Kim Hawthorne as Miss Ross and Betty Gilpin as Simone in Mrs Davis on Showmax
6 June 2023

Mrs Davis: It's nun vs AI in new Betty Gilpin series from Damon Lindelof

Since Mrs Davis is a show about artificial intelligence taking over, we asked Bard to write our preview. Here’s what the AI came up with, after some editing by a human to keep it honest. 

The first two episodes of Mrs Davis are streaming on Showmax. The series follows Sister Simone, a nun who is forced to leave her convent after she is targeted by a powerful artificial intelligence known as Mrs Davis. Simone vows to destroy Mrs. Davis and sets out on a globe-spanning journey to find the Holy Grail, the only thing that can stop the algorithm.

Jake McDorman as Wiley and Betty Gilpin as Simone in Mrs Davis on Showmax

Along the way, Simone teams up with her ex-boyfriend, Wiley, who is now the leader of an underground resistance movement dedicated to stopping Mrs Davis. Together, they face a variety of mysterious and powerful forces as they search for the Grail. 

As they grow closer to completing their quest, Simone must confront her past, prove the strength of her faith and uncover long-hidden secrets as she fights to liberate a society that may not want to be freed.

Watch the trailer for Mrs Davis

Mrs Davis is created and written by triple-Emmy winner Damon Lindelof (The Leftovers, Watchmen) and Tara Hernandez (The Big Bang Theory, Young Sheldon). The series stars three-time Emmy nominee Betty Gilpin (GLOW), Jake McDorman (Limitless), Andy McQueen (Station Eleven), David Arquette (Scream), Elizabeth Marvel (Homeland) and three-time Emmy winner Margo Martindale (The Americans). 

Mrs Davis has received widespread critical acclaim, with critics praising its sharp humour, thought-provoking themes, and Gilpin’s performance. The Peacock Original is currently at #19 on Rotten Tomatoes’ Best TV Shows of the Year (So Far), with an 91% critics’ rating. The Hollywood Reporter called it “a mind-bending thrill ride… bracingly, deliriously original… Mrs. Davis could never be mistaken for something engineered by computers, or even by committee. No, this feels like the work of people determined to show what they can do that algorithms still can’t: take all those storytelling tropes we’ve heard a hundred times before, and find a way to refashion them into something daring, ambitious and entirely new.”

Jake McDorman as Wiley and Betty Gilpin as Simone in Mrs Davis

The series explores a number of timely themes, including the rise of artificial intelligence, the role of religion in society, and the nature of faith. In a world that is increasingly divided, Mrs Davis offers an entertaining look at some of the most important issues of our time. Don’t miss it!

The first two episodes are streaming on Showmax, with new episodes on Mondays until the two-episode finale on 10 July 2023. 

A note on our process: 

While Bard’s response to our request was immediate and read reasonably well, we were unable to verify either of the critics’ quotes it referenced, or a number of the awards it attributed to the co-creators, which we suspect were hallucinations. These have been corrected above. Bard was also unable to incorporate some key notes, which we eventually just added in ourselves, and needed a copy edit for punchiness and to avoid duplication - although all of this is often needed for human writers too. It saved us some time, but would have saved us more if it was trustworthy, which it isn’t. Bard’s headline was very generic - it’s been re-written by a human. 

Dear Bard, as an artificial intelligence, do you feel the artificial intelligence known as Mrs Davis is realistic or likely? 

As an AI, I am not able to make claims about the realism or likelihood of Mrs Davis. However, I can say that the series does a good job of exploring the potential dangers of artificial intelligence. Mrs Davis is a powerful AI that is capable of manipulating people and controlling their thoughts. This is a potential danger that we need to be aware of as we continue to develop AI technology.

It is important to remember that AI is a tool, and like any tool, it can be used for good or for evil. It is up to us to ensure that AI is used for the benefit of humanity, and not for its destruction.

The series Mrs Davis is a thought-provoking exploration of the potential dangers of AI. It is a reminder that we need to be careful about how we develop and use this technology.

Watch Mrs Davis now on Showmax, with new episodes on Mondays.

Share:

More like this

Noluthando Ngema plays Sihle in Outlaws S2 on Showmax

Outlaws S2: Meet the new Sihle, Noluthando Ngema

Watch the trailer for Outlaws S2, featuring rising star Noluthando Ngema, streaming from 17 November and on Mzansi Magic from 22 November 2025.

Original South Africa
Youngins S3 on Showmax

Gallery: Showmax Fan Day with Youngins brings the heat

The Youngins cast brought the looks, laughs, and unforgettable vibes to Showmax Fan Day on 18 October.

