Mortals Rise, and Gods Fall

Read Time:3 Minute, 44 Second

TV SERIES REVIEW
KAOS
–

Genre: Drama, British, Comedy, Dark Comedy, Fantasy
Year Released: 2024
Runtime: 8 x 50m episodes
Created by: Charlie Covell
Director(s): Georgi Banks-Davies, Runyararo Mapfumo
Cast: Jeff Goldblum, Janet McTeer, Cliff Curtis, David Thewlis, Killian Scott, Aurora Perrineau, Misia Butler, Leila Farzad, Nabhaan Rizwan, Rakie Ayola, Stanley Townsend
Where To Watch: the season will be released on Netflix on August 29, 2024

RAVING REVIEW: In Charlie Covell's series KAOS, ancient gods slam surreptitiously across the modern-day world. They “were so preoccupied with whether or not they could that they didn't stop to think if they should.” (oh, wrong movie!) The result is a mythology that shines with a unique flair that I wasn’t expecting. This Netflix original series explores the divine drama that results when the eternal questions of humans and immortals clash around Zeus (Jeff Goldblum,) whose curiosity and narcissistic tendencies could destroy the world as we know it. Goldblum offers a stirring, scene-stealing portrayal (as usual) as the aging deity confronts forces beyond his control.

A crack in Zeus’ control unravels to create a cosmic ripple so prominent Odin must be on high alert that his underworld and Earth may crumble. Yet the same unrest is stirring among Hades’ (David Thewlis) subjects—spirits of the dead who cannot be ensured eternal justice as his control wanes—and, within Olympus and its realms…if chaos reigns there, a lesser man may live to see it in both life and death alike. And it does so in a way that illustrates the symmetry of two forms of chaos, rising from beneath and falling from above.

As we enter the eye of the storm, Janet McTeer enters the fray as Hera. The Greek goddess who keeps her cool as the sky falls is the cornerstone of this story, juxtaposed against Zeus’ deepening suspicion. We look at the politics and power play within godly spheres, simultaneously weaving a tale of humans attempting to shape their destiny in this divine epic where gods clash with men. Riddy (Aurora Perrineau) and Orpheus (Killian Scott) are not mere onlookers but are critical participants in a prophecy destined to shift the balance of power.

Cliff Curtis as Poseidon and Thewlis's Hades adds to the narrative's complexity. Like the humans they rule over, they make their vulnerabilities known. This subtle portrayal showcases how power can be a double-edged sword, in this case, causing decay and other unexpected issues in the unknown.

Directed by Georgi Banks-Davies and Runyararo Mapfumo, KAOS excels at creating visually driven narratives that blend the mythic with the everyday while interrogating age-old power and defiance motifs. The show suggests chaos as a fertile field of disorder and impending return to life in transformation.

Outside of mythology, KAOS reimagines these narrative arcs—who possesses power, when, and whose lives are vulnerable? It also winks at destiny intersecting with choice, laying out an ending that not even the gods themselves will see or know and no one can predict.

The show takes the audience on an adventure packed with mystery, comedy, and plot twists while overhauling familiar myths for a modern-day setting. A sharp script and intriguing character development allow Covell to retain intellectual integrity throughout, and the wildly entertaining result distinguishes KAOS from age-old tales.

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[photo courtesy of NETFLIX]

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