Renegade Nell 1×07 “Stop Printing This Muck” saw the beginning of a turning tide when it came to the legend of Nell. Because like we discussed in the previous review, everyone has this picture of who Nell is. They have their preconceived notions to the point where rag sheets are printing photos of her looking like a devil while singing a truly catchy song. But none of them know her. And it takes Nell confronting Euleria for this big time woman to believe Nell and the gang. Nell has already decided that she is the hero, something that takes longer to happen in media. It’s always the reluctant hero. Nell is not that. And after being possessed by Sofia, Euleria has come to see the hero that Nell is.
Part of this turning of the tide is a bigger understanding of what is happening in the world of Renegade Nell. Because up to this point I think the show has given us little tidbits of what’s happening in the bigger plot with the Earl of Poynton. But for the first time in the season I feel like everything’s finally clicking for me as a viewer. He wants power. As much as he says it’s for his king and so he can take away the Queen’s powerful position, it’s for him. That’s why Sofia was so angry when all the hard work that she had put in was just being taken away by another man. There’s especially ripe anger in her because she lied about who killed her father to protect her brother and to make sure no man had a hold over her fate. And then the Earl walks in like nothing and gets everything she want.
The juxtaposition between Nell’s journey and Sofia’s is one of my favorite parts of Renegade Nell. Because we’ve seen the power that they possess and the lengths that they’re willing to go to keep the power that has given them direction and purpose in their lives. Sure Sofia is the worst and Nell is dedicated to helping out those less fortunate. But both have found a way to not be under the foot of a man for control of their lives. And as a viewer who has been begging for dynamic women with developed storylines, this feels like a win. Because everything that’s happening to these two women isn’t about the men. It’s about their power and what they decide to do with it. No one will pin them down or take away this freedom again. And it’s so interesting to see the different shades of freedom and what it means to vastly different people.
Freedom’s also something that I think Renegade Nell 1×07 gave Polly. We’ve only had her for 2.5 seconds and like I said in my previous episode review, I love her. She’s weird and funny but so driven. She is the heroine of her own story and I just had this gut feeling that she would fit in with the group. She did. And by the end of “Stop Printing This Muck” she had a paying new job and an opportunity to become the kind of woman that she’s always looked up to. And that little tidbit just delights me because Polly has been living in fantasies of what freedom could mean. But here is her freedom built on her own hands and the way that she sees the world through her writing. That’s empowerment and freedom.
That’s not to say that I loved everything about this episode. I do love George, through and through. But I had a really big problem with how Eularia was de-possessed. George started singing a song about Nell and then Sofia’s connection was lost. And I seriously don’t get it. Is there something that I missed? Because I understand the power of the legend of Nell. But I thought it was just gossip and not that the song had actual power. And the show hasn’t hinted at something like that being possible. I thought it was just regular old gossip like that happens all over the world. But there was something magical about that song or maybe something magical about George. The latter which would be great because then that means the whole family has magical abilities.
As the penultimate episode, and the season 1 finale are almost here, it’s kind of bittersweet to know that this is the end of season 1 of Renegade Nell. It’s been an absolute delight to watch this found family and family come together. But also I’ve enjoyed seeing these vastly different portrayals of the multitudes that women hold within themselves. There is no one definition of who we are and this show understands that and uplifts that in an unapologetic manner. That’s why I think, or no, that the Earl of Poynton isn’t going to win this. And it’s not just because the hero usually wins. I think she’s going to win because of the family that she has behind her and the fact that Sofia is pissed and definitely coming for him too.
Renegade Nell season 1 is available now on Disney+.
Before you go, please check out my reviews for 1×01, 1×02, 1×03, 1×04, 1×05, and 1×06.
I think George’s song broke Sofia’s connection because it reminded Sofia that she’s attacking people and hurting them. Rasselas says that Sofia is a good and caring person, who used to protect him from Thomas and save the animals that Thomas hurt, this was just George reminding her she does have a heart.