A deer stands unaware in a light-dappled forest whereas the titular Ren – performed with sensitivity and a wide-eyed sweetness by Sophie Skelton (Outlander) – eyes it by means of the leaves. The music intensifies, constructing anticipation for her to shoot it Katniss-style, solely to disclose that she is sketching the deer in a pocket book full of mysterious imagery. Although we later see her wielding a bow, Ren performs with and subverts fantasy and YA conventions.
Created by producer and director Kate Madison and actor and author Christopher Dane, Ren takes place in a medieval-esque fantasy world the place books are banned and mysteriously ‘marked’ troopers hunt individuals down. Ren lives together with her father and youthful brother, whom she helps help, in a small village the place they’re regarded with suspicion by the remainder of the villagers. She is guided by a mysterious mentor, an outcast residing on the woods’ edge, who offers her the forbidden sketchbook.
When troopers arrive in her village trying to find these ‘marked’ individuals, Ren’s peaceable existence is shattered by betrayal and the shattering of all the things she thinks she is aware of about her world. These ‘marked’ people might be recognized by elaborate designs that seem on their faces, indicating that they’re internet hosting spirits who can solely be freed when the particular person dies.
Watching Ren in October 2020 felt like a flashback to a happier time when teenage ladies with bows dominated the field workplace. The comforting house of a well-known but stunning fantasy world was a welcome respite from the chaos of right now. I additionally liked seeing a younger lady as the principle character in a fantasy present, the place they nonetheless typically play a secondary function because the ‘sturdy feminine character’ and love curiosity of the (straight and male) ‘chosen one’.
For followers of Eragon, Merlin, and Cursed, Ren tells the story of a creative younger lady who’s pressured into a task with expectations and penalties past her wildest fears and goals. With brief 5 episodes, Ren simply might be binged in a single sitting as I did. This intriguing premise ends on a cliffhanger that sets-up a second season, which left me wanting extra solutions and questioning about Ren’s subsequent steps in her journey. Watch at no cost on Starbaby Community, https://www.starbabynetwork.com/ren-season-one-episode-1/.
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