#hbo the nevers

[utterrandomnesswithlulu]

Midnight Binge: The Nevers (Mid-Season Final)

Beautifully crafted, witty, magical, and filled with secrets, The Nevers, an HBO show created by Joss Whedon (who stepped down as director/executive producer in November 2020), is an epic tale that follows a growing group of Victorian women and minorities (as well as those living on the fringes of London society) who find themselves in the possession of special powers. On today’s midnight binge, we’re taking a look at the world, people, politics, and the production of The Nevers.

Obviously, spoilers!

THE TOUCHED

After an unprecedented event in London gives women and minorities remarkable abilities, the Touched, as they are called, or at other times, the afflicted. They resort to living at an orphanage because of their turns (or powers) called St. Romaulda’s Orphanage, which becomes a home and sanctuary for the Touched. This sanctuary is sponsored by Lavinia Bidlow, the wealthy benefactor who has ulterior motives behind keeping a close eye on the touched. The sanctuary is run by Amalia True, who not only can see the future but tries to keep her charges safe while harboring her own secrets that she keeps very tight to her chest.

The Touched are typically women, or individuals, who live on the fringes of society. Their turns differ from one person to another. There is healing, premonition, molecular alterations and manipulation, and the ability to see and manipulate electricity. There is uncertainty surrounding how a turn is chosen for a person, i.e. why does one person see electricity over causing something to explode? Is it similar to the way Inhumans from the Marvel Universe (shows like S.H.E.I.L.D and Inhumans), in which the power is created because the world needs it, as in fixing a lack of balance? Or is it genetics or even personality-based? Or somehow wholly random? Because we sort of know-how, the turns were giving out and even a bit of why.

The manifestation of the Touched flips the hierarchy or more specifically the patriarchy, on its head, and unfortunately because of the kinds of people that ended up getting turns, women, immigrants, and other types of people who live at the fringes of society basically those who are seen as less than or inconsequential in society. This splits people into factions and even radicals, including Lavinia, and the ins and outs of London politics, which is being spearheaded by an ex-military and high government official, Lord Gilbert Massen.

THE GALANTHI

The Galanthi are an alien race who flew over London causing the Touched. Their mission was to give humans the means to save a ravaged Earth. Like how London is split into fractions, so were the military organizations that were against or for the Galanthi doing what they were doing, the Planetary Defense Coalition (PDC) who were for, and FreeLife Army who were against. The FreeLife Army attacked the Galanthi and killed 19 after bombing their project stations. The last station was run by a woman named Zephyr who committed suicide which allowed her soul to be placed on the last ship. Amalia, then Mary, was Touched just as she committed suicide which allowed Zephyr to enter her body and they changed their name to Amalia True.

PRODUCTION

HBO’s The Nevers was announced for a series in July 2018. Whedon became the creator, director, executive producer, and showrunner of the series. A bidding war started between a number of stations, including Netflix, before being picked up by HBO. Executive producers and writers included Bernie Caulfield, Jane Espenson, and Doug Petrie and later Laurie Penny, Melissa Iqbal, Madhuri Shekar, Kevin Lau, Daniel S. Kaminsky, and Hennah Sekandary. In November, Whedon stepped down as showrunner, director, and executive director, stating “unprecedented challenges” and exhaustion as his reason for stepping back. However, he was “deeply proud of the work” on The Nevers. Whedon was replaced by Philippa Goslett as the new series showrunner. Gemma Jackson would serve as a production designer and Christine Blundell as a make-up designer.

CAST

Laura Donnelly (Claudia Black), Ann Skelly, Olivia Williams, James Norton, Tom Riley, Pip Torrens, Denis O’Hare, Amy Manson, Rochelle Neil, Zackary Momoh, Eleanor Tomlinson, Nick Frost, Elizabeth Berrington, Viola Prettejohn, Anna Devlin, Kiran Sonia Sawar, Ben Chaplin, Ella Smith, and Vinnie Heaven were billed as the main cast as The Nevers.

