Renegade Nell is a unicorn of a show that managed to make me fall in love with the lead, storytelling, supporting characters, and the magic of it all in one episode. And I call it a rare unicorn because I feel like Hollywood in general has been mucking about and not delivering quality content. That’s to say if a show makes it past season 1. Most of the time they don’t. It makes it hard to invest in new journeys. But Nell Jackson’s story, that’s something I want to know everything about. I want to know who she was married to before this episode, how he came to die, and what her childhood was like. But until I get some of that, let’s talk about why I fell in love with this show in Renegade Nell 1×01 “Don’t Call Me Nelly.”
As a character, I feel like Nell is utterly refreshing. She’s not the young teenage hero we’ve come to expect. She was married, lost her husband, and is returning to the home that she spurned before leaving. She’s got a history behind her and the show manages to show me in only a couple of minutes in the opening what kind of woman she is. She’s not afraid of traveling alone, wearing men’s clothing, or running with this powerful rush of a feeling that comes to her when she receives Billy’s powers. The fact that she isn’t a kid makes her more relatable. No longer do the young heroines pique my interest. I want more mature heroines who are not in control of their mouth or temper, but have a golden heart that will step up when family need them.
Nell’s family is another surprisingly strong part of Renegade Nell. Often enough, the younger siblings in shows like this bring everything down. They aren’t self-sufficient and are there just to be barriers for the lead to get what they have to get done. In this show, her siblings aren’t a barrier. They’re helpful, sweet, and are fleshed out in really smart ways that I think more shows should take advantage of. I particularly remember this one moment when the douche came to the tavern and Roxy heard him. The way that she shrunk in that moment to be so much about what she has endured. Or another moment like when George came to check up on Nell. It speaks of a girl who thinks that Nell lit up the sky and she’s worried about her.
Everything surrounding these core 3 feels like it has a purpose in Renegade Nell 1×01. There are no moments to waste time. There’s intention behind the beautiful music, the sweeping shots, and the terror and power that is slowly starting to peek its head in the show. And it all makes me intrigued. It makes me want to know more about how magic works in this world, who this evil dude is with a snake ring that seemingly moves, and where Billy came from. Which, I loved the cinematography in Renegade Nell “Don’t Call Me Nelly” when Billy reminds her of who he is when he first introduces himself to her. When he combined his powers with her, I loved how the camera took a couple of brief but essential seconds to paint a picture of what the sensation felt like with the way that the hairs on her arm were rising or how her pupils dilated. It was smart and efficient storytelling.
This episode also made me heartbreakingly sad. We only got to see Nell’s dad for a short time. But just like the sisters, there is a wealth of information that I got from such a short period of time. And the way that Nell and her father bonded spoke of enduring love that I think will guide the rest of the story. Because no matter what separated these two, he obviously raised his children with copious amounts of love and an understanding that if something happens, family will be there. And if there’s anything that I’m a sucker for, it’s family and people who step up. People who do the right thing. Combine all of this together and I feel a sense that everything’s going to be okay. And yes, I believe that even after the false accusations of murder. The show has the workings of greatness.
Before I end this review for Renegade Nell 1×01, we have to talk about the action scenes. I’m going to go on a research spiral on Google to try to figure out who was in charge of the choreography of those scenes because they were immaculate. I can’t stop thinking about how she basically slapped away a bullet like nothing before taking the rest of that gang out. Or later on when she caught a bullet. It just felt smooth, like it was working hand in hand with the camera in a way that felt invigorating to the audience, and like it matched the actress’s vision of who this character was and what a woman like her would be capable of. I also feel like later on in these reviews I might get into more technical points or storylines. But for now, I’m just kind of cautiously excited for something new and something that feels like a cozy fantasy book come to life.
Renegade Nell season 1 is available now on Disney+.
