Last year, my child’s English homework involved rewriting a classic fairy tale with a significant plot change to explore how it would alter the story’s outcome. Similarly, the new Netflix series “Kaos,” created by Charlie Covell, feels inspired by this approach, applied to Greek mythology. They imagined Zeus as a tasteless, narcissistic, paranoid, and overly controlling god, with his long-time captive and friend, Prometheus, secretly scheming his downfall. The show combines humor and drama to effectively delve into the implications of such a twist while offering a new perspective on classical myths. “Kaos” might be the most ingenious reinterpretation I have encountered, and I’ve explored numerous retellings of Hades and Persephone tales. Within the first 30 seconds of the first episode, Prometheus (played by Stephen Dillane), the show’s narrator, reassures viewers that familiarity with his story isn’t necessary, a sentiment that holds throughout. Even those unfamiliar with Greek mythology should find this an entertaining and exhilarating story about gods and mortals competing for power and control in the universe.
For those with background knowledge in Greek mythology, you might want to watch it twice: once to immerse yourself in the captivating mix of intrigue, divine and human family drama, love and lust, mortals challenging the gods who dominate their world, and the divine beings who interfere with them – and again to appreciate the subtle details and references scattered throughout the narrative and settings. In the first ten minutes, Zeus (Jeff Goldblum), the king of the gods, is introduced along with a mortal named Riddy (Aurora Perrineau), also known as Eurydice. Zeus lives with his wife in a kitschy mansion in the sky, while Riddy resides with her husband, rock star Orpheus (Killian Scott), and their black kitten, Dennis, in a sleek modern villa in Heraklion, Crete. Riddy feels a void in her life and relationship, perhaps heightened by her image on the promotional materials for Orpheus’s latest album, “Muse.” Her routine is disrupted by an encounter in a supermarket with a woman who predicts she will leave Orpheus that very day. Then enters Dionysus (Nabhaan Rizwan), the god of pleasure, madness, and wild abandon, who also feels a void in his extravagant lifestyle. As the youngest of many siblings, he seeks more—more meaning, more responsibility, more respect—especially from his father, Zeus.
In this setting, Zeus—imposing, flawless, celestial Zeus—discovers a wrinkle on his forehead and perceives it as the beginning of his demise, the first step in a prophecy leading to the gods’ downfall. In some ways, he’s correct; in others, he isn’t. By the season’s end, it seems this was how events were destined to unfold, as guided by the Fates. In addition to the profound storytelling and character development, “Kaos” is visually delightful, with excellent set designs. Olympus is bright and vividly colorful, the mortal world is deep and intense, and the Underworld is starkly monochromatic. Goldblum excels as Zeus, but the standout performances come from the three mortal characters who drive the story forward: Riddy, Ari (Leila Farzad), and Caneus (Misia Butler). It’s the dynamic between these performances, especially those of Perrineau and Butler, that lends this “dark comedy” a uniquely human touch.