, created by British rapper, film director, and screenwriter Rapman, stands out for its innovative use of the superhero fiction genre to tell a compelling and propulsive story centered around sickle cell disease, a condition that disproportionately affects Black people. Starringsees his life unravel as he discovers he has a life changing superpower.
The series opens with a Black woman’s body being dragged down a hallway after she is shot while trying to escape from a secure facility. It’s later revealed that the individuals in the facility are being used for experiments, drawing a haunting parallel to the historical exploitation of Black bodies for scientific purposes.
Rapman's decision to tell this story within the science fiction genre is a significant creative choice. Historically, Black stories have been ostracised from science fiction despite the genre being a space for writers to critique society, particularly issues around ‘othering’. Science fiction’s reluctance to directly address race or gender has led to the, the intersection of science fiction, Black history, technology, and culture.
The series carries strong political messaging throughout the show, notably how white people in positions of power and systemic racism were suppressing Black people from their healing powers. This echoes the situation in the UK, where treatment for, often contributing to their pain. Early in the series, Michael’s mum is informed about a new treatment center that can reduce the blood transfusion process by half.