Warrior Nun (2020-) is an example of how shows can actively fight against many evils at once. Whether it’s science, the church, or stereotypes against women in the media, this is a successful start. Warrior Nun (2020-) is a recent release on Netflix, created by Simon Barry, based upon the Warrior Nun Areala comics by Ben Dunn. The first episode introduces us immediately to our protagonist, Ava (Alba Baptista). Well, her dead body. Though, the audience is unsure of the mysterious circumstances surrounding her death. From there, we are thrust into the middle of a battle gone wrong, that results in a warrior nuns death, and the disk that contains its powers to be put into Ava’s dead body for hiding. I don’t think any of the nuns expected the disk places in Ava to bring her back to life, but it does. And Ava battles having control over her life with the new expectations that are being forced upon her.
Warrior Nun includes some racial stereotypes for the supporting characters in the show that I couldn’t ignore. There is the strong, black woman who seems to be an outsider among the Sisters, Shotgun Mary (Toya Turner), and an asian woman whose strength is seemingly quiet and demure, Sister Beatrice (Kristina Tonteri-Young). And not to mention, the entire show follows Ava, the reluctant chosen one, that uses sarcasm and humor as a coping mechanism, a trope in television that is overused. However, the way that the writers combat these stereotypes surrounding women of color is worth praising. Shotgun Mary is given her own space to be vulnerable and have a backstory of her own that is deemed important. She also maintains her own freewill and control of her own story and actions, which made for some humorous moments in the show. Sister Beatrice has a longer way to go in terms of fighting against those stereotypes, but she is also given her own backstory, where her sexuality is hinted at. Briefly, in the first half of the season, there is another minority that is given space to share their own story, Chanel (May Simón Lifschitz). Chanel was part of a ragtag group of teens who travel around Europe, staying in the empty houses of rich people that Ava spends time with.
I think all of these women, though mainly used as devices to move Ava’s story along, present a positive way that minorities can be written into shows such as this. Don’t get me wrong, Hollywood still has a way to go in making sure supporting characters have lives outside of the protagonist, but Warrior Nun is a necessary show. What makes Ava’s life such a mystery to the Sisters is that when she was alive, she was a quadriplegic and has now been revived as an able-bodied person. I think it can be tricky to incorporate a disability in a show where the character is no longer disabled, but I think that they do a good job at not framing her years as a quadriplegic as a weakness, and the writers find ways to still give her power, to an extent, while she is in that state.
The show flows from episode one to episode ten beautifully. Each episode offers up new information that pushes the story forward, and the writers make it impossible not to click ‘next episode’, especially because each episode is about 40 minutes (how can I not binge the entire season in one sitting!) While Netflix hasn’t renewed this show for a season 2 as of yet, they’d be crazy not to. Almost as crazy as the writers for that ending! If you’re here for secret societies, women who aren’t to be played with, and the occasional science vs. religion discussion, this is the show for you.
