Undertaking (The Nevers)

Last updated
"Undertaking"
The Nevers episode
Episode no.Season 1
Episode 4
Directed by David Semel
Written byMadhuri Shekar
Produced by
Featured music Mark Isham
Cinematography byBen Smithard
Editing byCheryl Potter
Original air dateMay 2, 2021 (2021-05-02)
Running time55 minutes
Guest appearances
  • Sylvie Briggs as Clara
  • Pui Fan Lee as Su Ping Lim
  • Margaret Tuttle as Effie Boyle [N 1]
  • Matt Emery as Detective Birch
  • Mofetoluwa Akande as Katherine Cousens
  • Sam Melvin as Purist
  • Alex Forman as Huge Purist
  • Christopher Dunne as Club Butler
  • Marcus Garvey as Gordy
  • Marc Bannerman as Bowler Hat
  • Ed Eales-White as Foreman
  • Lee Barnett as Jacobs
  • Jack Rolf as Warehouse Worker
  • Chris Kyriacou as Guard 1
  • Nick Pearse as Guard 2
  • Ian Alexander as Superintendent
  • Will Brown as Police Officer
  • Mauro Montoschi as Italian Cook
  • Elisha Mistretta as Cook's Daughter
  • Sam Graham as Vicar
Episode chronology
← Previous
"Ignition"		Next →
"Hanged"

"Undertaking" is the fourth episode of the American science fiction drama television series The Nevers . The episode was directed by David Semel and written by Madhuri Shekar. It originally aired on HBO on May 2, 2021 and also was available on HBO Max on the same date.

Contents

The series is set in Victorian era London and follows a group of people, mostly women, known as the Touched, who suddenly manifest abnormal abilities. Among them are Amalia True, a mysterious and quick-fisted widow, and her best friend Penance Adair, a brilliant inventor. The episode follows Amalia working with the women in the Orphanage to try to find Mary's murderer after the events of the previous episode while also trying to uncover a mole within her group.

The episode received mixed-to-positive reviews, with critics praising Amalia's new character development but criticizing the writing. The episode was watched by 0.515 million household viewers.

Plot

The women from the Orphanage bury Mary after the events of the previous episode. When purists start bad-mouthing them, Mundi (Ben Chaplin) has officers arrest them. Amalia (Laura Donnelly) chose not to attend the funeral and has been going to bars, getting drunk, and starting fights with some of the patrons after trying to steal from them. When she returns to the orphanage, Penance (Ann Skelly) tries to comfort her but Amalia releases her frustration instead. Primrose (Anna Devlin) speaks with a crying Myrtle (Viola Prettejohn) in her room, trying to understand her drawings. She eventually finds out that Myrtle heard a secret message during Mary's song. They contact foreign members to try to decipher the message, which is just "Come before the dark." In the police station, Mundi questions the purists, who are frightened at finding that he is a former boxer and reveal that people hired them to crash the funeral and insult the women. Mundi then confronts Hugo (James Norton) and accuses him of sending them in order to scare the women and join his club but Hugo reassures him he had no involvement with the men.

Amalia, Penance, Lucy (Elizabeth Berrington), Annie (Rochelle Neil) and Cousens (Zackary Momoh) discuss a list of suspects behind Mary's murder, with Maladie, Lord Massen, the Beggar King and Augie deemed suspects. Penance talks with Augie (Tom Riley) to try to make him confess but he maintains his innocence. Annie tries to confront the Beggar King but is held off by one of his henchmen, Nimble Jack (Vinnie Heaven), a Touched with the power to create a shield and is told that he was not involved in Mary's murder. Amalia visits Lord Massen (Pip Torrens), who states his innocence, suggesting that Mary was murdered for representing hope for the Touched. The last comment makes Amalia believe he had a part in the murder and plans to destroy his business in the warehouse dock. Mundi finds Maladie (Amy Manson) strangling his superintendent, where she reveals she was in the funeral before escaping. Mundi follows her and manages to get her unconscious.

Amalia, Lucy and Annie meet at the docks to blow the warehouse. However, Amalia exposes Lucy as Lord Massen's spy. Lucy admits working for him as he promised to give her a cure to her power, where she breaks everything she touches. She attempts to flee and gets into a fight with Amalia. Amalia holds her at gunpoint but decides to let her go in a boat. Lucy reveals the location of the real munitions and Annie blows up the warehouse. Back in the Orphanage, Amalia tells Penance about Lucy's betrayal before being interrupted by Primrose, Harriet (Kiran Sonia Sawar) and Myrtle. They have found the complete message, which is directed at Amalia: "Amalia, my lonely soldier. I didn't leave you. I went inside the city. I was damaged... incomplete. I had to heal. Soon we will all be ready. But it's dark. There's a darkness. Find me. Let them help, those who will, but come below and find me. Come before the dark, and we can save..." with the last part being incomplete because of her death. Harriet believes that the message is not of Mary's, but someone else speaking through her.

