Nimona opens up on Netflix in a futuristic fantasy world with medieval queens and knights. The premise of this world is that the people live in a safe place behind a wall that protects them from the “monsters” beyond it. Knights are selected from among the wealthy and well-connected citizens to defend the land, but Queen Valerin has selected Ballister Boldheart (voiced by Riz Ahmed) as the first commoner to become a knight.
In a cute scene, we see Ballister and his boyfriend, Ambrosius, a fellow knight, preparing for Ballister’s knighting.
Unfortunately, before Ballister can be knighted, his sword shoots a laser at the queen, killing her. Ambrosius is forced to disarm Ballister, and, as Ballister tries to defend himself, he loses his arm. He flees in terror, clueless as to what’s going out, and hides out in an abandoned apartment.
Before long, he’s discovered by Nimona (voiced by Chloe Grace Moretz), our newest Netflix star, who believes she has found a kindred spirit. You see, Nimona is a shapeshifter, considered a monster and cast out by society. Now, in her eyes, Ballister is, too.