they’re different.
And that’s on periodt.
The Ugly – Iris
Iris. Seriously, just her. And maybe a little bit the messed up way that Cursed made Daniel Sharman LESS ATTRACTIVE. That should be a crime in itself. Especially with the hair and the makeup making him look like an emo version of himself who stayed in his moms basement without showering. Ughhhh. But back to Iris. She was the ugly of this series and I’m still pissed that she “killed” Nimue and joined the church as one of those gold faced weirdos.
From the very first moment that she appeared on my screen, I knew she was going to be a troublemaker. She was too straight-laced and uptight. And she was hella watchfull. There’s something about characters that have these personality traits that screams, “WATCH OUT! I’M GONNA MAKE YOU HATE ME!” And oh did we hate Iris to the moon and back.
We hated how she survived everything that came her way. We hated how she used her innocent looks to infiltrate the fae compound. We hated how she manipulated those around her, trying anything she could to get close to Nimue. And for what? So, she could join the church as a Red Paladin? They were never going to accept her and I doubt the doubt at her abilities will stop here.
Despite all this hate I have for the character, I’ve got to admire the actress who played her. Emily Coates absolutely killed it as Iris. She sold the role from day one and for that, I admire her talent and dedication. It takes a lot to play a character like Iris and she must’ve been challenged left and right to create a character that everyone hates. I can reluctantly say that I’m looking forward to more of her when Cursed returns for season 2.
Cursed season 1 is available on Netflix.
How about instead of the good, the bad and the ugly let’s just call it what it is… the bad and the ugly. No matter how much gold paint you slap on a turd, at the end of the day it’s still a turd and this show aims it up perfectly. Anyone coming to see this show hoping for a heroine in shining armor instead be prepared for a fool in tinfoil.