Production

Development

In March 2021, the episode's title was revealed as "Undertaking" and it was announced that Madhuri Shekar had written the episode while David Semel had directed it. [2] This was Semel's second directing credit for the show.

Reception

Ratings

In its original American broadcast, "Undertaking" was seen by an estimated 0.515 million household viewers and gained a 0.07 ratings share among adults aged 18–49, according to Nielsen Media Research. [3] This was up from the previous episode, which was watched by 0.448 million and a 0.06 share in the 18-49 demo. [4]

Critical reviews

Roxana Hadadi from The A.V. Club gave it a B and wrote, "Perhaps it’s a little silly to think that the message is coming from the vessel. But The Nevers has never really eased up on the endless intricacies of its plotting; the denseness of its premiere has only continued through 'Exposure,' 'Ignition,' and now 'Undertaking.' The result is that there's so much sprawl, and — I cannot say this enough — so many villains that I feel some pressure to buy whatever this story offers up through the remaining two episodes of this first half of the first season." [5] Amanda Whitting from Vulture gave it a 2 out 5 star rating and wrote, "This mission is incomplete, noted. But what’s the complete mission look like? Every answer begets more questions, not because the world is getting more complicated, but because the answers are incomplete."

Notes

  1. ↑ Amy Manson portrays Effie Boyle but is credited as Margaret Tuttle, a fake name. [1]

Related Research Articles

<i>Annie</i> (musical) Broadway musical

Annie is a Broadway musical based upon the popular Harold Gray comic strip Little Orphan Annie and loosely based on the 1885 poem "Little Orphant Annie" written by James Whitcomb Riley. The musical includes music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Martin Charnin, and a book by Thomas Meehan. The original Broadway production opened in 1977 and ran for nearly six years, setting a record for the Alvin Theatre. It spawned numerous productions in many countries, as well as national tours, and won seven Tony Awards, including the Tony Award for Best Musical. The musical's songs "Tomorrow" and "It's the Hard Knock Life" are among its most popular musical numbers.

Squeaky Fromme Failed assassin of US President Gerald Ford; Charles Manson follower

Lynette Alice "Squeaky" Fromme is an American criminal who was a member of the Manson family, a cult led by Charles Manson. Though not involved in the Tate–LaBianca murders for which the Manson family is best known, she attempted to assassinate President Gerald Ford in 1975. For that crime, she was sentenced to life in prison. She was paroled from prison on August 14, 2009, after serving approximately 34 years. She published a book about her life in 2018.

Manson Family Commune and cult in California led by Charles Manson

The Manson Family was a commune, gang, and cult led by Charles Manson that was active in California in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The group consisted of approximately 100 followers, who lived an unconventional lifestyle with habitual use of hallucinogenic drugs such as LSD. Most were young women from middle-class backgrounds, many of whom were radicalized by Manson's teachings and drawn by hippie culture and communal living.

Evan Rachel Wood American actress and singer (born 1987)

Evan Rachel Wood is an American actress, activist, model, and singer. She is the recipient of a Critics' Choice Television Award as well as three Primetime Emmy Award nominations and three Golden Globe Award nominations for her work in film and television.

<i>From Hell</i> (film) 2001 film by Albert Hughes, Allen Hughes

From Hell is a 2001 American period slasher film directed by the Hughes Brothers and written by Terry Hayes and Rafael Yglesias. It is loosely based on the graphic novel of the same name by Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell about the Jack the Ripper murders. The film stars Johnny Depp as Frederick Abberline, the lead investigator of the murders, and Heather Graham as Mary Kelly, a prostitute targeted by the Ripper. Other cast members include Ian Holm, Robbie Coltrane, Ian Richardson and Jason Flemyng.

<i>What Its Like Being Alone</i> Canadian animated series

What It's Like Being Alone is a Canadian adult animated television series which aired on CBC Television in 2006. It is a black comedy created by Brad Peyton, and combines clay animation with voice work by Stacey DePass, Adam Reid, Dwayne Hill, Julie Lemieux, Peter Cugno, and Andrew Sabiston.

Esmé Bianco British actress

Esmé Augusta Bianco is a British actress and neo-burlesque performer, who had a recurring role as Ros on Game of Thrones.

