KAOS

In KAOS (Netflix), the Greek gods rule the modern world from Olympus, but some among the humans have had enough of their casual cruelty, playing roles assigned by the Fates in a prophecy that will bring about the downfall of Zeus and his family.

Going into this, I expected a campy, mildly amusing comedy-drama with Jeff Goldblum hired to be Jeff Goldblum the way Nicholas Cage is hired to be Nicholas Cage, and with allusions to Greek mythology to elevate it. Instead, I received a dark, humorous, surprising, and powerful story that explores the relationship with the divine, predestination, and rebellion against tyranny.

The characters are all likeable, and some are a lot of fun like the Fates and the Furies, but Goldblum chews every scene he’s in as Zeus, the paranoid king of the gods who so obsessed with the prophecy of his downfall that he actually helps bring it about, funny and menacing in turns. The actors aren’t the usual gorgeous creatures but look like regular people.

The world building is also amazing. Instead of the gods inhabiting the modern world somewhere in the backdrop, they are everywhere at the fore, resulting in a fantasy world rendered with real integrity, one that takes its own premise seriously and is utterly convincing from customs to costumes to culture.

As for the story, it’s intricately plotted and doesn’t hold any punches, while offering numerous tantalizing mythological cameos and twists on the old myths to produce something new. The themes themselves are mythological, dealing with justice, only they are inverted against those who deal justice unfairly, about breaking the cycle of oppression and overthrowing the gods themselves.

Overall, I absolutely loved it. Unfortunately, while the basic story wraps up–unfortunately with a little deus ex machina–the ending leans on seeds planted for a Season 2, and as of now, as far as I’ve heard, Netflix has not yet renewed it. Which is a bummer, as KAOS is bloody amazing.