Netflix has been on a roll creating new fantasy drama shows involving young adults who are entrusted with supernatural powers. Their new show, Warrior Nun premiered in early July of 2020. Audiences had high hopes for the new show as its an adaptation of a popular comic book. It involved a unique plotline that hasn't been explored on TV in this capacity.
The show revolves around a young woman who wakes up from the dead with unexplainable powers. She soon learns that she has become the new warrior nun of a secret religious society, one that helps keep the balance of evil on Earth. Sounds cool right? If the synopsis wasn't convincing enough, here are ten reasons why the show should be added to every Netflix must-watch list.
Interesting 1st Person Narrative
The main character is 19-year-old Ava Silva (Alba Baptista). Warrior Nun takes an interesting route by including a first-person narrative. Since the moment Ava wakes up from the dead, audiences can hear her thoughts.
This makes for a really comical introduction to the character as well as funny moments throughout the show. The inclusion of the first-person narrative also allows audiences to experience Ava's emotions, as well as the inner turmoil of her new life. Not to mention what she thinks of her new cute crush.
The Turmoil Between Nuns
Just because the secret society, the Order of the Cruciform Sword, is governed by the Catholic church and nuns doesn't mean everything runs smoothly. It's because of this that the episodes are intriguing to watch. The order is made up of trained nuns who will hopefully one day be chosen as the Warrior Nun.
There is always the one pupil who comes from a long lineage of warrior nuns who believes they deserve the title. This will create some riveting turmoil with the main character. There is also the rogue nun who doesn't believe in the strict practice of Order and goes off on her own and breaks the rules.
Cool Outfits & Combat Scenes
Sometimes the outfits of a secret evil-fighting society is a huge deal breaker. Thankfully, Warrior Nuns did a great job of capturing the nuance and mystical feel the nuns needed. Their garments sway slightly from the typical ensemble a Catholic nun wears.
They are more structured and have more rigid lines. The best outfits occur when the nuns gear up for combat missions. Along with this are the epic fight scenes, as these nuns are pretty awesome. There's one scene in particular when one nun adorns a chain-link face covering before getting into an intense fight scene.
Visual Effects
So far, the show is winning some points with its almost seamless visual effects. The show gets right into it in the opening scenes. The dreaded hell demon is incredibly convincing in every scene it shows up in, and the moment when Ava is branded can make anyone flinch.
As the show progresses, the use of visual effects brings the story to life as Ava discovers more and more of her powers. For example, this includes Ava teleporting through walls or accidentally getting her foot stuck in a wall.
The Love Story
It would seem uncommon for a 19-year-old to not fall in love at some point. When Ava first wakes up, seeing as she was an orphan, she has no family or anyone she cares about. She soon stumbles upon a group of squatters and meets JC (Emilio Sakraya).
Ava is immediately smitten and audiences will hear her thoughts on how cute he is. This relationship becomes a key part of Ava's journey as JC becomes the only one she can feel normal with.
The Secret Order Of The Cruciform Sword
One of the main aspects that makes the show interesting to watch is the secret society of the Order of the Cruciform Sword. This storyline isn't new to television or film, but Warrior Nun takes it a step further. The Order is under the control of the Catholic church and is run by nuns.
The Order dedicates their lives to serve humankind in protecting them from demons, evil spirits, or Hell. The members also devote themselves to protecting the warrior nun. The Warrior Nun is the one entrusted with a grand power passed down from the original nun.
Never Before Seen Power And Use Of Mythology
The key aspect that makes the show different from others is the origin of the power source the Warrior Nun possesses. As the story goes, a Warrior Nun is entrusted with a divine artifact that is embedded in her back.
Ages ago, a female knight was dying of a fatal wound in combat, but the angel Adriel saw the knight's dedication to her people as well as her ambition for what's right. Therefore, he removed his halo and embedded it into the knight to give her divine power to stop the forces of evil that would inhabit Earth. The show delves into the common mythology of angels and demons. It also uses the assumption that Heaven and Hell are real.
Finding Yourself Storyline
Ava didn't have a good life and was orphaned at a young age. To make matters worse, she was paralyzed from the neck down with very little hand mobility. Audiences are introduced to Ava when she is already dead, with her thoughts saying that she finally got to die.
Fate had other ideas when Ava became the Warrior Nun. She must now come to terms with her new journey, which proves to be difficult. Its a journey of self-discovery as Ava plans to take advantage of a life she never had. Will she commit to Order or try to live a normal teen life?
Religion Vs. Science Angle
Religion versus science is a tale as old as time. Warrior Nun uses it to develop a more complex storyline for its characters. The Catholic Church runs the Order and ensures that no artifacts or supernatural objects are in the hands of ordinary people or people of science.
However, there is a scientist who wishes to expose the church and its secret hidden relics. They believe that the artifacts can open the gateway to the beyond or even Heaven itself. They might even serve as cures to the world's ailments. This is strictly forbidden by the church. It's an interesting use of the common church separated from science.
Female-Led Story
If there is one thing to note about the show, it's the extensive female characters. The Order is strictly made of nuns and so are its teachers, with the exception of one male handler named Father Vincent (Tristan Ulloa). The one to possess Adriel's halo can only be a nun and the show focuses on the fact that the original bearer was a female knight.
Those who protect the halo and help fight evil have intensive combat skills and can handle anything thrown at them. There is Mother Superion (Sylvia De Fanti), who can set anyone straight and shows no remorse, as well as Shotgun Mary (Toya Turner), who doesn't need approval from the church to do what's right. It's best not to cross paths with the women in the show.