Renegade Nell is a Disney+ original limited series set in England in the 1700s. Nell Jackson (Louisa Harland, of Derry Girls fame) returns to her hometown as a widow after spending much time on the frontlines of the war with her late husband. She is not the young woman her family once knew, though. Now aided by a mysterious, friendly sprite named Billy (Nick Mohammed) whenever she is in danger, she is quite literally untouchable, able to catch bullets out of the air and defeat any foe. When Nell is wrongfully accused of murder, she and Billy embark on a quest to clear her name and keep her family safe, accidentally making Renegade Nell the most feared outlaw in the country.
Renegade Nell is a show that really does have it all: magic, action, feminism, comedy, and emotional depth. Nell herself is courageous, unpolished, and instantly likable. She has a strong sense of justice, and follows her morals even as an outlaw, making her a very Robin Hood-esque figure. Throughout their quest to prove her innocence, she and Billy begin to think they were destined to meet, to bring about positive social change in England.
In addition to Nell and Billy, Renegade Nell has plenty of excellent supporting characters. Nell’s younger sisters, Roxy (Bo Bragason) and George (Florence Keen) are in awe of their sister’s power. Despite Nell’s protests, they join her on the road, determined to stay by her side as she seeks to clear her name. Rasselas (Enyi Okoronkwo), a slave of the household accusing Nell of murder, also joins the Jackson sisters’ band of outlaws. After witnessing the true murder for which Nell is framed, Rasselas vows to stand up for Nell when they reach a magistrate. Last but certainly not least to join Nell’s crew is fellow outlaw, Isambard Tulley, a.k.a. Charles Devereux (Frank Dillane), a former nobleman with no inheritance and plenty of witty comebacks. The group is an instant hit—their banter is entertaining, and their absolute loyalty to one another is heartwarming. It’s the found-family trope at its best.
Of course, with Nell being such a powerful force for good, she must face a very dangerous force of evil. Her accusers—the Blancheford siblings, Thomas and Sofia—enlist the ruthless Earl of Poynton (Adrian Lester) to track her down. Poynton is well-versed in the occult, and after ensnaring Thomas in his darkness, he begins to teach Sofia witchcraft. It makes for some very chilling scenes. Nell’s battle against this evil, though, is incredibly satisfying.
The music in Renegade Nell is exceptional. When Billy comes to strengthen Nell in the midst of a fight, viewers feel as if they, too, are as empowered as her because of the score. Similarly, when Poynton and the Blanchefords are up to their nefarious deeds, the overwhelming bass notes and eerie tone make viewers feel as though they are right in the ominous scene with the villains.
The costumes, too, are noteworthy. They are not just period pieces, as one would expect. Each character has a distinct look, with their hairstyle, makeup, and evolving outfit choices saying much about their interior world as the story progresses. Though this is something one would anticipate to be true of any movie or series costume, it is particularly noticeable in Renegade Nell. As she grows into her dark power, for example, Sofia goes from wearing simple black dresses with her hair tightly pulled back, to stylish black dresses with many buttons and her hair left down. Nell is certainly the most impressively-dressed character. She switches between plain dresses, elaborate gowns, breeches, and an army coat, all in the course of one episode—and she looks incredible in every one of them. Fingers crossed that we get to see some Nell cosplayers this convention season!
Renegade Nell is available now to stream on Disney+.
