The 2010s were the peak of appointment television; millions would anchor themselves to the TV ready for the latest episode of a show, whether that be Doctor Who or the BBC's fantasy-adventure Atlantis.
But as our palettes have broadened, and mythological sci-fi dramas continue to be produced at such a high calibre, will Netflix's new series Kaos be able to capture our attention with its modernised approach?
Mythological adventures have typically had the nation in its grasp. After fan-favourite Merlin ended in 2012, the BBC introduced us to Atlantis – an underwater feast filled with camp British comedy, CGI and twists and turns intended to immerse audiences into the world of snake-headed goddesses and more stone than you've ever seen.
Related: Happy Valley's Siobhan Finneran and Asa Butterfield to lead Netflix thriller
Through Jason, played by Jack Donnelly, the cult show follows his quest to find his father and save his city of Atlantis alongside his friends Hercules and Pythagoras.
With classic BBC faces including Mark Addy, Robert Lindsay and Juliet Stevenson, as well as future household name Anya Taylor-Joy, it was a star-studded series intent on continuing to capture the nation's taste for the mystical.
What to Read Next
Written by Misfits creator Howard Overman and Merlin's Johnny Capps, on paper, the show did well. But its dusty and authentic approach to Greek mythology felt constrained by its prime-time slot. The pressure to create a show that was family-friendly, historically accurate and mammoth enough to compete in the ratings meant that, in our opinion, narratively it suffered.
Eventually, it was cancelled midway through its second series, despite pulling in a decent viewership. Even to this day, fans are calling for it to come back – so its impact can't be overlooked.
Related: Richard Armitage gives update on new Harlan Coben thriller
We're now 11 years on, and our appetite for Greek mythology hasn't dissipated – evident by the newest flashy drop from Netflix, one of the best streaming services, in the form of Kaos.
Starring Jeff Goldblum, Billie Piper, Janet McTeer and David Thewlis, the series comes from the mind of comic and writer of End Of The F***ing World, Charlie Covell. Following Goldblum as Zeus, it stands at the other end of the spectrum compared to Atlantis despite drawing influence from the same genre.
What Kaos has managed to do succinctly, and almost ironically, is take Greek mythology and sneak it inside a diverse, modern, sexy show.
Characters include Dionysus, traditionally the God of wine, festivity and cheer (also son of Zeus), as well as Orpheus, a famous prophet and musician.
In this modern take, Dionysus – played by Nabhaan Rizwan – is a party boy who struggles to find his place in the world, consumed by his struggling relationship with his father. Odysseus? A famous pop star and musician.
Much like the story of the Trojan Horse itself, Kaos cleverly hides its mythological narrative in modern and relatable storytelling – winning over even the most stubborn of mythological naysayers in the process, and introducing them to the stories that have endured the test of time.
As a cast, it triumphs by including a mixture of household names as well as new, emerging forces that bring the ensemble to life.
Misia Butler as Caneus and Sam Buttery as Atropos are standouts, providing more (and much-needed) positive trans representation across our screens. Aurora Perrineau also holds her own and delivers a defiantly strong performance as Riddy in the first installment of the eight-episode series.
Modernising a classic isn't always easy, but approaching it with an open mind, intelligent casting and a fresh angle is often the best way to provide audiences with a show that is intent on more than just ratings.
Kaos will be polarising – purists will have an excuse to turn their noses up, but Netflix has taken a healthy risk by seeking to engage a whole new audience who may have previously only associated Greek mythology with Saturday nights stuck inside on the sofa with your parents.
Kaos is available on Netflix.
You Might Like...
Jamie Windust is an award-winning editor, writer and author specialising in writing about LGBTQ+ storytelling, film and TV. As former Contributing Editor at Gay Times, they have interviewed talents such as Jack Lowden, Owen Jones, John Bell and Jack Rooke.
Their debut book In Their Shoes: Navigating Non-Binary Life detailed their experiences growing up as a trans person and how influential culture, fashion and TV and film were in helping them to express themselves with confidence. In Their Shoes was longlisted for the 2021 Polari First Book Prize.
Bylines include The Independent, Metro, Mashable and ELLE UK.
