My quick rating - 6.2/10. The show started with an interesting enough premise: Nell Jackson, wrongfully accused of murder, is thrust into a life of crime, becoming a highwaywoman alongside her two orphaned sisters, Roxanne and George. The addition of a mischievous little spirit named Billy Blind (Nick Mohammed) hints at the magical elements woven into the story, but sadly, the execution just doesn't live up to its potential. Louisa Harland brings a charming innocence to her role as Nell, giving the swashbuckling character a likable quality. Her portrayal is one of the highlights, and you can't help but root for her even as she stumbles through a series of unfortunate events. The humor in her constant bad timing and accidental deaths add a lighthearted touch, but the laughs are often overshadowed by the show's predictability. The first thing that hit me was the writing feels lazy at times, with the storylines lacking depth and complexity. I noted this down in the first few minutes and you will as well immediately in episode 1. There are some pretty well done action scenes that seamlessly allow the exaggerated superpowers to work with the fighting style of the older times. A musical number episode was a surprising, and somewhat disappointing, low point, making it feel like the show was grasping at straws to keep things interesting. This desperation for novelty is perhaps another reason why the show ultimately got canceled. The supporting cast adds some fun, but their characters feel underdeveloped, leaving several potentially compelling side stories untold. There’s a sense that the show had ambitions of being more than it was but never quite figured out how to achieve them. Maybe the creators had plans for more seasons to finish their thoughts, who knows? While Renegade Nell had moments of charm and decent humor, it struggled to break free from its own clichés. The high IMDb rating seems puzzling given the show’s flaws, and it’s easy to see why it didn’t make it to another season.
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