Renegade Nell – Season 1 Episode 2 Recap & Review

Tracks Less Well Trod

Renegade Nell Episode 2 begins with a father and daughter arguing in their carriage amidst a group of other people. All of a sudden, a masked Nell lights atop the carriage and tells the driver to strip his clothes off. Meanwhile, she argues with Billy, who himself doesn’t know why he’s been directed to protect Nell. Nell then has all the other passengers disembark.

Meanwhile, Thomas is now hearing voices. He and his sister meet Captain Jarrold and Lord Standring. They offer to find Nell by posting news of a reward. Jarrold isn’t worried when he hears of her strength.

Meanwhile, Nell, her siblings, and Rasselas go through all the stuff Nell stole. Nell plans to drop her siblings off at her uncle’s and then go off to America herself. As for Rasselas, she tells him to go on his own. He isn’t so keen on the idea.

Poynton meets with Thomas and congratulates him on his father’s death. He seems impressed and says Thomas can do great things.

Roxy is quite taken with Rasselas and says he likes her too, so she’s taken aback after Nell has sent him on his way. She describes how he was bought by Lord Blancheford when he was three. That’s when their carriage is stopped by a highwayman but it’s only Devereaux. He informs Nell that she has a 20-pound bounty on her head.

Suddenly, Rassalus jumps out and holds Devereaux at knifepoint. Devereaux points out that Nell’s plan is pretty bad. The first place they’ll look is her uncle’s place. He suggests they use the stolen clothes to pretend to be a married couple, with the other three as a maid, a cousin, and a footman. This way, they can hide in a hotel in plain sight.

The funeral for Lord Blancheford takes place but Thomas panics when he hallucinates his father. Nell and Devereaux successfully get hotel rooms as Lord and Lady Shankley. As per Devereaux’s plan, they’ll lie low till they figure out their next move.

Poynton visits Sofia. She tells him about hiring Jarrold to capture Nell and the girl’s super strength. Poynton says Nell must have a connection with a sinister entity and offers his help. Jarrold enters and gives Sofia an update on Nell’s location.

Three days later, the ‘Shankleys’ are still cooped up in their hotel. Devereaux admits he doesn’t actually have any money, his father gambled it all away. Roxy and Rassalas talk about the latter’s family. But he has no idea how to find them. Just then, a letter is delivered. It turns out to be an invitation for the ‘Shankleys’ by Lord and Lady Springbourne. Devereaux convinces Nell to go since they can steal from the other couple at cards.

Unfortunately, a staff boy at the hotel reports to Sofia and Thomas about Nell and her party. He saw through their act immediately. Sofia sends Jarrold after them. She then tells Thomas to pull his act together, if he loses the estate then so does she.

Poynton then receives a letter from Sofia. He uses his ring to unlock a secret compartment in his office and follows the path underground. In the room underneath, he reveals tattoos on his neck and arms and starts some sort of ritual.

Roxy and George discuss Nell’s extraordinary skills. Roxy says she feels a good aura when Nell gets in her fighting mode. The sisters then see Sofia and a bunch of men riding straight towards Nell.

Poynton engages in some dark magic. His power releases an undead knight on a horse who goes running towards Nell. Meanwhile, Nell and Devereaux enter their host’s house, although Billy warns that this is a bad idea at the end of Renegade Nell Episode 2

The Episode Review

Now that all of the exposition is done, Renegade Nell Episode 2 feels like it’s settling into the actual narrative. The story is coherent and is moving in a certain direction. Nell and her group make one unit while Thomas, Poynton and Sofia make the other. Devereaux and Nell actually make a really interesting pair. Their bickering and verbal sparring is a delight to watch and Frank Dillane gives Devereaux a certain charm. They certainly make for most of the fun part of the show.

Even Sofia shows a bit of complexity in this episode. However, the rest of the story continues to fall into tropes and clichés. The undead knight in the final scene was straight out of Lord of the Rings. There doesn’t seem much detail or nuance to the fantasy elements either, which is a bit of a shame. Will Nell and Devereaux save the show?