Supacell, a Netflix show, might easily be dismissed as the latest in a long line of shows and movies (and even longer line of comic books) about a bunch of very ordinary individuals who acquire supposedly incredible skills.
Supacell was created by Rapman, a rapper-turned-filmmaker whose true name, Andrew Onwubolu, may sound less appropriate for such a project. It arrives in a market where the abundance of superhero material has clearly outpaced demand, and teasers for new Marvel and DC projects are regarded with scepticism or exhaustion rather than excitement. So it can’t get by only on its subject matter. To stand out from the crowd, it requires a unique hook and execution.
The fact that all five of the leads are Black South Londoners adds to the intrigue. There have, of course, been other recent films and series featuring Black heroes and primarily Black ensembles, but Rapman focuses on his hometown and the cultural and socioeconomic influences that have shaped his five heroes. Michael (Tosin Cole) is a delivery truck driver who is engaged to social worker Dionne (Adelayo Adedayo). Sabrina (Nadine Mills) is a nurse. Andre (Eric Kofi Abrefa) is an ex-con attempting to reestablish a relationship with his adolescent son. Rodney (Calvin Demba) is a poor cannabis dealer. And Tazer (Josh Tedeku) is a wannabe mobster whose abilities emerge at the perfect time for a conflict with a larger, more established clan. All of them are linked not only by their newfound superpowers, but also by the neighbourhood, where they continue to cross paths even before Rodney is revealed to be an off-brand Flash.
However, the interpersonal content is rather generic. The performances are all fine, with Josh Tedeku and Eric Kofi Abrefa standing out in underwritten roles. Supacell naturally wants the audience to become immersed in these folks and their everyday concerns before the telekinesis and other supernatural abilities ruin their lives. It’s just not really intriguing. The six-episode season feels both too lengthy and too short, dragging its heels to get to the point where the leads are routinely interacting and using their talents in intriguing ways, then ending just as the story gains real speed.
At the very least, the powers are interesting. Rapman directs many of the episodes, with Sebastian Thiel helming the others, and they and their colleagues have a clear, colourful style for how things should look when, instance, Rodney is running at full speed or two or more people with powers are battling. It’s all done on a small scale, but at times the action is more stunning than that of some previous MCU shows.
Supacell’s ability to improve over time is likely what distinguishes it most from Heroes, which began great but quickly fizzled. However, it falls short of standing out in today’s overcrowded superhero TV environment.