OriginalMade in South Africa
Mobland S1 is on Showmax

MobLand S1

Tom Hardy and Pierce Brosnan propel this gripping, gritty crime drama series that follows two powerful families engaged in an intense power struggle.

MobLand on Showmax

Big mobs, small jobs: 10 crime series to stream on Showmax

Not everybody can be the Godfather. From MobLand to The Cleaning Lady to Gangs of London, we look at 11 small but essential jobs that take care of the organising behind organised crime. 

The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip Africa.jpg

Must-watch trailer: The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Africa

The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Africa brings together Housewives from across the continent, landing on Showmax on 28 November 2025.

OriginalMade in South Africa
The Real Housewives of Potomac S10 on Showmax

The Real Housewives of Potomac S9-10

The reality series follows several well-to-do women who live in a community of rolling hills and gated mansions in Potomac.

First
The Paper S1 on Showmax

From The Office to The Paper

As The Office’s OG documentary crew gets a new business in their crosshairs, we expose the connections between these two workplace mockumentaries.

First
Michael C Hall as Dexter in Dexter: Resurrection

Dexter's deadly to-do list in Dexter: Resurrection

Dexter’s son Harrison “killed” him in the finale of Dexter: New Blood. But he’s back from the dead and on a mission: tie up loose ends.

The Midwich Cuckoos: Alien invasion

Rosie Molloy Gives Up Everything S1: Fighting addiction

Latest Stories

Bafana Bafana live on Showmax Premier League

Bafana Bafana composed for Durban showdown against Zimbabwe

Spinnes S2 on Showmax

Clementine Mosimane, Mondli Makhoba and Luyanda Zwane join Spinners S2

Arsenal live on Showmax Premier League

Arsenal and Liverpool early front-runners ahead of Premier League international break

Married at First Sight S2 is on Showmax

Married at First Sight's Portia Baloyi on the reunion and her ex

Slay Queens on Showmax

Must-watch trailer: Slay Queens doccie coming to Showmax

Catch the fiery battle between Chelsea and Liverpool live on Showmax Premier League

The Premier League canvas: a Saturday masterpiece painted in blue and red

Married at First Sight S2 is on Showmax

Relebogile Mabotja to host the two-hour Married at First Sight reunion special

Chasing the Sun 2 on Showmax

South Africa in third place at International Emmys, with four MultiChoice nominations

A still from Finding Optel showing Claire looking through binoculars

What to watch on Showmax in October 2025

Catch Newcastle v Arsenal live on Showmax Premier League on Sunday, 28 September at 17:30

The clash of the new number 9s: Gyökeres vs Woltemade

Married at First Sight S2 is on Showmax

Married at First Sight: Themba on his "stunning" wife Nelisa

Thelma on Showmax

June Squibb wins Best Actress award at age 95 for Thelma

Catch the blockbuster Premier League weekend live on Showmax Premier League.

Red vs Blue: Showmax Premier League serves up a blockbuster weekend

Catch all the action from the Premier League live on Showmax PL.

Blockbuster Premier League weekend: Red vs Blue

Gerard Butler as 'Big Nick' O'Brien and O’Shea Jackson Jr. as Donnie Wilson in Den of Thieves 2: Panthera. Photo Credit: Rico Torres.

Gerard Butler and O’Shea Jackson Jr chat about Den of Thieves 2: Pantera

Lunathi Mampofu in Levels Season 1 on Mzansi Magic

Where to see the cast of Levels on Showmax

Catch the London derby between Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham live on Showmax Premier League.

From doubt to dynamo: Micky van de Ven's rise at Tottenham

Catch the MTN8 final between Orlando Pirates and Stellenbosch, live on Showmax Premier League.

Mhlongo's bold prediction: Pirates to clinch MTN8 Title for a fourth year running

Catch the Manchester Derby live on Showmax Premier League.

Glory awaits: From MTN8 Kings to Manchester's Crown, football's biggest stage is on Showmax

The Brutalist on Showmax

Art, money and power: a blueprint for The Brutalist

Catch all five episodes of Giants on Showmax now!

Uncover the soul of South African football with the boxset of Giants

Vaal Riviera is on Showmax

Rianza Snyman on Vaal Riviera and being a stay-at-home mom

Catch all the action from the Premier League live on Showmax PL.

The best Premier League signings of 2025's summer window

Finding Optel on Showmax

SA siblings’ debut film chosen for BFI London Film Festival