FILMING

Filming, production, and principal photography started in 2019. Locations varied in London, such as Trinity Church Square, Southwark Borough, New Wimbledon Theatre, Charterhouse Square, The Mall, Lincoln’s Inn Fields, Historic Dockyard Chatham, and more. In January 2020, filming took place at the Joyce Grove country house estate; January also saw production and filming temporarily cease because of COVID-19. Scenes had to be reworked to accommodate new rules and regulations because of COVID restrictions, such as the Maladies execution scene, which utilized CGI effects and green screen methods to make it seem like more people within the given space. It also saw the set be rebuilt entirely on a soundstage because they couldn’t film on location. Production and filming were picked up again around September and wrapped up for its mid-season final.

Originally, season one was meant to have ten episodes. However, that was scarped for a two-part season, allowing for a mid-season final at episode six. As of June 11, 2021, The Nevers has not been picked up for a second season, nor has it been canceled.

CONCLUSIONS

I’ve enjoyed The Nevers so far and it was just getting good with its mid-season final. However, the first few episodes were a bit bumpy, and the foundation is built, but it’s taking some time to stitch everything together cohesively. I have hopes for the later episodes and do wish for a second season. I rate the show thus far a 3.9/5, I always give a bit of leniency when it comes to the first season of any show because nothing is really fleshed out. There are very few first seasons of the series I thoroughly enjoyed with little complaint, but I have high ambitions for this show and desire to see it do better.

What are your thoughts on The Nevers? Do you like it, or do you have some issues with the show?

UPDATE

As of December 16th, 2022, The Nevers has been canceled and subsequently pulled from its streaming platform (HBO Max).

#the nevers #hbo #hbo max #midnight binge #binge watching #hbo the nevers #canceled #cancelled #cancelled shows #canceled shows #2022

[elastijubilee]

Such a huge discrepancy.

#the nevers #hbo the nevers #hbothenevers #when the hell is s1b (or at this point just say s2) coming???? #btw i dont think rotten tomatoes is the ultimate authority either in critic reviews or audience #just saying

[twistsandturnsrp]

18+ roleplay based on HBO's The Nevers Original Characters are WELCOME! check the pinned post for info & links

#the nevers #primrose chattoway #the nevers rp #victorian rp #scifi rp #hbo the nevers

[toriaray]

okay I’m starting to watch the nevers

#i like it so far #I’m shocked by how much I’m loving the clothing #I would die for penance #the nevers #joss whedon #hbo the nevers

[moonmothmama]

went looking through my art reference folder for something and spotted this one i saved of Ben Chaplin with just absolutely the cutest smile on his face. i can't not smile back at this photo

#also ngl the Frank Mundi facial hair is a good look for him. just sayin' #ben chaplin #the nevers #hbo the nevers #why do i need art reference photos of ben chaplin? use your imaginations. i shan't tell

[bucketsofgiggles]

i am absolutely l o s i n g it at Tommy "Desert Storm Vet and Texan in 2003 When the World Ended" Miller realizing he's now a communist, like look at this:

this man's whole worldview got Rocked

#the last of us #tlou #the last of us hbo #the last of us hbo spoilers #this ep has been quite funny so far #wonder if that'll end at some point #edit: yeah the funny times be over #edit 2: christ almighty i've never had a post this popular and it Actually Does Suck A Little #but also glad y'all found this just as funny as me

[cordycepspog]

Love love LOVE the focus on Joel’s boots during his rampage in the hospital. Because it’s not in a fit of rage, or desperation. Joel’s face is blank. He’s not thinking about consequences of his actions. He’s thinking “you took away my daughter and now I’m getting her back.” It’s a skill he picked up from Tess. He knows what’s coming. There’s no need to get emotional about it. It’s the simplest thing in the world to him: “You don’t get to take her away from me. Not again.” Hell, he doesn’t even look at the doctor when he shoots him! He’s looking right at Ellie, his entire focus and purpose laying in front of him! Mans is straight up on autopilot!

Joel is a unstoppable force in his grief. And Ellie is the immovable object that keeps him from walking straight over the ledge.

