I feel like Nell’s heart was literally ripped out in Renegade Nell 1×08 “Not Some Cheap Trick.” Because no matter how much I go back to different parts of this episode, the one that hits me the strongest is Nell’s reaction to Billy going into that idiot. Remember earlier in the season when Nell felt Billy for the first time? He went into her and the cinematography was stunning as they showed the hair on her arm standing up, her pupils dilating, etc. as a representation of the rush of power coming over her. Nell has accepted that she and Billy are one. There is no divide where he ends and she starts. And they decided to right the wrongs of this world together. But in the final episode of season 1, the way to right this particular wrong was by saving the idiot and tearing their bond apart.
So when Nell is screaming right before the Earl of Poynton enters the room, I want you to understand that she felt Billy being ripped out of her and going into the idiot. And this pain, they chose it. Nell took the first steps and told Billy that he had to go into the idiot. But they both agreed in the end because it was the right thing to do. The only bit of hope that I have that everything is going to be okay is the fact that in the final moments of Nell going back to Tottenham with her family is that there was a bright and glowing orb following them. I hope against hope that it’s Billy and he did find his way back to her. Because we don’t know how all of this works or why he was sent to her. And a bond like that can’t be torn and forgotten forever that easily. They will find their way back to each other. I have to hold on to that belief.
If there’s any episode that proves that Nell is the kind of hero who deserves a happy ending, it’s this one. She chose to experience pain to save others, to take down Poynton, and to save the queen. And when the queen asked her what she wanted, she decided to go home. She was done with fighting. Yes, there is the fact that she no longer has Billy within her so she wouldn’t be able to fight these grand battles the Queen wants. But I don’t think Nell would want to anyway. Because of the battles that she was fighting, she wasn’t alone while doing it. Billy was with her. And if he’s not there, what’s the point of it all? Instead, Nell got to go home to her father’s pub and hopefully spend some blissfully peaceful time together with her sisters and Amadin.
I’m also immensely proud of how Nell dealt with Sodia and her idiot brother. I’ve felt for Sofia throughout season 1. Like Nell, she was a woman in a difficult position trying to survive any way that she could. But while Nell chose light, Sofia chose darkness. Even when Nell gave up the most important thing in her life to save Sofia’s brother, Sofia couldn’t even come up with a convincing “please.” Nell did not have to give Sofia grace. But she did by letting Sofia and her brother go. Sofia can threaten Nell all she wants because Nell will meet her toe to toe. She’s tired of running and she wants Sofia to know that even with no powers, she’ll deck Sofia in a heartbeat. It goes to show you that sometimes you don’t have to turn the other cheek. Instead, you serve up the kind of revenge that they served up to you and that was caused by their own hand. Sofia and her brother’s actions led Nell and hers to a life of being on the run. Now it’s their turn and I don’t feel bad for them.
A standout performance of Renegade Nell 1×08 was everything that happened with Amadin. We’ve been getting a little drops of his storyline throughout season 1, enough to prove that you can develop supporting characters without taking away from the lead. And in “Not Some Cheap Trick” he got to learn his real name. He learned the true cruelty of the people he grew up with. But he also learned that he is not alone and that the family that he chose chooses him back two, three, four times over. Amadin is not alone and he never will be. They’re stuck with him as much as he is stuck with them. That’s why that hug at the end was so important. It was effortless as if he always belonged with them and they accepted him with open arms as the family he is.
“Not Some Cheap Trick” even made me like Devereux a little bit more. I’ve ignored what he’s been going through the last couple of episodes because I kind of had written him off as a coward. But when push came to shove, the one doing the shoving being the Earl of Poynton, Devereux stuck around. And it goes to show you that one of the greatest strengths of Renegade Nell is that every supporting character surprises you with the amount of development that they get. It’s not going to come at the pace that you probably want. But the development is there. And by the end of it, Devereux puts his life directly in the line of fire to help save the day and ends up working in the Queen’s court, which will be advantageous for future seasons.
Because we’re going to get future seasons right? There’s no way that such a lovely, well-written, creative show like Renegade Nell doesn’t get a second season. I have some hope because this is originally not a Disney+ series. But with everything being canceled left and right after one season, it’s hard to believe. That’s why you should recommend this show to friends and family. Get people talking about Renegade Nell any way you can. Because this is only the beginning of Renegade Nell’s journey. There are still secrets to uncover about Roxy’s powers or about Amadin’s past. There’s also the fact that I need that reunion between Nell and Billy. I need it all. Because Renegade Nell season 1 is the fresh bit of air that I desperately have been wanting for years. And if the TV-making industry knows what’s good for them, they’ll hold on to this gem and give us another season.
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, 1×06 and 1×07.
