As I started watching Cursed, it took me a while to realise I’m on the first episode and not halfway through the series. Because well, it kinda threw me right into the middle of a death scene. Whose, you might ask? Well, the main lead, no spoilers here. I watched the show carefully to see if I could pick up the pieces. I have seen the entire show now and I’m still not sure if I did. So, if you are planning to watch the show, hang on and read this Cursed review first.
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What you think the show is about…
I have never seen a single episode of Game Of Thrones or The Witcher (judge me all you want). But if you have, this is something that will catch your attention. Since I hate the gore, filth, wars, and unnecessary killings, I never watch such shows. When I heard of this show though, I felt it had more of a Maleficent vibe, with magic, some cool tricks, and witches. But boy, was I wrong! It had all the filth, gore, and that GOT vibe which is definitely not my cup of tea. And if you love fantasy, brutal massacres, bloodshed, and slaughter, it has plenty of it.
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What the show is actually about…
Cursed on Netflix is a retelling of the Arthurian legend from a woman’s point of view. The story revolves around a powerful and magical sword which is called the Sword of the First Kings. Whoever possesses that sword is deemed to be the king of kings. And suddenly, all hell breaks loose when Nimue gets the sword. A fragile Fey girl among the magic folks is handed the sword by her mother, who asks her to take it to Merlin. So, before Arthur became king, there was someone else who was the true owner of the sword. His mighty sword, Excalibur, actually belonged to the Lady of the Lake, or Nimue, according to the stories.
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Honestly, you won’t be able to pick one evil in this story, because there are plenty. And since everyone is after the sword, you might actually start questioning if anyone is even worthy of the sword. The Red Paladins, who call themselves the soldiers of god, will actually go to any lengths to get it. The kings, raiders, shadow lords, and Merlin the magician, will all follow the same course and shed anyone’s blood for the sword. And Nimue, the Fey queen? She is still confused if she wants to keep the sword and rule, or just get it off her hands.
What I think the show is…
Well, here comes the deal. Even though, I was hesitant initially to watch the next episode, I think my curiosity got the better of me. And no, I’m not saying you will understand everything that is happening and will be able to connect the dots in the end. Honestly, there is a lot, way too much, going on in the show that might not make sense and feel a little out of the blue. All the kings, raiders, magicians, magic folk, shadow lords, and red paladins might get a little too much. But you also might enjoy it in parts.
For a story with a female lead, they could have actually done a bit better. Katherine Langford’s character, Nimue, is shown as a weak, confused, and reckless girl who is still deciding what she wants. She lacks authenticity and basically does what everyone asks her to do, besides listening to her own father. There are moments, however, when she shines through and that is what kept me going.
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So, even though I hate the base of the show, the war, and gore, I think I would sit through another season to see who the wretched sword actually went to. And if you are planning to watch something completely different from what Netflix has offered recently, you should give Cursed a shot.
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