Breaking the Fairy Tale: How ‘Damsel’ Redefines the Classic Princess Trope

For decades, princesses in fairy tales have been portrayed as damsels in distress — delicate, obedient, and waiting for rescue. OTT’s ‘Damsel’ shatters that narrative, offering a refreshing take on the genre with a heroine who doesn’t wait for a prince, but becomes her own saviour.

Starring Millie Bobby Brown, ‘Damsel’ follows Princess Elodie, a young royal who agrees to marry a prince to help her kingdom, only to discover she’s being sacrificed to a dragon as part of a long-standing tradition. What begins as a typical fairy tale quickly unravels into a thrilling survival story. Elodie must rely on her wit, courage, and resilience to escape, flipping the script on everything audiences expect from a fantasy princess.

What sets ‘Damsel’ apart is its commitment to agency and empowerment. Instead of being a passive figure, Elodie challenges the very system that seeks to exploit her. She questions loyalty, family duty, and the cost of tradition — themes that resonate far beyond fantasy.

Image Courtesy: Netflix

The film also blends modern storytelling with classic elements: castles, dragons, and magic all remain, but they serve a narrative built on self-reliance rather than romance. There is no charming prince, no magical rescue — just a determined young woman facing impossible odds.

Visually stunning and emotionally grounded, ‘Damsel’ is more than a fantasy film. It’s a feminist reimagining that confronts outdated archetypes and champions a new kind of strength — one rooted in survival, self-worth, and the refusal to be defined by others’ expectations.

In a world still filled with fairy tales, ‘Damsel’ dares to ask: what if the princess didn’t need saving at all? Instead of waiting in the tower, she breaks out and slays the dragon herself.

–Farheen Ali