Supacell Ep. 1 Recap: Thrills and Teamwork

• Supacell features Londoners developing sudden superpowers, all of whom are Black.
• Characters' superpowers are indicated by their eyes turning yellow.
• Prominent colors in scenes symbolize themes like violence and vitality.
• White characters symbolize oppression and surveillance.
• Supacell discusses everyday marginalization and Black identity.

Supacell Episode 1 Review: Survival and Synchronicity

The first episode of creator Rapman's Netflix superhero series establishes the show's themes and visual identity.

By Tara Clapper

Published Thursday 10:11 AM

Rapman's new Netflix series, Supacell, envisions a reality in which multiple Londoners develop sudden superpowers, and all of them have a commonality: they're Black.

We meet the characters separately, but the short scenes reveal a great deal about the nature of each character.

By the end of the episode, we see them cross paths, at least casually.

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Supacell is an exploration of survival and synchronicity.

While the initial episode focuses on the character of Michael (Tosin Cole), we observe the emergence of each superhero throughout.

As indicated in the teaser for the show, you can tell someone's superpowers are activated or currently active by their eyes—they turn yellow.

Visual Identity and Themes

Most scenes in Supacell feature a prominent color, either in the lighting or in an object in the scene.

One scene features a blue car, for instance, in which a man tells his partner that the blue is her color and her skin looks good next to it.

Red is also an important color in the show, relating to the prevalence of violence, the presence of Sickle Cell Disease in the Black community, and the untapped vitality of the community.

Supacell isn't shy about showing the consequences of violence.

In the first scene, without much context, a sinister white man drinks out of a mug in a facility where Black people are imprisoned in cells.

In a scene set in a club where gang members are present, "Talkin da Hardest" by Giggs plays, and the song's lyrics mirror what the characters experience.

"Everyone's suit same color as Batman" references both the importance of tones and skin color to the show but also foreshadows the awakening of superpowers for the characters.

The song goes on to mention being covered in red, implying violence, and the entire scene, as well as the clothes the characters are wearing, add more red to the scene.

Their opposition gang shows up wearing blue, as do many of the initially unconnected characters such as a healthcare worker and a delivery man.

Black as the Norm

Almost every character in the show is Black.

When white characters do show up, it's typically as a symbol of oppression or oversight, and they have a sinister feel to them even if they're not openly exhibiting racist or otherwise problematic behavior.

There's also sometimes a mystery to them, whereas the Black characters share feelings and emotions with each other; the white characters appear calculating and deliberate.

As a white viewer, I noticed the perspective shift—the sense of alarm I felt for the Black characters every time a white character walked by.

When white characters observe Black characters, take notice of them, or recognize them as people in any way, there's a possibility of bad intent or suspicion.

I appreciate the clear view of distrust coupled with the obvious reasons it's necessary.

The System is Rigged: Surveillance is Reality

The prevalence of drugs and other alternative economies in the show is depicted as clearly a product of a rigged system.

Characters never randomly engage in illegal activity; there's always a reason, and it usually has to do with making a living in a racist society.

Overall, white characters observe and supervise, but life has to go on for the Black characters in this framework.

If white people aren't actually present and observing, there are sometimes surveillance devices, some of which pick up superhuman activities.

Hopefully, we will learn more about who is watching as the series goes on.

Everyday Marginalization and Black Identity

Supacell opens a discussion about the prevalence of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) and the sickle cell trait, which is more common in Black populations.

We learn about Michael's mom and the ways she's been marginalized by the medical system, which treats her like a junkie for asking for pain management for her medical condition.

We also hear characters discuss getting promoted more slowly at work due to racism and talk about how a missing Black person won't get as much media coverage as a white missing person.

Most impactful is how this is all presented in a grounded, realistic way—this is BS, but it's daily life for the characters.

The character Taze (Josh Tedeku) sums the systemic power imbalance up well when in need of an opportunity: "Money, power, and respect, it's all there for the taking."

The Emergence of Superpowers in Supacell

In the last half of the episode, characters begin to experience superpowers.

Some of them realize it, some of them don't—which makes their eventual connection even more interesting.

The show opens up about the nature of the characters' superpowers in a big way, revealing why Michael's power is critical to the group.

My criticism of the show is that thus far, it's largely male-centric and focuses on the needs of male characters.

The women in the show range from soft to tough, which I appreciate—but I'd like to see more of them.

I recommend Supacell to fans of shows like Sense8, which emphasize connections and community between characters who might otherwise be unlikely to cross paths.