Welcome to Crete, where in the 21st century, Zeus - yes, that Zeus - rules humanity from the heights of Olympus. Orpheus is a star, Minos is president, Hades has staffing issues. Netflix seems to think we’ve been missing "1670", "The Decameron", and are perhaps also longing for new episodes of "The Good Place". "Kaos" is an unexpected mix of all these, with a dash of HBO’s "Miracle Workers", a hint of Amazon’s "Good Omens", and plenty of blood and gore. Interested? Of course you are - there’s nothing better than dark comedy, and "Kaos" is exactly that.
Netflix presents its own version of mythology in "Kaos"
If you could take Parandowski’s "Mythology", strip it of its beautiful words and flowery analogies, throw it in a blender, and then pour it over the 21st century, it would look just like this. "Kaos" is a delightful explosive mix, blending all the juiciest threads from ancient Greek mythology, modernizing whatever it could, and even radically altering some parts. The result is a story where, as Prometheus says in the third episode, history stubbornly repeats itself again and again. In truth, nothing has changed since antiquity - only our methods have become slightly more sophisticated.
Genocides? Check. Wars? Check. Political assassinations? Absolutely. Betrayals, death, destruction, stupidity, and Jeff Goldblum - all here. Of course, Goldblum shines brightest in this ensemble, but the rest of the cast follows him well. It’s not hard to stand out, though, when the show also features David Thewlis ("Fargo", "Macbeth", "Harry Potter" and many more), Cliff Curtis ("Meg2", "Avatar: The Way of Water"), and a variety of perhaps lesser-known but equally (mostly) excellent actors. The whole thing is laced with truly dark humor, so expect jokes about miscarriage, suicide, and violence. All this, and even a bit more, is served with a lightness reminiscent of "Miracle Workers". There’s also a hint of absurdity from "The Umbrella Academy" and plenty of "deep" messages tucked between jokes, much like in "The Good Place". While it's labeled as a comedy, scratch beneath the dark humor, and you’ll find serious and brutal truths about ourselves.
"Kaos" has ambition, but it also has elements that may irk modern critics. Yes, the gods and heroes come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and sexual preferences. Seriously, I’m not exaggerating - there’s a full spectrum, and everything is laid bare. And no, it doesn’t feel forced - after all, you know what the ancients were famous for besides philosophy. If you can accept these few facts, "Kaos" could provide a pretty good dose of entertainment - plus, it’s the kind of show you can binge over a weekend.
Eight nearly hour-long episodes are best enjoyed at a slight speed-up. Check out if this modern mythology pulls you in - you’ll know after the first episode. Will humanity survive? Will Orpheus reclaim Eurydice? Will Zeus maintain power and see his plan through, or will the prophecy come true? "Kaos" skillfully finds its path, balancing horror with humor.
