The new hit Netflix series Supacell has captivated audiences. securing the top spot in the U.K. and the number 2 spot on the U.S. Netflix charts within its first week on the platform. The show currently has a 100% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes and has been praised for not only having a Black-led cast, but more importantly for its intentional representation when addressing overlooked issues in society. Let’s unpack how Supacell intentionally tackles sickle cell disease and the ignored issue of missing Black people in the U.K. while staying true to the culture of South London.
Supacell follows 5 characters based in South London who come into supernatural powers and quickly realize they are being hunted by an organization that wants to exploit them. As a result, they must find each other and harness their collective power to stand a chance at protecting themselves. The creator of the show Rapman (Andrew Onwubolu) revealed in press interviews that this show has been 5 years in the making. He was particularly curious about a disease that predominately impacts Black people considering the lack of awareness within the community. He was also very intentional about representing South London culture in a creative way that would bring pride to its locals.
Addressing Sickle Cell Disease
Sickle Cell is a is a genetic disorder where the red blood cells abnormally become sickle-shaped, resulting in difficulty with blood flow throughout the body. This causes a limited oxygen supply which can lead to a sickle cell crisis: episodes of extreme pain in the body. In Supacell, the protagonists all get their powers due to their connection with a family member having sickle cell or carrying the trait. The name of the show is inspired by the disease since the protagonists have a mutated version of sickle cell which grants them their power.
It is important to note that even though sickle cell disease is predominant within the Black community, it is not exclusive to Black people. The sickle cell trait increases survival chances for malaria, which is more common in Africa, hence the predominance of the disease amongst people of African descent.
Despite the prevalence of the diseases amongst Black people, there is a huge lack of awareness and Supacell has already been instrumental in changing that. The representation of people living with the disease and the challenges in receiving medical care have been applauded by viewers living with sickle cell.
A particularly eye-opening scene highlights an elderly woman going through a sickle cell crisis. The showcasing of her treatment for the disease reflects the disparities experienced by Black patients in healthcare; Black patients are less likely to be appropriately treated due to racial bias, so their pain is often overlooked. This representation not only destigmatizes people living with the disease but can also lead to preventative measures. A lot of Black people live with the sickle cell trait but are unaware due to medical neglect and a lack of testing for the gene. This may seem trivial, but carrying the gene influences people’s decision to stay partnered and have children. Turning a disease into a superpower through a sci-fi show that acknowledges the lived experience of people with sickle cell is impactful storytelling.
Addressing Missing Black People
Throughout the show, we learn that the powerful organization hunting down the protagonists for their powers is also responsible for the missing cases of Black people in the country. The people presumed missing also have the “supacell” gene and their powers are exploited for the benefit of the organization. This is a creative scenario to help shed light on a very prevalent issue in the UK, that currently lacks mainstream coverage and resource allocation.
In the UK, Black people make up around 3% of the population yet they account for 14% of the missing person cases. In London specifically, around 13% of the population is Black yet they are overrepresented at 36% of the missing person cases. These disparities are rooted in racism which leads to a lack of care when handling Black cases. In the show, one of the protagonists assumed that his mother abandoned him during his childhood but later discovers that she was abducted by the same organization hunting him down. Other Black parents who also have missing kids attempt to work with the police, but their pleas are not taken seriously.
At the end of the show, the protagonists understand that they must stick together to stand a chance at helping those imprisoned by the organization. Their fight is bigger than themselves and they must use their powers responsibly to serve their community. This is a cathartic release for Black people who are societally disempowered by the lack of value for their lives. Transporting us to a world where Black people have superpowers at their disposal which gives them the agency to tackle a systemic issue head-on is liberating. It is a testament to the importance of representation and explains all the amazing reviews Supacell has received thus far.
Honoring South London Culture
Rapman was inspired by his South London roots as the setting of the story. He was very intentional about using his city as a backdrop to convey the authentic experiences of Black people from South London. Some of the notable cities highlighted in the show are Clapham, Lewisham, and Peckham. Notable eateries in South London, including Bagel King and Morley’s, were also featured on Supacell. In a GQ interview, lead actor Tosin Cole expresses the importance of seeing an area often associated with violent crime be depicted organically and feel grounded in reality. He highlights how filming the show in South London hit so close to home that he encountered loved ones and family members during the filming process. This type of representation is instrumental in unpacking the dehumanization of people living in high-crime areas such as South London.
Another important aspect of the show is the representation of Black British slang through the characters. This was a valuable highlight because it informs the role of Black immigrants in the U.K. and how their migration has influenced the language in their neighborhoods. The mass migration of Caribbean migrants to the U.K. informed Black British slang which is a mixture of English and other ethnic languages. The South London slang used in Supacell highlights a small subset of Black British culture within the overall British culture. Since they only account for 3% of the country’s population, having a predominately Black show that highlights Black British slang throughout the show is instrumental. This visibility helps to debunk the idea that similar to African American Vernacular English, Black British Slang is not considered a language.
The intentional representation in Supacell displays how an artistic project can creatively address critical topics in our society. From the cast and writing to the cinematography, every component of the show amplified the topics it sought to address, highlighting overlooked experiences in a way that is humanizing. Don’t miss out on great storytelling — be sure to stream Supacell on Netflix now.
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