You know how there’s been a surge of Black psychological/sci-fi thrillers? Well, I need there to be a supernatural renaissance! Last weekend, I discovered a supernatural series called Wicked City. It follows a coven of Black witches that attract dangerous enemies due to their growing power.
The first scenes of this show reminded me so much of The Secret Circle. Camille is on her way to her mother’s house, only to find she’s been fatally attacked. Her last words were a spell and instructions for Camille to move across the country. In her grief, Camille complies and journeys to Atlanta, GA where she stumbles upon a coven of witches. Her whole world turns upside down when everyone finds out just how powerful of a witch she is. The drama, both inside and outside the coven, kept me hooked, and the range of characters is fascinating. They’ve got it all, from awkward Black girls, baddies, botanists, sapphics, and villains. The antagonists are so over the top, and Claudette’s my favorite. She’s evil and unpredictable, no doubt a chilling combination. Even after her atrocities, she’s still likeable and the streets are calling her mother. (I’m the streets)
In terms of production, I’d describe this show to be closer to Tubi than Netflix, Hulu, or Prime. At times, the lighting, CGI, editing, writing, and acting may seem a bit off. It may not be your cup of tea, and if I’m being honest, some parts made me cringe, but I stuck through it for the story. If you’re someone who can enjoy Tubi movies, baby, grab some popcorn and get settled in! Thankfully, the budget has been improved for Season 2, and things are looking a lot better. It’s important to remember that many Black production studios operate on different budgets than the shows we’re accustomed to. Supporting them is crucial because with increased support, both the budget and quality are likely to improve.
Wicked City is streaming on AllBlk and their subscription is available on Prime Video. The first episode is free on their website, but honestly, it gets better after a couple of episodes so don’t give up lol.
I hope we get more Black supernatural series in the future! seeing that CGI and postproduction edits really make a difference, I hope they get more access to that. All I got to say is, Julie Plec needs to hand over that vampire tech NEOW. Black vampires would eat down, especially Black female vampires!! Imagine the stories they could give us! hehe.