Amy Manson is a Scottish actress. She has portrayed Alice Guppy in Torchwood, Abby Evans in Casualty, Lizzie Siddal in Desperate Romantics, Daisy Hannigan-Spiteri in Being Human, Medea in Atlantis, and Merida in the fifth season of the ABC fairy tale drama series Once Upon a Time.

The 21st Young Artist Awards ceremony, presented by the Young Artist Association, honored excellence of young performers under the age of 21 in the fields of film, television and theatre for the year 1999, and took place on March 19, 2000, at the Sportsmen's Lodge in Studio City, California.

The Tate–LaBianca murders were a series of murders perpetrated by members of the Manson Family during August 8–10, 1969, in Los Angeles, California, United States, under the direction of Tex Watson and Charles Manson. The perpetrators first killed five people on the night of August 8–9: pregnant actress Sharon Tate and her companions Jay Sebring, Abigail Folger, Wojciech Frykowski, and Steven Parent. The baby later died of asphyxiation in Tate's womb. On the following evening, with Manson allegedly displeased about the chaotic operation of these murders, the Family then also murdered supermarket executive Leno LaBianca and his wife Rosemary in the Los Feliz section of Los Angeles.

"Along Comes Mary" is the fifth episode of the seventh season of the American mystery drama television series Pretty Little Liars, which aired on July 16, 2016, on the cable network Freeform. The hundred and forty-fifth episode on the series, it was directed by Norman Buckley and written by Bryan M. Holdman. The episode received a Nielsen rating of 0.6 and was viewed by 1.17 million viewers. It received mixed to positive reviews from critics.

The Flight Attendant is an American dark comedy drama mystery thriller television series developed by Steve Yockey based on the 2018 novel of the same name by Chris Bohjalian. It stars Kaley Cuoco in the title role and premiered on HBO Max on November 26, 2020. In December 2020, the series was renewed for a second season, which premiered on April 21, 2022.

<i>The Nevers</i> American science fiction drama television series

The Nevers is an American science fiction drama television series created by Joss Whedon for HBO. The series is produced by HBO and Mutant Enemy Productions with executive producers including Whedon, Philippa Goslett, Doug Petrie, Jane Espenson, Ilene S. Landress and Bernadette Caulfield. The series premiered on April 11, 2021. The first season is set to consist of 12 episodes, split into two six-episode parts, with the second half debuting in 2022.

I Hate Suzie is a British dark comedy drama television series created by Lucy Prebble and Billie Piper. It was produced by Bad Wolf in association with Sky Studios, with Prebble serving as showrunner. All episodes were written by Prebble and most were directed by Georgi Banks-Davies.

"Pilot" is the series premiere of the American science fiction drama television series The Nevers. The episode was written and directed by the series creator and executive producer Joss Whedon, his first television writing credit since the series premiere of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.. It originally aired on HBO on April 11, 2021 and also was available on HBO Max on the same date.

"Exposure" is the second episode of the American science fiction drama television series The Nevers. The episode was directed by the series creator and executive producer Joss Whedon and written by executive producer Jane Espenson, who previously worked with Whedon on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Firefly and Dollhouse. It originally aired on HBO on April 18, 2021 and also was available on HBO Max on the same date.

"Ignition" is the third episode of the American science fiction drama television series The Nevers. The episode was directed by David Semel and written by producer Kevin Lau. It originally aired on HBO on April 25, 2021 and also was available on HBO Max on the same date.

"Hanged" is the fifth episode of the American science fiction drama television series The Nevers. The episode was directed by series creator Joss Whedon and written by Melissa Iqbal. It originally aired on HBO on May 9, 2021, and also was available on HBO Max on the same date.

"True" is the sixth episode of the American science fiction drama television series The Nevers, serving as the last episode of the first part of the first season. The episode was directed by Zetna Fuentes and written by executive producer Jane Espenson. It originally aired on HBO on May 16, 2021 and also was available on HBO Max on the same date.

References

  1. ↑ Maas, Jennifer (May 9, 2021). "'The Nevers' Star Amy Manson Reveals the Secrets Behind Maladie's Hanging Gambit". The Wrap. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
  2. ↑ "HBO Drama Series "The Nevers" Debuts April 11" (Press release). HBO. March 23, 2021. Retrieved May 3, 2021– via The Futon Critic.
  3. ↑ Metcalf, Mitch (May 4, 2021). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 5.2.2021". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on May 4, 2021. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
  4. ↑ Metcalf, Mitch (April 27, 2021). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 4.25.2021". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on April 27, 2021. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  5. ↑ Roxana, Hadadi (May 2, 2021). "Translations and traitors keep the Touched on their toes on The Nevers". The A.V. Club . Retrieved May 3, 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.