#AND NOW IT WILL NEVER BE THE SAME #Joel chose to cling so tightly to Ellie as his rock that the foundations coming are loose #and in his attempt to keep her safe he’s gonna drag her right over the ledge with him #and ellie will go willingly. #she said it herself #she’ll follow him anywhere #even all the way down to the dark bloody bottom #joel and ellie #tlou hbo #tlou #tlou spoilers #the last of us #joel miller #ellie williams

[pedro-pascal]

THE LAST OF US episode 1 + everyone's unhinged thoughts about Pedro Pascal

#the last of us #the last of us hbo #hbo the last of us #joel miller #pedro pascal #tlouhboedit #joelmilleredit #thelastofusedit #pedropascaledit #ppascaledit #tvedit #dilfgifs #dailyflicks #tusercora #tuserpolly #userjasmine #useraurore #* #tlou spoilers #y'all make me laugh so hard lmao never change

[mardyart]

tlou smols

#ep3 destroyed me i will never recover #the last of us #the last of us hbo #ellie and joel #ellie the last of us #joel the last of us #frank and bill #bill and frank #the last of us fanart

[veethesnake]

In light of recent events:

Separating the art from the artist

does NOT work if said artist is

1) alive

2) directly financially benefitting from you consuming the art

Especially if they have tweeted this in the past:

#jkr #harry potter #hp #new harry potter show #hbo #cw transphobes #I wish jkr had never made a twitter account #I miss my hp days #harry potter game #hogwarts #joanne k rowling #jk rowling #fuck jkr

[softiedingo]

young Joel Miller's arms appreciation post

#pedro pascal fandom #pedro pascal #pedropascal #the last of us #the last of us hbo #tlou hbo #joel miller #tlou joel #the last of us joel #joel tlou #joel the last of us #i'll never get tired of looking at those arms #literally the emoji 💪🏻💪🏻 #softiedingo

[rcbertleckie]

MASTERS OF THE AIR · PART 1 and PART 9

BUCK: Last few years would have been a lot rougher without you, John. BUCKY: Mmm. Same.

#masters of the air #mota #motaedit #hbowaredit #hbo war #edits #tvedit #hbowardaily #ronsparky #violaobanion #olympain #userstaud #userbells #john egan #callum turner #gale cleven #austin butler #mota spoilers #i gotta say they truly went all out #to connect the beginning and the end #and i for one.... am suffering #did jack stole bucky's jacket tho skjfskjf #or is he like now that i have buck back im never gonna wear it again

[moon-ursidae]

still thinking about how after showing the knife and telling this guy "you're next," Joel then makes direct fucking eye contact with him while stabbing his friend.

#this is what Maria had alluded to man #Joel can be VIOLENT #but he would never direct that toward Ellie #he's doing it FOR her #the last of us hbo spoilers #tlou hbo spoilers #the last of us spoilers #tlou spoilers #the last of us hbo #tlou hbo #the last of us #tlou #joel miller #pedro pascal

[twistsandturnsrp]

18+ roleplay based on HBO's The Nevers Original Characters are WELCOME! check the pinned post for info & links

#the nevers #myrtle haplisch #the nevers rp #scifi rp #victorian rp #hbo the nevers

[kazsbrecker]

brb suing the hbo tlou writers after the bill and frank episode

#the last of us #hbo the last of us #tlou spoilers #hbo tlou spoilers #the last of us spoilers #i'm in shambles #I'm never going to look at strawberries the same way again

[chronicowboy]

nick offerman's purely gleeful childish giggle when he eats the strawberry, the fact that strawberries are associated with the roman goddess of LOVE because they're red and heart-shaped, just the beauty of that moment, the knowledge of that shared trust between them, that bill now allows frank to use resources however he wants and trade with tess freely even without him knowing, the utterly joyful moment that they both bite into a strawberry after knocking them together, that we only ever see bill cook for frank but suddenly bill gets to eat something that frank grew for him, just... the strawb- the strwaber- the strawberries....

#sami rambles #THE MFING STRAWBERRIES #DO YOU UNDERSTAND #I CAN NEVER EAT A STRAWBERRY AGAIN #tlou spoilers #tlou hbo #tlou #tlou frank #tlou bill #bill x frank #frank x bill #bill and frank #the last of us #nick offerman