The new hit Netflix series Supacell is captivating audiences. The show secured the top spot in the UK 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. It is being praised for having a Black-led cast and its intentional representation when addressing overlooked issues in society. Here’s how Supacell intentionally tackles sickle cell disease, and the ignored issue of missing Black people in the UK, while staying true to South London culture.
Supacell follows 5 characters based in South London who come into supernatural powers. They quickly realize they are being hunted by an organization that wants to exploit them. As a result, they 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 predominantly impacts Black people, considering the lack of awareness within the community. He was also very intentional about representing South London in a creative way that would bring pride to its locals.
Addressing Sickle Cell Disease
Sickle Cell is a genetic disorder where the red blood cells abnormally become sickle-shaped. It results 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 get their powers due to a connection with a family member who has sickle cell or carries the trait. The disease inspires the show’s name. Since the protagonists carry a mutated version of sickle cell, the mutation grants them power.
While 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. As a result, the disease is predominant amongst people of African descent.
Despite the prevalence of the diseases amongst Black people, there is a huge lack of awareness, and Supacell is instrumental in changing that. Viewers living with sickle cell are applauding the representation of people living with the disease. Additionally, the challenges in receiving medical care are a big highlight of the show.
A particularly eye-opening scene highlights an elderly woman going through a sickle cell crisis. The showcasing of her treatment reflects the disparities Black patients experience in healthcare. Black patients are less likely to receive proper treatment 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 witness the powerful organization hunting down the protagonists for their powers. The same organization is also responsible for the missing cases of Black people in the country. The people presumed missing also have the “supacell” gene. The organization exploits the abducted people’s powers for its own benefit. This is a creative storyline that helps 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. However, 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 Supacell, one of the protagonists assumes that his mother abandoned him during his childhood. He later discovers that she was abducted by the same organization hunting him down. Other Black parents with missing kids attempt to work with the police, but their pleas are dismissed.
At the end of the show, the protagonists understand 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 the amazing reviews Supacell is receiving.
Honoring South London Culture
Rapman’s South London roots inspired the setting of the story. He was very intentional about using his city as a backdrop to convey the authentic experiences of Black South Londoners. Some of the notable cities the show highlights are Clapham, Lewisham, and Peckham. Supacell also features notable eateries in South London, including Bagel King and Morley’s.
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 dialect through the characters. This is a valuable highlight because it explains the role of Black immigrants in the UK. Mass migration of Caribbean migrants to the UK informed Black British dialect—a mixture of English and other ethnic languages.
The South London dialect 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, a Black show that highlights Black British dialect throughout the series is instrumental. The visibility helps debunk the idea that, similar to African American Vernacular English (AAVE), Black British dialect 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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