HBO’s The Nevers combined Victorian-era steampunk with science fiction, following a group of people known as the Touched, whose abilities emerged after a mysterious spacecraft passed over London in 1896. The series ran for 12 episodes, but its ambitious story extended beyond the limits of its single season and was left without the conclusion it appeared to be building toward.
Set in Victorian London, the drama introduced a society divided over the Touched and their powers. The premise invited comparisons with the X-Men, but the series developed its own conflicts through the characters’ varied abilities and the tensions within their community.
The ensemble was central to the show’s appeal. Laura Donnelly played Zephyr, a formidable and mysterious member of the Touched, while Ann Skelly portrayed Penance. Olivia Williams, James Norton, Pip Torrens, Denis O’Hare, Zackary Momoh and Nick Frost were also among the cast. The story’s dense mythology was balanced by relationships and character dynamics, including the connections surrounding Maladie, a dangerous Touched figure.
The series also built its mysteries around the origins of the powers and the possibility of a traitor among the group. Its steampunk aesthetic and British and European-inspired design helped establish a distinctive setting for those storylines.
HBO commissioned The Nevers for one season. Its 12 episodes were released in two parts, with a lengthy gap between them: the series began in April 2021, while the remaining episodes did not become available until December 2022. The show was later placed on Tubi, and the source reports that it averaged just over one million viewers per episode.
Early criticism focused in part on the show’s pacing and structure, though those reactions came before the full run was available. The series ultimately reached its final episode, but it was canceled before its larger narrative could continue, leaving its world and unresolved ideas without the further development its setup suggested.
Sources: Comic Book Resources.