Streaming on: Netflix
Episodes viewed: 8 of 8
For those who want something a little more adult than Percy Jackson, but slightly less dark than American Gods, KAOS may be the modern mythological reimagining you’re looking for. It’s a darkly comedic, rambunctious family affair from creator Charlie Covell (The End Of The F**king World), whose irreverent take will have you falling for gods and mortals alike.
Jeff Goldblum is in his element as Zeus, the king of the gods, playing him as notoriously unstable and self-obsessed. It seems that all of his family have left him alone on Mount Olympus, with the exception of his wife, Hera (Janet McTeer), and his son, Dionysus (Nabhaan Rizwan). When an unknown group of mortals hijack Olympia’s offering to the gods with a literal pile of shit, Zeus is forced to face the fact that his family is falling apart, and people simply do not fear them the way they used to. So he embarks upon a reign of terror.
Jeff Goldblum’s approach to Zeus is as delightful as you’d hope.
The series is narrated by Prometheus (Stephen Dillane), himself on a mission to destroy Zeus when not having his liver pecked out by an eagle. Also entwined in the god-destroying prophecy are mortals Orpheus (Killian Scott), a multi-talented rockstar, and Eurydice (Aurora Perrineau), his girlfriend, whose death spurs one of the most well-known tales of Greek myth: Orpheus’ journey into the underworld.
Covell’s approach in KAOS is a ton of fun, reframing ancient fables with modern sensibilities, and it’s all held together by an impressive ensemble. Goldblum’s approach to Zeus is as delightful as you’d hope, but he’s backed up by the likes of an unconventionally meek Hades, god of the underworld (David Thewlis), desk-bound office manager Medusa (Debi Mazar), and a fabulous trio of genderqueer and non-conforming Fates (Sam Buttery, Eddie Izzard and Ché). Half the fun of KAOS is finding out how Covell has chosen to represent these mythological icons in the modern world, though with such an extensive roster, some characters do struggle to find enough room to breathe.
KAOS deviates from the usual lens of free will-versus-destiny that Greek myths are so often told through; while still present in this take, the series leans harder into themes of power, control, and the inevitable fall of authority. It delves into the gods’ psyches, and begs us to ask the question: do you really believe everything you’ve been told?