The 2016 sci-fi filmThe 5th Wave, starringChloë Grace Moretzas a survivor of an apocalyptic alien invasion, is having its unexpected second wave of success onNetflix, briefly invading the top 10. This comes despite a rather dreary reception upon its release nearly a decade ago, when it debuted at thetail end of the YA novel adaptation boom(it’s adapted from the trilogy by Rick Yancey) and topped out at just 17% on Rotten Tomatoes.
For those who enjoyedThe 5th Wave’sstory of humans struggling to survive an all-encompassing alien attack, there’s another, much better-received title on Netflix, just a quick click away. That would beThe Eternaut,the Argentine series that debuted to rapturous reception earlier this year, holding the top spot on the streamer’s top 10 TV series for a couple of weeks. It’s a tale of ordinary citizens thrust into a fight for survival that should resonate with anyone who enjoyedThe 5th Wave.
‘The Eternaut’s Surprising Origins
Casual viewers may not know it, butThe Eternauthas a long legacy that far predates its recent adaptation.It began life as a serialized comic strip in Argentina in the late 1950s, running for two years and getting revived a few times over the following decades. Creator Héctor Germán Oesterheld made a sequel in the mid-70s with a more political bent, criticizing Argentina’s then-dictatorship. His resistance to the regime led to his eventual forced disappearance in 1977, leaving his collaborators to carry on without him, with the property falling into a lengthy copyright dispute.
There have been several attempts toadapt the comicover the years, but none of them made it over the finish line until this year, when writer/director Bruno Stagnaro’s serialized take hit Netflix. Given the original’s close ties to Argentine history and culture, it’s fitting that the series was produced there, rather than in a bigger market like the US. Its South American origin didn’t stop it from being a hit, however, proving that great sci-fi transcends borders.
‘The Eternaut’s’ Alien Apocalypse
The series follows a ragtag group of regular people who find their ordinary summer evening (just before Christmas in the Southern Hemisphere) interrupted by a sudden cold snap and snowfall. But this isn’t any ordinary snow; rather, it kills on contact, leaving anyone caught outside to die instantly. As if this weren’t bad enough, all electronics are wiped out, leaving most modern cars inoperable. Things only continue to get worse when giant, bug-like creatures start emerging, dragging humans down into their tunnels for reasons unknown.
While its source material predatesThe 5th Waveby several decades, there are some clear parallels between their takes onthe alien invasion story. The aliens inThe 5th Wavebegin their invasion by knocking out electrical systems (the so-called “1st wave”), before moving on to controlling earthquakes and volcanoes, spreading pathogens, and finally, mind control.The Eternaut’sfirst season similarly ends with hundreds of humans under the sway of some alien force, controlled by a mysterious, many-fingered entity.
At the center of it all is Juan (Ricardo Darín), a divorced dad and military veteran haunted by his wartime experiences. As he and his friends try to reconnect with his daughter Clara (Mora Fisz), he begins having strange visions of things that haven’t happened yet, losing his grip on linear time.The series seems to be setting him up as the titular Eternaut, someone who can travel through time and space.
The Eternautpiles a lot into its first season, from killer snow to giant bugs to time travel to humans in some kind of mind-controlled state. It’s reflective of the series’ origins as a comic strip, where one big revelation follows another. While it can feel a bit overstuffed, it also gives the series a sense of genuine unpredictability. While set in the present day, it often feels like a throwback to adifferent geopolitical era, with ordinary citizens stepping up to do their part for the good of the country, taking on a sense of national and species pride.
The series is also novel for centering on a slightly older group of survivors. While many sci-fi stories show older people as burdensome, slowing down survival efforts or unable to carry their weight, the aging characters inThe Eternautare just as capable, if not more so, than their younger counterparts. When modern cars are rendered useless by the aliens' electromagnetic weapons, the survivors discover that older, pre-computerized vehicles can still run. It stands as a symbol of the resiliency of the older generation, those who lived through the terrors of the dictatorship era, and are probably better equipped to handle disaster than younger people.
The Eternauthas beenrenewed for a second season, so those who got hooked on its inaugural outing won’t have to wait too long to find out what happens next. For fans who want more alien invasion drama afterThe 5th Wave(and don’t mind reading subtitles), it makes for an ideal companion piece.The Eternautis streaming now onNetflix.
