Critic Reviews

In a televisual sea of white noise, this is propulsive, compulsive viewing. You thought superheroes had had their day? Rapman to the rescue.

It has cutting social commentary that simmers throughout, it shines a spotlight on real-life issues while folding it into their universe, and it balances a slow-burn approach with the action-packed to bring you characters, big and small, you desperately root for.

This compact first season does enough to merit a second. But if Supacell has a superpower, it is that it knows how to borrow well.

The series has an array of storylines and characters, but Michael and Dionne’s relationship stands at the heart of “Supacell.” The depth, intricacies and beauty of Black love are so rarely showcased on screen that seeing a young couple who has built a life together from their teen years into adulthood is beautiful to behold.

Showrunner and lead director Rapman’s sprawling sci-fi is an absolute riot, strikingly performed and bracingly plotted to a sensational soundtrack with five nuanced characters all battling complex problems.

Supacell is scrappy and scruffy (my own Spidey senses deduce there wasn’t a huge budget for special effects), but maybe that’s a good thing. Instead of drowning in CGI, there’s potential here for an imaginative story with multifaceted characters.

With a killer soundtrack and an unpredictable storyline, Rapman’s series is one of the best streaming surprises of the summer.

I’m telling you to watch the show for its potential, which I think is evident and ample, but if you wait for the show to fulfill its potential before tuning in, a second season will never materialize.

While there’s a lot about Supacell that we’ve seen before, there’s also enough that’s new to keep us watching, especially given the performances of its main cast.

Comparison is the thief of joy and Supacell does a massive disservice to the enthralling character drama of its heroes by aping popular DC and Marvel storylines.