‘Kaos,’ Netflix’s newest experiment in the narrative of myths, has attracted viewers for its topical adaptation of Greek myths. When Zeus, played by Jeff Goldblum, is an ever-changing character, there’s no reason why this series can’t mix comedy with stories that are as ancient as humanity. But the reaction has been rather diverse, some critics have said it was creative, others said the concept was good but the implementation was poor. It’s time to provide the reader with a more detailed description of what “Kaos” has to offer based on the contribution of The Guardian and Vaśriety.
The Guardian’s Take: A Masterpiece of Modern Mythology
The Guardian’s Lucy Mangan gets some of the funnies with her description of “Kaos” as a ‘furiously entertaining’ and ‘enormously clever’ drama. She emphasizes the elaborate plot of the show, which balances the existence of gods and those of humans in the contemporary world where pantheism is embraced. Mangan has especially nice words about the script written by Charlie Covell which can be characterized as confidently witty and quite rigorous. One thing in particular that audiences appreciate is the humor and violence that are equally incorporated into the show, which indeed makes the show both entertaining, as well as a food for thought.
Mangan also grabbed attention for Jeff Goldblum who portrayed Zeus. His character is quite entertaining as the king of gods who is under constant stress due to his sensitivity. Themes and motifs also add more layers to the text’s analysis; questions of power, freedom, and being human form a part of the story too. The series remains rather heavy at some moments and it takes a lot from Greek mythology but these moments are portrayed with humor which makes the audience stay engaged.
All in all, The Guardian considers “Kaos” to be an “out-and-out hit,” a program that delivers the remains of the classical culture into the most unexpected modern show that is both rewarding and fun.
Variety’s View: A Meandering, Unfocused Bore
On the opposite side of the spectrum, Aramide Tinubu from Variety is not as thrilled. However, even though Tinubu admits that “Kaos” is a high-concept series, he watches the show and sees it as a ‘‘mythological bore’’. The major issue is that the series cannot keep the viewer interested throughout the eight episodes. The characters as portrayed by Thompson’s Zeus Goldblum and others are criticized for being one-dimensional and ill-conceived thus making the narrative long-winded and forced.
According to Tinubu, despite having an interesting idea at the climax and with well-known actors, “Kaos” is disappointing. The gods are portrayed in this book as being selfish and evil it seems like the author never took his time to develop the gods and thus their stories cannot be interesting. The direction, which ought to have been a riveting display of power and prophecy, not only turns out to be laden with massive storylines but also boasts of undynamic characters.
Still, it is important to note that Variety is not entirely wrong with it as there are shining examples of good work throughout the show, especially in Episode 6 where faith and rituals are depicted in a visually appealing way. But these moments alone cannot save the series from what Tinubu identifies as the final downfall of entertaining its target audience.
Conclusion
‘Kaos’ is a show that has polarised critics. The film receives a warm welcome from the Guardian which calls it a work of art with the elements of the modern humorist witty intelligence and black humor. Akin to that, a critical review from Variety accentuates its weakness, which includes weak characters and, a plot that fails under the pressure of conceit.
