Show review – The Upcoming

Kaos | Show review

Jeff Goldblum steals the show as Zeus in darkly comedic Netflix drama Kaos. Created by Charlie Covell (The End of the F***ing World), the show follows the interconnecting tales of three characters who, unknown to them, set a prophecy in motion that is said to dethrone the legendary god. By putting a modern spin on the mythology that sees the gods appear more like affluent celebrities, the show brings plenty of visual flare to the world it’s creating. While the high levels of energy make for a highly entertaining watch, the overall quality is let down by a muddled script, which takes too long to get underway.

The best aspect of Kaos is undoubtedly Goldblum’s performance. Dressed in slick summer outfits and living in a lavish mansion in Olympia, this version of the Greek god is reminiscent of a villain from a Guy Ritchie flick. The actor balances this line between suave and dangerously brilliantly, giving another exceptional Goldblum-esque performance that perfectly fits the tone of the show. Janet McTeer likewise gives a solid performance as Zeus’ wife (and sister), with Aurora Perrineau, Nabhaan Rizwan and Killian Scott rounding out the marvellous cast.

As inventive as this series’ reimagining of the mythology is, especially when it comes to its interpretation of the underworld, an overstuffed script leaves something to be desired. With each of the first three episodes of this eight-part series dedicated to introducing each of the prophecy’s co-conspirators, the main plot is yet to find its footing by the halfway point of the show. Rather, the opening episodes are used more to introduce viewers to different parts of the mythology alongside the various subplots associated with each of the central characters. From the bureaucracy of Hades, The Furies and the Minotaur, there are a lot of truly fascinating takes the mythology thrown into each episode which add to the worldbuilding in interesting ways. The unfortunate drawback is that the plot is brought to a standstill during these opening episodes.

Despite Goldblum’s stellar performance and the unique spin on the mythos making for a compelling premise, the lack of any real plot to speak of at this point makes the first impression of Kaos a bit of a mixed bag.

Andrew Murray

Kaos is released on Netflix on 29^th August 2024.

Watch the trailer for Kaos here: