Supacell: Heroes in London

Supacell is Netflix’s newest attempt at a superhero drama from showrunner, writer, and director, Rapman. The show follows a few, seemingly separate characters who slowly start to develop super powers. Taking place in London, all of the characters are from different walks of life, with some struggling to keep steady work and others prepared to propose to their significant others. The thread that immediately ties this all together is a clandestine governmental organization that seems to be testing on people with Sickle Cell Disease.

Right off the bat, fans of the early 2000’s drama, Heroes, will definitely sense something familiar here. At first glance this is a wholly unique show, with the focus on an all-black cast and the specific cultural setting of South London; however, as the show goes on, the similarities start to shine through. Sometimes it is the TV budgeted special effects and other times it is an almost perfect reflection of plot, but it always gives off Heroes-like energy. This is not to say that the show is necessarily bad in any way because of this; however, it never truly feels like a totally original concept.

Without spoiling anything, it is actually the ending of the first episode that truly seals this show’s fate. More so than just Heroes, there are hints of The Umbrella Academy as well, with it being painfully obvious what direction this show will go in right from the get-go. For those who are used to that cookie-cutter type of plot, this may work, but for fans of the genre, there doesn’t seem to be a lot in this show that genuinely breaks new ground for anything in the world of super-heroics.

The best aspects of this show come out when the topic of race takes center stage. Supacell does a great job in highlighting its all-black cast, identifying each character in a unique and powerful way that combats negative stereotypes. At no point does this show feel aimed at a specific demographic and it always feels immediately approachable. Even for American audiences, the show doesn’t dive too deep into London’s nuances, never feeling like a show aimed at British audiences. Overall, the show is very welcoming to all audiences and does a great job in portraying different walks of life within a large community.