Lambs of God

A series based on the book of the same name by Marele Day (which I haven’t read).

Seductive and narratively bold, it’s a series I appreciated mainly because I’ve never seen anything quite like it. It moves between gothic drama and gendered allegory in ways that are often (though not always) effective.

The story unfolds in an isolated, abandoned, and time-forgotten monastery where three nuns live. The arrival of a young priest disrupts their fragile balance and sets off a chain of events told in the tone of a dark fairytale, full of secrets, rituals, beliefs, and feminist rage.

Aesthetically, the series is stunning. The set design exudes a kind of decaying sanctity… fading images, flickering candles, and wild vegetation that swallows everything. The costume choices are rich with religious and mythological symbolism. Every frame seems crafted to awaken memories of a forgotten world where fairytales blur and coexist with theology.

Essie Davis , Ann Dowd , and Jessica Barden embody their roles with raw, almost primal intensity. Davis in particular is extraordinary. Her performance deserves to be studied as an example of portraying trauma, spiritual fervor, and inner life.

In terms of theme, Lambs of God is quite daring. It deconstructs and critiques the patriarchal nature of (Christian) religion and institutional power. The women here are not just victims, perpetrators, or saints—but complex beings trying to survive between psychic trauma and loss. The blending of Christian mysticism with paganism offers a fascinating lens through which to explore how women, historically, have claimed and continue to claim spiritual agency from the margins or entirely outside dominant theology.

That said, there are also obvious flaws in the execution…

Narratively, it’s a bit uneven, and there are moments when it focuses so heavily on symbolism and allegory that it detracts from character development. While magical realism serves as a crucial storytelling tool, there are times when the story feels lacking in internal coherence. The shifts between psychological and supernatural drama, between rawness and fairytale, can sometimes feel abrupt and made it hard for me to fully immerse myself in the story.

Ultimately, the series is a dark fairytale—enigmatic and deeply feminine—that invites reflection on faith, autonomy, and the unseen ways in which women resist systems designed to silence them. It may not be for everyone, but it’s well worth the time for those seeking something different.