As a seasoned aficionado of mythology and a connoisseur of modern storytelling, I must confess that “Kaos” left me somewhat underwhelmed. The series, with its grand ambitions to reimagine the Greek gods, initially piqued my interest. However, as a scholar who has traversed through countless tales of ancient lore, I found myself yearning for something more profound and engaging.
As a movie enthusiast, I must say that the intricate tales of ancient Greek mythology, usually seen as daunting and inaccessible to contemporary audiences, were originally meant to shed light on the diverse facets of human nature. In the fresh Netflix production titled “Kaos,” masterminded by Charlie Covell, we delve into a world where the mighty Greek deities succumb to their primal urges, fears, and fixations. Spanning eight episodes, this series vividly depicts the perils of power and avarice, yet stumbles due to overloaded plotlines and tiresome characters.
“The story unfolds with Prometheus, portrayed by Stephen Dillane, longing for the demise of an ever more tyrannical Zeus, played by Jeff Goldblum. Punished by being chained to a rock and having his liver pecked out by an eagle every day, Prometheus recalls their once amicable relationship. Their bond eroded when he defied the King of the gods. In this agonizing state, Prometheus hints that Zeus’ downfall will be prophesied and will involve unwitting humans.”
Initially, the viewers are introduced to Goldblum’s character, Zeus, in his grand mansion atop Mount Olympus, dressed in a sparkling white short set adorned with rhinestones depicting lightning bolts. He enjoys the live telecast of the Olympia Day festivities in Krete along with his cunning sister/wife Hera (Janet McTeer) and their foolish son Dionysus (Nabhaan Rizwan). At first, Zeus is content with the celebration, but this changes when a statue honoring the gods is unveiled, completely smeared in feces. This distasteful act triggers a fit of rage in the sky and thunder deity. The disrespect, causing a new furrow on his brow, makes Zeus remember his own prophecy which foretells, “A line appears, the order weakens, the family falls, and chaos reigns.” This prediction is a destiny that Zeus wishes to avoid at all costs.
On Earth, three individuals find themselves entangled in prophecies associated with Zeus: Eurydice, also known as Riddy (Aurora Perrineau), is grappling with the courage to end her marriage to her rock-star husband Orpheus (Killian Scott). At the same time, Ari (Leila Farzad), whose father presides over Krete, begins questioning the effectiveness of his leadership and the society’s reverence for gods. In the Underworld, governed by Zeus’ brother Hades (David Thewlis) and his wife Persephone (Rakie Ayola), Caneus (Misia Butler), who has been deceased for a decade, is stuck in limbo between the living and the dead. However, an encounter with a stranger alters the course of Caneus’ postmortem existence.
The title “Kaos” shares a haunting atmosphere with Netflix’s horror series “The Fall of the House of Usher.” However, despite an intriguing initial premise, this dramedy falters in maintaining audience engagement. Initially, the characters, including Zeus’ younger brother Poseidon (Cliff Curtis), seem fascinating, but as the story unfolds, viewers come to realize that they lack depth. These gods are self-centered, malevolent, and consumed by their own desires, offering little in terms of interest or development.
Additionally, although a flamboyant, self-centered portrayal of Zeus may amuse viewers, not even the cleverness of actor Goldblum can breathe depth and emotional investment into the character. McTeer, Rizwan, and Curtis deliver powerful performances, but their characters lack the intricacy and originality that would make audiences empathize with their downfall or rule. Instead, these gods are merely rehashes of the wealthy, obnoxious characters we’ve encountered on-screen (and in real life) numerous times before.
The episodes generally tend to be lengthy, wandering, and artificial, but Episode 6 introduces some intriguing ideas. In this installment, as Caneus, Ari, and Rinny delve into their prophecies and divine connections, we see flashbacks of their childhoods to illustrate the risks of blindly adhering to rituals without sincere belief or understanding. Furthermore, “Kaos'” depiction of the Underworld and people journeying from Earth towards renewal is visually captivating, showcasing Dick Lunn’s exceptional talent in production design.
Essentially, the show “Kaos” falls short of providing enjoyment as its plot becomes overwhelmed by its grandeur. Multiple story arcs lack cohesion and collide haphazardly towards a disappointingly anticlimactic finale. The gods seldom exhibit their abilities in ways that are awe-inspiring or exhilarating. Above all, viewers find themselves questioning the relevance of the gods’ squabbles given the numerous challenges we face on Earth.
“Kaos” premieres on Netflix Aug. 29.
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2024-08-29 17:16