Supacell is the latest Netflix sensation to hit our screens, capturing the attention of viewers worldwide. Climbing to the top of global Netflix charts, it’s racked up over 18 million views and a 100% ‘fresh’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes, suggesting that it’s a show that’s really hitting home with viewers. 

The gritty sci-fi series follows several Black Londoners from different walks of life who possess superpowers. As they uncover their abilities, they use them to navigate the challenges they face in their daily lives. Over the course of the series, they discover that they have sickle cell disease – a genetic condition that connects them further.

Sickle cell is the UK’s fastest-growing genetic condition, predominantly affecting the Black community. People with the condition are born with it, inheriting the gene from both parents. The body produces crescent-shaped red blood cells (as opposed to healthy round red blood cells), which block blood vessels and can cause complications.

The main symptoms include episodes of severe pain (known as sickle cell crises), an increased risk of serious infections and anaemia (where red blood cells cannot carry enough oxygen around the body). It’s important to note, however, that the disorder presents itself in different ways and can vary from individual to individual. 

Despite its prevalence, there’s still little awareness around sickle cell. In lieu of wider public health campaigns, large online social media communities of ‘sickle cell warriors’ have developed to offer support and advocacy. And now, we also have Supacell.

The show’s creator, Andrew Onwubolu (also known by his stage name Rapman) told Buzzfeed recently that he formed the idea of the show during the Black Lives Matter protests in the 2020 lockdown, when community unity was high. He also noticed how sickle cell significantly impacts the Black community and wanted to switch the narrative to something positive. “With sickle cell… I never understood something that only hurts Black people. So, I said, ‘How can I make this something that can switch it around?’”

Precious Gaza, a health writer and content creator based in Liverpool, describes the show as a “game changer” for sickle cell warriors like her. “Since the show came out, I’ve had so many people reaching out to me on Instagram, excited to hear my thoughts,” she tells Strong Women. “It’s opening up conversations and breaking negative stereotypes about sickle cell and those who live with it.”

When Precious has been hospitalised with chronic pain, she’s felt that health professionals have questioned the severity of her chronic pain. Workplaces have been unwilling to accommodate her condition (regular 9-5 hours are often difficult) and in hiring interviews, employers have remarked on the fact that her “unpredictable” condition makes her a hard hire.

As it’s an invisible illness, many sickle cell warriors often feel ignored, helpless and frustrated. “Before the show,” Precious explains, “perceptions were quite negative. People thought sickle cell patients were lazy or weak, but the show sees us as strong, regular people living normal lives.”

A central feature of the show is that when the characters’ powers activate, their eyes turn yellow – a sign of jaundice, which is a common symptom of sickle cell. It can also be a prelude to dehydration and sickness. Precious used to be mocked when her eyes yellowed, recalling: “People would always laugh and say, ‘Why are your eyes so yellow?’ and I couldn’t explain why.” 

The show has already started to change things on that front. She says: “When I was in hospital last week, my friend – who knows nothing about sickle cell – saw my yellowing eyes and asked if my powers were about to activate. It really made me laugh.”

Londoner Patrish Zea is a lead mentor for the south-west London region of the Sickle Cell Society’s Children and Young Person’s Peer Mentoring Programme. She is also the founder of her own charity, Sickle Teller, which encourages blood donations and raises awareness of the condition. Zea tells Strong Women: “Sickle cell can be extremely deceiving. I may look physically well, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that my body is functioning well. It’s an invisible illness.”

As such, Zea has had to tweak her lifestyle to accommodate triggers. “I have to be careful wherever I go, avoiding extreme and sudden changes in temperatures, which might trigger a sickle cell crisis. I also always carry my medication with me for chronic nerve pain. Everyday tasks can be a real challenge. It can be a debilitating condition.”

However, seeing a show like Supacell on a global platform has had a dramatic affect on Zea’s self-esteem. “Words can’t quite describe its impact,” she says. “There were moments that brought tears to my eyes. It’s honestly a breath of fresh air to see a positive spin on sickle cell.”

Perhaps the most pertinent moments in the show, according to Patrish, are the recurring blood donation scenes. During these, you see the warriors sitting through blood transfusion treatments, which replace damaged cells with healthy red blood cells from blood donors. Given that Patrish has a blood transfusion every five weeks, she knows first-hand just how urgent the need for Black blood donors is.

Just 1% of blood donors in the UK are Black, a statistic that has remained unchanged for the past few years. NHS Blood and Transplant raised urgent pleas for more Black donors during Sickle Cell Awareness Month last September. Since Supacell aired, however, the Sickle Cell Society has seen a 20% increase in donation inquiries, CEO John James told the NHS in a press release.

The sickle cell community online is extremely active, with platforms and social media accounts dedicated to raising awareness of both the disease and the need for blood donations. Patrish, for example, was part of Sanius Health’s This is What Sickle Cell Looks Like campaign in 2022, which was the largest campaign in sickle cell history. It plastered 40 Transport for London underground billboards and over 250 bus billboards nationwide. 

Siliana Coelho, 26, is another sickle cell warrior who was in complete shock when she saw Supacell. “I’d never seen sickle cell being discussed anywhere, let alone in a whole show!” she exclaims. “My inner child was screaming and crying – I’ve dreamt of seeing sickle cell openly discussed like this.” 

Like Precious and Patrish, she has taken to the internet to advocate for more blood donors and share her story. “There wasn’t enough awareness – that’s why I started,” she explains. “So, I decided to take my pain and vulnerability to social media. Many people who have sickle cell are either too scared to talk about it or are afraid of how they’ll be perceived. But the truth is, if we don’t carry on speaking out, we’ll continue to be in agony.”

As Supacell achieves global success, wider perceptions of sickle cell continue to shift. This empowering representation of sickle cell warriors in popular culture marks a significant and much-needed step forward. 

Images: Netflix