From the creators of ‘The End of the F***ing World,’ the most original comedy arrives on Netflix, starring Jeff Goldblum as an (almost) all-powerful Zeus.
If there’s one thing that has revolutionized Netflix, it’s the way we consume audiovisual content by releasing entire series all at once, making all episodes available to the public from day one. This model, known in the English-speaking world as binge-watching, allows viewers to fully immerse themselves in a story without having to wait weeks to see the next episode. This strategy has generated a great reception from the audience, who can easily get hooked and binge entire seasons in a short time, becoming addicted to the latest trending series. Other platforms like Prime Video, Disney+, and Max (HBO) try to extend the hype by releasing their episodes over several weeks, in a traditional television manner, keeping the series in conversation for a couple of months.
Specifically, there is a Netflix series that has managed to secure a spot on the podium of the catalog after its recent release. And we’re not talking about global hits like My Plush Reindeer, Bridgerton, or the underrated Ripley. We’re referring to Kaos, one of the most-watched series on the platform in Spain. And it’s no wonder, because in addition to featuring a sublime (and very charismatic) Jeff Goldblum portraying the all-powerful Zeus in a tracksuit, it gives a contemporary twist to ancient Greek legends and myths. The British series is filled with prophecies, rebels, heroes, and villains in famous locations like Troy, creating a blend of fantasy, surrealism, and a lot (but a lot) of humor.
The End of the World
Charlie Covell earned the audience’s applause in 2017 with her series adaptation of the graphic novel The End of the F**ing World*, the other Netflix series from the creators of My Plush Reindeer, featuring 20-minute episodes. Now, Covell returns to wield her characteristic irreverent dark humor to tell the story of six humans who discover their connection to an ancient prophecy while battling Greek gods. It’s a fun, dark, and contemporary reinvention of Greek mythology that explores themes of gender politics and power. According to its creator, the series is set in three worlds: the Gods, Earth, and the Underworld. Leading the cast is Jeff Goldblum as Zeus, who unleashes chaos when he discovers what the end of the world might mean: he has a wrinkle.
On Earth, six humans, unaware of their significance and connection to each other, discover that they are active and integral parts of an ancient prophecy. Will they bring to light the truth about the gods and what they are doing to humans? And if they do, can they stop them? Under this premise—and to the sound of musical deities like Dire Straits, ABBA, and David Bowie—eight one-hour episodes unfold. According to Charlie Covell, “the series will hopefully have a scale somewhat akin to Game of Thrones, but in tone it should be closer to The End of the F**ing World*, in terms of humor, soundtrack, and appearance. One of my major inspirations was the aesthetic of Baz Luhrmann’s 1996 Romeo + Juliet.”
Reforms in Olympus
Kaos took its time arriving. After Netflix first announced this project reinventing Greek mythology in 2018, the pandemic delayed the endeavor, leading to significant cast replacements. Among them was the role of Zeus, which was initially intended for Hugh Grant. In a twist of fate, the character went to Goldblum, another of Hollywood’s deities. The filming, which includes several locations in Spain, brought together names such as Janet McTeer (Albert Nobbs), Cliff Curtis (Fear the Walking Dead), David Thewlis (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban), and Debi Mazar (Arde Madrid).
The series is set in Crete, the presumed birthplace of Zeus. There, the Jurassic World actor uses all his glamour and charisma (which is no small feat) to portray the seemingly all-powerful yet desperately insecure and vengeful Zeus, who has long relished his status as King of the Gods. Alongside him, the other Olympian Gods—from Hera to Prometheus, Hades, and Medusa—must achieve peace between deities and mere mortals. All of this unfolds across eight hour-long episodes, where we will see classic characters and stories from a new perspective, exploring themes such as politics, power, and gender with elements of dark comedy.
Kaos is available in the Netflix catalog.
