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If Renegade Nell is to be believed, London in the 1700s was overrun with dandy highwaymen, high born magistrates and those who like to dabble in the dark arts. Not exactly the standard stamping ground of Happy Valley alumni Sally Wainwright, and yet that is exactly who is steering the ship in this new swashbuckling saga from Disney+.
Aided and abetted by a venerable list of top-tier character actors in Joley Richardson, Adrian Lester and Louisa Harland as Renegade Nell, this period dramedy hits the ground running and never lets up. Tackling this title role head on, Harland steps up and takes a huge swing, coming across as worldly wise, street smart and resourceful without once getting cocky.
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With Pip Torrens on storming form as Lord Blancheford, who oversees an area of London and levies monies accordingly, Nell’s arrival home throws a huge spanner in the works. With an opening episode in which Wainwright lays down the foundations of her story, a colourful array of characters includes Roxy (Bo Bragason), George (Florence Kean), and Sam Trotter (Craig Parkinson).
As Nell returns home to the Trotter family and she encounters Thomas Blancheford (Jack Dunn), an overindulged ne’er do well with cruel ambition, events are set in motion for a show that does nothing but deliver as dramatic dominoes begin to topple in quick succession.
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Many of the reasons Renegade Nell works comes down to that cast, including a conniving Adrian Lester as Robert Hennessey the Earl of Poynton. Pulling strings in the background, manipulating others to achieve his own ends, and delivering a despicable creation with understated style in spades. Elsewhere, Frank Dillane (Essex Serpent) offers up a charismatic dandy in the shape of Charles Devereux.
A man who has the measure of Nell yet falls foul of her talents in one spectacular encounter, before teaming up to evade capture. Aside from the chemistry coming off of these two connecting, Nell also strikes up an odd alliance with Billy Blind (Nick Mohammed).
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This relationship above all others is the driving force behind Renegade Nell, since her chemistry with Billy works on more than one level. Acting as both an enabler and moral conscience, he brings a mythical edge to this period drama that elevates everything else.
As a result, Renegade Nell turns into one the most engaging new releases to hit streaming platforms in recent memory. Not only earmarking Louisa Harland (Derry Girls) for great things, as she effortlessly holds this rabble-rousing endeavour together, but reminding audiences that Sally Wainwright is back with vengeance.
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Stream all episodes of Original series Renegade Nell from 29 March exclusively on Disney+.