On Sunday, April 11, HBO debuted a stunning new fantasy series that asks the question: What if there were superpowers in Victorian England? It sounds weird, but The Nevers makes it work and could hold a candle to “Game of Thrones” as one of the most addicting fantasy shows on TV.
The series focuses on “The Touched,” a group of people who, after an event called the Attack, developed unusual powers in 1896 London. Three years later, as society learns to deal with the Touched, a new threat arises that affects all of London.
Like “Game of Thrones,” this series has a HUGE cast of characters, all with different powers, motivations and allegiances and it may be a bit of a struggle to keep track of who’s who at first. After having viewed the pilot, here’s a breakdown of the cast of The Nevers.
Amalia True (Laura Donnelly) | Amalia can see the future, but only in small intervals that she has to interpret. She runs an orphanage for Touched people who have been outcast because of their powers, funded by Lavinia Bidlow- more on her later. She’s also a skilled fighter and can turn an umbrella into a lethal weapon.
Penance Adair (Ann Skelly) | If Nikola Tesla and Kaylee from “Firefly” had a daughter, her name would be Penance Adair. With the ability to connect with energy, she can invent gadgets that are literally ahead of the time, such as stun bombs and the 1899 equivalent of a car. She always believes in the good of people and will stick by Amalia’s side no matter what.
Hugo Swann (James Norton) | Swann is a character to say the least. He runs a questionable sex club and is constantly having affairs with all the women he lays eyes on. But he’s well connected and might have ulterior motive for keeping company with the Touched.
Lord Massen (Pip Torrens) | Lord Massen is a high ranking official in London’s Parliament and has a negative opinion on the Touched, which he voices to Amalia and Penance. He believes that the Touched are setting a dangerous precedent for the downtrodden of England, since most of the Touched are women. Sexist, much?
Lavinia Bidlow (Olivia Williams) | Lavinia is confined to a wheelchair, but her status in London is large. She’s the benefactor of Amalia’s orphanage and as such, cares very much about her safety.
Augustus Bidlow (Tom Riley) | As the name suggests, Augustus is Lavinia’s younger brother and a confidante of Swann’s. He’s socially awkward, especially around Penance, who he develops an attraction to. And he might be hiding something…
Maladie (Amy Manson) | Maladie is a serial killer stalking the streets of London, who makes quite the statement when she arrives. She’s cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs and has a very sinister plan involving the Touched. You don’t want to mess with her.
Frank Mundi (Ben Chaplin) | Mundi is a London inspector on Maladie’s trail, trying to bring her to justice. He’s also not one to cross, as an unlucky miner finds out early in the pilot, and has a keen eye for suspicious activity.
Myrtle Haplisch (Viola Prettejohn) | Myrtle’s affliction from the Attack is rather unique: She can only speak in a mashup of every known language. Amalia and Penance take her in after her family rejects her, even though they cannot understand her.
Mary Brighton (Eleanor Tomlinson) | Mary is an opera singer who gets up close and personal with Maladie when she crashes the party. She has a magical singing voice- literally, as her voice can identify who’s been Touched.
Horatio Cousens (Zackary Momoh) | Cousens was an ordinary doctor before the Attack, but now, as one of the few men Touched, he can magically heal any wound. That comes in handy when Amalia gets into a brawl with some sketchy characters.
Declan Orrun AKA “The Beggar King” (Nick Frost) | The “Shaun of the Dead” star plays an underworld gangster who has a shaky alliance with Amalia to give her information on Touched orphans, though Amalia suspects his intentions are not pure. He also likes to slice fingers off anyone who crosses him.
Annie Carby AKA “Bonfire” (Rochelle Neil) | Not much is known so far about Bonfire, other than she’s one of Maladie’s gang and can control fire, which is very dangerous when she’s on Maladie’s side.
The Nevers airs Sundays on HBO.