Entertainment
AMC’s Best 10-Part Sci-Fi Series Reinvents This Iconic Book for a New Generation
It’s time to clamber out of the center of the world and set sail for — or rather submerge into — a world where magnificent underwater creatures and humans alike threaten your voyage. Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea is arguably Jules Verne’s most famous book, and its story has returned to the screen with AMC’s 10-episode sci-fi series Nautilus.
Originally developed by Disney Entertainment before AMC Networks licensed the U.S. and Canadian rights, Nautilus revives Captain Nemo’s (Shazad Latif) futuristic submarine and its rowdy crew, serving as a prequel that provides a backstory for the enigmatic captain. It essentially acts as an allegory against British imperialism, and though that message is powerful, it isn’t the main reason the show is worth watching. Nautilus‘ ability to beautifully emulate the sense of adventure in Verne’s tale is what makes it stand out.
‘Nautilus’ Is a ‘Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea’ Adaptation
In the pilot, we are introduced to the plight of Nemo and his radicalized crew. They are fleeing the tyranny of a menacing governing body dubbed “The Company,” which represents British imperialism, and head out to open water to escape rather than with a specific destination in mind. The show also fleshes out the source material by depicting Nemo as Indian, restoring an important part of the character’s identity that Verne later made explicit in The Mysterious Island. The force Nemo is escaping from is also given a much more tangible presence here.
Like in the source material, there is also a ship that comes across Nemo’s submarine and mistakes it for a sea monster. When the ship tries to attack it, Nemo is forced to fight back, resulting in a shipwreck. He manages to save a number of the occupants, including the voracious daughter of an English engineer, Humility (Georgia Flood), and her fiercely protective chaperone (Céline Menville). But unbeknownst to Nemo, Humility has ties with The Company, essentially ensuring they will continue to pursue the submarine to save her and thus complicating his efforts to escape.
‘Nautilus’ Is Driven by Immersive and Gripping Adventure
Now, the political commentary in Nautilus is important and powerful, but it only works because the adventure is engaging and spiritually faithful to Verne’s writing. Like the book, the show is full of rich imagery, bringing Verne’s vivid descriptions to life with a bright color palette, detailed sets, and thoughtful costumes. It’s as striking as it is immersive, drawing you in immediately and making the prospect of an adventure in this world inviting. But this isn’t merely a setup for the treacherous voyage ahead; Nautilus maintains this level of vitality throughout its 10 episodes, making every narrative beat as visually stimulating as the last.
What’s more exciting is that the inevitable sea monsters are treated with the same care and detail. And what’s an underwater adventure series without a cool sea monster? From giant squids to electric eels, they are all terrifying while peering from the circular window in the submarine, even more so when the characters are in the water with only a helmet between them and the creature. These creatures are not just for show, as heart-pounding action sequences follow each perilous appearance of an underwater dweller.
Nautilus keeps us hooked on the voyage by sustaining its stakes and creating a real sense of danger that makes us worry about our favorite characters. That danger isn’t only reserved for the fights against fantastical creatures, but also comes from the humans themselves, whether that be those on the crew or those chasing them down on behalf of The Company. With potential threats constantly emerging from the fogginess of the deep blue, its plunging pace delivers the novelty and anticipation that make adventure stories so enticing.
Captain Nemo and Humility’s Relationship Heightens the Stakes in ‘Nautilus’
The sense of adventure in Nautilus is also created by the performances, which heighten the stakes and keep us invested in this twisty voyage. Nemo is naturally at the center of this, putting much of the pressure on Latif’s shoulders as he takes on one of Verne’s most famous characters. The series also restores Nemo’s Indian identity, a part of his history made explicit by Verne in The Mysterious Island but omitted from several previous screen adaptations. Luckily, Latif strikes a compelling balance between enigma and vulnerability in his performance as Nemo, ensuring he remains the mercurial, mysterious captain of this futuristic submarine while peeling back enough layers to hook us into the character even more.
As such, the political strife is practically the perfect backdrop to this story. It informs Nemo’s motivations and yearning for freedom while grounding the fantastical adventure in a real point of history: British colonial rule over India. Next to Nemo, Humility’s motivations onboard are also tied to the political climate. Where Nemo is driven by escape, Humility is bound by duty to her father and country. Flood’s performance reflects this conflict, as the plucky, resourceful noblewoman who is handy with a wrench finds herself torn between her obligation to return home and her evolving relationship with Nemo and his crew.
Latif and Flood’s on-screen chemistry is light-hearted, fun, and warm, making us root for them as their unlikely bond evolves during the hilarious antics on board the submarine. But more importantly, it fleshes out the stakes of the adventure, heightening the sense of real, palpable danger as we encounter new and unfamiliar perils. After all, we certainly cannot have an adventure series without genuinely fearing for our characters’ lives. Nautilus definitely has a powerful anti-colonial message running through it, but it isn’t driven by politics; it is propelled forward by the excitement and novelty of venturing into the unknown, making it a thrilling sci-fi adaptation of Verne’s famous book.
Nautilus
- Release Date
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2024 – 2023
- Network
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Prime Video
- Directors
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Michael Matthews, Ben C. Lucas, Isabelle Sieb
- Writers
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Matthew Parkhill, Sian Ejiwunmi-Le Berre, James Dormer, Melissa Bubnic, Sonya Desai
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Richard E. Grant
The White Rajah
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