MEET THE FAMILY,
ALIVE & DEAD
THE BELOVED ANCESTOR
VICTORIA, 60s
Victoria Montou. Dessaline’s adoptive mother and former Dahomey warrior. Having come up against many enslavers before in battle and otherwise, Victoria is confident in her abilities. She can move her machete like a wand, never missing a beat, and somehow effortlessly makes her opponents trip over their own feet. She knows what it’s like to be free from slavery and doesn’t plan on dying as a slave for someone else.
Knowing Dessaline’s from when he was quite young, she knows that their only hope is if she can pass on what she was also once taught. Victoria is fierce and determined, but also knows that time is of the essence. She knows that she has valuable knowledge and skills to share and expects other people’s immediate respect. During her training sessions, she is just as impatient with Gabrielle as Gabrielle is with her. If people don’t pay attention, she makes them listen.
Victoria’s arc from trainer to passing on the torch:
Victoria doesn’t want to die a slave, but she also knows that the likelihood of her seeing the otherside of the Revolution is low. She values the time she has with Dessaline’s and is trying to teach him and those around her the skills they need not only survive but win. Towards the end of the season, Victoria knows that she has fulfilled her mission, as she slowly starts to accept the fate that comes for all of us.
Victoria’s battle ritual
