The Nevers, the new series from Joss Whedon, the creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but also the first to make a film about the Avengers, arrived on OCS a few weeks ago. Let's dive into Victorian London revisited, filled with mutants rejected by society, with a touch of fantasy. The Nevers is a mix of everything Joss Whedon can do, superheroines who fight dark forces. The Nevers is set in the late nineteenth century, in the last years of the reign of the British monarchy. After an unidentified flying object flies over London, women find themselves endowed with supernatural powers. From the gigantic maiden, through the mastery of electrical flows, vision of the future, and glossolalia, the powers are diverse. We are dealing with many women. 
Very quickly removed from society (let's still evoke the strong patriarchal values of this time, remember we are in the nineteenth century)… At that time, women who knew how to do great things were accused of witchcraft, or voodoo. These mutants, nicknamed "Nevers" because they should never have appeared, gather in an orphanage run by Amalia True (Laura Donnelly), a mixture of grace and brutality. She is assisted by her friend, Penance Adai (Ann Skelly), a genius who invents objects as extraordinary as them.
An impeccable cast à la Joss Whedon
To raise the series, nothing better than a pleasant and superb cast, mostly female, a specialty of Joss Whedon. In the lead, we will find Laura Donnely, and Ann Skelly, heroines of Outlander and Vikings. The first, will interpret Amalia True, the second, the surprising inventor, Penance Adair. They will have to face many enemies, men of power who see in their powers the Devil. This is reminiscent of the witch hunts carried out in the Middle Ages. But also to characters who look like them, and yet do not want that good, like Disease. The aesthetic of the series, between Victorian era and fantasy universe, is remarkably successful. The sets are quite realistic, the London of the nineteenth century is particularly remarkable. Even the apartments where the characters walk are faithful to reality. Mrs. Bidlow's mansion is the perfect example. The only problem, and not the least: the dialogues that will take the viewer out of the time. Some passages are anachronistic, which is still a shame, especially when we know that the costume designer has done a real job to be in tune with the times. Like Amalia True, whose costumes are in line with her time, dark dresses, and underwear in adequacy with the Puritan society of the time. This allows viewers to find themselves in the series close to reality, and not in a totally fanciful universe. 
The Nevers : Amalia True, the new Buffy?
For fans of comics, the comparison should not have escaped them. Amalia Turner's orphanage closely resembles Professor Xavier's (oddly enough, his big donor is also in a wheelchair). The orphanage is created to protect people with gifts, and even the way of shooting the scenes in the place, makes us see Professor Xavier's mansion. Let's hope that the resemblance remains only superficial and that it does not hinder the story of the series. The first episode is quite long. The dialogues are not very dynamic, even if sometimes a touch of humor raises everything. But, the effects and machines that surround the series allow to be a little amazed. Penance's inventions are little jewels. We can mention his electric car that fascinates and frightens Londoners. The series also wanted to pay tribute to John Whedon's old creations, such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Highlighting mainly female characters, who fight in all episodes, and who do pretty well to get by, does not remind you of this series? Amalia True's way of fighting is relatively close to that of Buffy Summers. Two strong women, who fight in all circumstances, often alone, against entities sometimes stronger than them, but who always get by. It's a nice tribute to the series that has been over since 2003. 
Exposure: A second episode full of potential
The second episode, entitled "Exposure", allows to put in place all the elements, which is reassuring for the rest of the series. This makes it possible to put aside politicians, their desires to capitalize on the "Affected", but also Disease, who was believed to be the big villain. However, the end of episode 2 reveals the true face of Lavinia Bidlow. But, we will have to wait a little longer to know these real intentions… In this second episode, the powers of the "Touched" are more deep. At first, these might seem trivial, but on closer inspection, who wouldn't want to speak 10 languages, create objects of all kinds, or blow up anything? Disease's behavior can be disturbing to some viewers. However, it participates in the character, and the atmosphere of the series. We are in the nineteenth century, a puritanical era, Disease contradicts this time. It represents everything society hates: sex, filth, madness. 
Ignition: A Splendid Third Episode
Episode 3 of The Nevers is a success, from beginning to end. We learn a lot more about the secondary characters, and their history. Like Lucy, who killed her infant unintentionally, because she didn't know she had power yet. Her power extends to break everything she touches, her baby did not survive it. The behavior of Horatio, the doctor of the orphanage, can be annoying, he lectures the heroine as if she was not old enough to make this decision, alone. Her character is both cute and infuriating. We can assume that this behavior is related to a past relationship between him and Amalie True. We can also finally observe what is hidden behind the masks of the great villains of the series, and it is not nice to see! Now we are waiting to find out their true intention. The episode is full of hope for the Touched, but everything is destroyed when Mary is killed, she and her voice that made people like her feel better. Is this the end of the peaceful life at the orphanage? The Nevers has a strong potential, which we hope, will be revealed in the next episodes. Some characters deserve to be highlighted, to learn more about their transformation or their life before. However, episode 4 will be available on the OCS platform on Monday and at Just Focus, we can't wait to see it, and you?
