The Nevers (HBO) is billed as an epic science fiction drama about a gang of Victorian women who find themselves with unusual abilities, relentless enemies and a mission that might change the world.
Why is it called The NEVERS?
Just finished episode 12, did I miss something?
Because the story's Never going to finish 🥁
Thanks, I hate it.
According to Joss Whedon this is the explanation for the title.
"They, themselves are not called that [The Nevers] in the show. It's a phrase that's meant to evoke a sort of reaction to their oddity, to what is considered unnatural. The idea that you should never be like this, you should never have existed. Something is not the way it should be, and you don't have the right to have whatever weird power or ability that you have. And that idea, that some people are not of the natural order, is fascinating to me. I don't agree with it. But to me, it's one of those things where you take something negative, and you wear it as a badge of honor, basically. Certain things could never happen - they're happening. And the people they're happening to are taking their place in the world."
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Nevers
Man say what you will about Joss but he really has his finger on the narrative pulse, conceptually that's such an interesting idea to explore in the context of modern ideals.
And there's no pre-existing IP or novelization to draw from, it's all from his head. Obviously, storytelling elements can be somewhat universal, & he does have a tendency to get convoluted with multiple threads & strange-ish elements, but his real gift is being able to ground a lot of that in good character writing & dialogue. You give Joss a good cast of capable actors & a dedicated crew & you get great shows. He's definitely not beyond reproach, as no one really should be, but damn he's good at what he does.
Hey this might sound passive or even aggressive, but it's truly not meant to.
He's drawing on X-men themes in even that explanation, let alone the concepts of the general plot, is he not? Clearly there are his own twists and remixes added. And those truly do shine from within him, but to say there's no pre-existing to draw from... I mean thematically, there's God damn oodles of it! Or did I misunderstand?
No doubt, definitely pre-existing media that is an obvious influence on the themes & even particular story elements, but a direct adaptation of an existing property this is not. It's hard to do something TRULY original these days, & when it's done it usually deserves praise. Again, Joss is very talented with character development & dialogue, giving him a cast as talented as this one can compensate for shortcomings in the story because there's a solid, established base for that character...which I think was sort of lost in 1B in favor of plot convenience.
The X-Men concept is based off of 1960s political ideology conflict. Specifically, MLK vs Malcom X.
But it is still not unique IP/concept. It has been around a long time to explain variance within humanity. The Munsters is one example, and Final Fantasy 6 is another. VERY popular during their time. Dozens of sci-fi/fantasy examples can also be found over a span of at least 6 decades.
If anyone wants a mind-F, read up on the very complex allegory that is Final Fantasy 6.
The Nevers can be read as The Nethers and The Neithers. It is conceptually the same. Neither human or beast, and neither fully in human space of the space of their own. In other words, the nether. Nevers just sounds more old world English, I guess.
Ty
Guess we’ll never know.
My theory is it's related to this quote from Lord Massen in episode 1:
What the other person said. Horrible name I feel though. I would've never picked this series up due to the lame name on a normal day but I was in a sci-fi drought. Glad I watched it though, an amazing series that is very well-written and full of surprises. Sad that there wouldn't be a second season.
It's the show that could never be.
I would have loved an explanation story-wise, like at the end they have to wipe everyone's memories about their existence from the collective mind. So the show would act like those people influenced our history on a grand scale, but today we've never known they existed. It sounds like such a Whedon thing to do.
I recall that it’s supposed to be a play on the phrase, “well, I never!”
What would you have called the show?
The Touched comes to mind. But that can go sideways quickly.
I love the title. Just wondering.
Not marvel 1619?
"That could never happen!"
"Sounds like you've got a case of the Nevers!"
imo it's this^
Where did you see it?
Well... In Canada I am having a hard time finding where to watch the last 6 episodes. So, I think it is rightfully called "The Nevers" as I am NEVER going to find the end of the show...lol
Probably because calling it "The Touched" makes it either sound sexual or about a group of mentally unstable people and I can't imagine calling it "The Turning" or "Their Turns" as out of context it sounds like a soap opera for werewolves.
The Nevers has a ring to it that describes what we're watching a bunch of women with powers in 1890s London something that never would have happened while still maintaining the huge mystery box element of the show.