Horatio Cousens

**Horatio Cousens** is a physician and a Touched man whose turn grants him healing abilities.

## Biography

### Before

A family sponsored Horatio's medical training and brought him from Jamaica to England. According to him, he "almost swam back" after a week in their house. Horatio also describes that he has been left for dead "by men with less contempt."

On the Monday of August 3, 1896, Horatio and his wife Katherine Cousens left home for the day with their son. A strange object flew over London and emitted a bright-colored exhaust, touching many people, including Horatio.

Horatio worked as a physician at the Strohman's Asylum. While he was doing a checkup on Zephyr Navine, who had assumed the identity of Amalia True, she asked if there was any talk about a light in the sky or if anyone has shown any improvement in behavior since her arrival. Before Horatio could answer, they heard a commotion coming from the lobby, where a patient was threatening the others with a blade. The patient slashed Amalia on the wrist before Amalia disarmed her. Horatio then led her back into his office, where she revealed that she had seen this happen before it actually did. As he checked the gash on her arm, which would normally require stitches, his hands began to glow. He hovered his hands over her wound and healed her within moments.

Amalia explained to Horatio that aliens from the future had come to Earth and given them powers. However, the spores didn't usually give random powers or affect everyone they hit, though Amalia wasn't sure why this time was different. Horatio found in the newspaper multiple reports of unexplained powers, but they were yet to come across anyone who was empathically enhanced to guide them. Horatio suspected that this was Amalia's mission and suggested she alter her behavior for her to leave the asylum.

Amalia was eventually released and assumed Lavinia Bidlow's charity at St. Romaulda's Orphanage for the Touched. Horatio and Amalia had sex in the empty orphanage's kitchen.

### 1899

Three years later, Horatio helps in the St. Romaulda's Orphanage. While he's treating a wound on Amalia, she says that he should be the Royal physician due to his gift, instead of dealing with "gangsters and freaks," but Horatio explains that his gift gets him branded a voodoo witch doctor. Days later, Horatio again heals Amalia with his turn, after she is injured from a self-inflicted gunshot from her latest encounter with Maladie.

After an exam with her, Horatio advises Amalia against bringing Penance along on her dangerous excursions and to be more cautious with who she extends invitations to, as Bonfire Annie is a killer. Horatio worries about Amalia, though she isn't nearly as concerned for her own well-being. Horatio tells her that every night he sits at dinner across from his wife, knowing something that she doesn't, something that will pull her heart out. The only comfort he can give is the knowledge that he walked away from it, to which Amalia replies that he didn't get very far and apologizes for being his mistake.

While Horatio is walking alone, the Colonel approaches him and uses his turn of perception manipulation to lead him to a carriage. Inside sits a wounded Maladie, who asks Horatio to heal her. Should he agree, Horatio asks for reassurance that she doesn't kill him to get back at Amalia. Maladie notices he must be close to Amalia, but she doesn't remember him well. He agrees to use his healing turn on her wound and removes the bullet fragment from her chest. Maladie says the bullet was the only atonement Amalia offered, but Horatio retorts that she's blaming Amalia for something she couldn't control. After the procedure, he leaves the carriage unharmed.

After attending the funeral of Mary Brighton, Horatio meets with Bonfire Annie in the Orphanage. He questions how she can change from working for Maladie to Amalia. She replies that they're not too different. Penance and Amalia arrive and, together, they list suspects and their reasons for sending a killer after Mary. Désirée then enters the room and informs Horatio that his work is required downstairs. Later, Amalia reports her conversation with Lord Massen as an admission of killing Mary without explicitly saying so. While they cannot simply kill Massen, Annie and Horatio agree that they must retaliate in some form. Lucy suggests torching his warehouse full of munitions, so that's what Amalia does.

Amalia and Horatio have sex in her bedroom. While dressing, Amalia and Horatio discuss Maladie's forthcoming hanging and the precautions being taken. Horatio then asks about the Galanthi. Admittedly, Amalia is afraid he'll see what a horror she's been. Horatio sides with Amalia in her search for the Galanthi, rather than Penance's plan to rescue Maladie. Beneath the Royal Military Army base, Horatio drills the ground while Amalia, Bonfire Annie, and Augustus Bidlow fight off the soldiers. Amalia then falls into a sinkhole and meets with the Galanthi. The four eventually regroup, though without discovering their enemy. Back to the Orphanage, Horatio treats Bonfire's leg while Penance's group returns after an equally unsuccessful mission.

## Behind the scenes

* He is portrayed by Zackary Momoh.
* His official description introduced: "One of the few successful West Indian physicians in London. Married with a young son, Horatio's fortunes took a dark turn when he met Amalia and discovered his own ability. Now he works with her, and with the Beggar King, those who don't care who is or isn't 'different.'"
* Horatio represents The Lovers in *The Nevers* Tarot, a card associated with perfect unions, major choices, and shared values.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 *The Nevers* — "Touched." HBO, April 11, 2021.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 *The Nevers* — "Undertaking." HBO, May 2, 2021.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 *The Nevers* — "True." HBO, May 16, 2021.
4. ↑ *The Nevers* — "Exposure." HBO, April 18, 2021.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 *The Nevers* — "Ignition." HBO, April 25, 2021.
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 *The Nevers* — "Hanged." HBO, May 9, 2021.
7. ↑ James Hibberd, "Joss Whedon's HBO sci-fi drama The Nevers casts 12 actors." *EW.com*, July 30, 2019.
8. ↑ "The Lovers." *The Tarot Guide*. Retrieved on October 2, 2022.