TV REVIEW: Warrior Nun, S1E1: “Psalms 46:5â€
Warrior Nun was a series that surprised me when it dropped on Netflix, and it was one that jarred a memory. The Netflix series is based on the comic Warrior Nun Areala by Ben Dunn and Antarctic Press, though many people probably will not be familiar with the source material. Still, it is quite interesting to see an American manga-style comic in live action, especially in the Netflix style. Thus far, the show appears promising, though there are nagging details it has yet to overcome.
Though I admit to not having read the comic, there may be concerns here for longtime fans of the comic series. In the first place, the main character has been completely replaced by an entirely new character named Ava Silva, played here by Alba Baptista. Moreover, Shannon Masters, the main heroine of the comic series, is killed very early in this first episode. If you“re a fan of Warrior Nun Areala and hoped to see Shannon in a major role, you“re likely going to be disappointed and perhaps unhappy with her treatment here. That said, there seems to be enough of the source material presented here that some fans may enjoy this show for what it is. As someone with no real emotional attachment to the comic, the setup works quite well, and I“m intrigued by what the show offers on its own merits.
Make no mistake, there are many promising ideas that could be developed well over the course of this first season. The idea of the Catholic Church training an order of warriors to battle demons is a good setup for a series, and when the show focuses on this, it“s reasonably compelling. The main supporting cast is varied and distinctive, and Father Vincent and Sister Mary especially have personalities that stand out well in addition to good performances by these actors. The worldbuilding and lore so far appear reasonable, and they offer ideas that I want to learn more about. The idea of the halo as a source of power is a fascinating one, and I“m interested in learning more about its strengths and weaknesses. The mystery of Ava’s past also opens many storytelling doors. However, there“s much that“s kept to the side that I wish was explored further, especially the demons and the main villains. The show is at its best when it“s dealing with the horror/fantasy elements, its deep worldbuilding, and the myth arc, but this episode often gets derailed from those strong points.
The weak point of this show deals with Ava“s storyline, and in fairness, it“s not the fault of the character or her actress. The premise of Ava“s character is quite fascinating, in fact, and Alba Baptista does a good job of portraying the lead heroine. Ava is a young woman who was a quadriplegic for most of her life, due to a car accident that killed her mother. Ava dies under mysterious circumstances, then is raised from the dead by the angelic halo that gives Ava her superpowers. Given a new lease on life but not knowing why, she tries to survive in Andalusia, where the Church and the demons both want to find her. This is a good basic setup, and there“s absolutely nothing wrong with this as a starting point. The early action scene setting up Ava“s origin and the sequence with Ava trying to get to safety and blend in are solidly handled. Ava“s desire to experience life after being denied it for most of her life is a good human impulse, and her unworldly and inexperienced outlook is a good point of vulnerability in Ava“s character. Baptista does an excellent job of showing the simple pleasures and joy in living life, and she gets across the innocence of a young woman who“s never loved or endured heartbreak. I came away liking Ava as a character, and that“s what makes the flaws in her arc so disappointing to me.
The problem with Ava“s story is structural, and the episode“s script doesn“t do a good job of showing what Ava“s journey is fundamentally about. We don“t see Ava truly tested as a heroine, and the show spends too much time establishing how she is catching up on her lost time. Mostly, the setup is with the romantic interest and the squatters she“s hanging around with; there“s promise in these characters, but there“s too much time wasted on them. There is no real obstacle in her path to challenge her in this story, and at most, there“s a demon that she eludes in the last five minutes of the episode. The debut episode is missing a proper third act with an engaging action sequence, preferably one dealing with either the Church or the demons finding Ava and trying to get the halo from her. Moreover, this episode needed to show why Ava might potentially be worthy of the power she“s been given, something that shows why she should be a Warrior Nun in the future. A scenario where Ava is forced to choose between her newfound life and saving people from the demon, for instance, would have accomplished something. Instead, the episode falls flat as the Warrior Nuns don“t do anything interesting, Ava goes to a party and doesn“t do much that“s interesting, and the villains do nothing to build on their threat. This is truly regrettable, as the setup for the episode was solid, but it unfortunately fails to deliver on that promise.
At the same time, there“s enough that Warrior Nun offers that recommends a further viewing to see if the later episodes improve. The pieces are there to build an effective show around, provided it works on the narrative issues. The main heroine is compelling, the supporting cast is interesting enough, and the concept and worldbuilding offer many potential story options to explore. The real question at this point is the narrative and the structural concerns in the writing, and whether the series will tighten its focus in future episodes. If the later episodes accomplish that, then Warrior Nun could be an excellent show. For now, there“s enough reason to binge more episodes, and that“s“ good enough for a Netflix series debut.
Score: 3.5/5
Network: Netflix
Director: Jet Wilkinson
Starring: Alba Baptista, Toya Turner, Thekla Reuten, Lorena Andrea, Kristina Tonteri-Young, Tristan Ulloa
Author Profile
- Steve Sellers had been a fan of superheroes ever since Superman: The Movie. But it took the JSA, the Legion of Super-Heroes, Dragonlance, Lord of the Rings, Twilight Zone, and Chris Claremont's legendary run on the X-Men to make him a writer and a longtime fan of comics, fantasy, and science fiction. Steve is the co-creator of WHITE DRUID & MICHAEL NERO and GUARDIANS OF ELAYIM for Omen Comics, and he is also the creator of BLITZ and SHOCKWAVE for Revelation Comics (an imprint of Omen Comics).
