Nautilusis finally arriving on screens in the U.S. following a difficult journey. Originally commissioned for Disney+ but now airing on AMC and AMC+, the series is anorigin story for Captain Nemofrom the Jules Verne novelTwenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas. While not an especially well-known character in the current zeitgeist, this spin on the Indian prince-turned-pirate focuses on his fight against the oppressive British Empire, specifically the ruthless capitalism of the East India Mercantile Company, tapping into his thirst for vengeance as something modern audiences might relate to.
It almost works, butNautilusis also attempting to capture the wide-eyed wonder of exploring the oceans in the world’s first submersible. These two themes clash more than they complement each other, and it’s hard to know exactly which is meant to be the main thrust of the series. Despite that weird dichotomy,Nautilusis a largely enjoyable watch, with a 10-episode season that’s better at delivering a weekly sci-fi/fantasy adventure than it is a deep dive into the evils of imperialism.
Still, it’s laudable thatNautilusmakes an attempt at discussing the issues that arose from the East India Company’s stranglehold on the world. Similarly, it’s wonderful to see such a diverse ensemble, though more than a few become defined almost exclusively by their ethnicity. Led by Shazad Latif’s Nemo,Nautilusfollows the titular submarine’s crew as they keep one step ahead of the Company while seeking a way to destroy it.
Nautilus Has The Look & Feel Of A Show From Another Decade
The Problem-of-the-Week Setup & Corny Dialogue Gives It Some Serious ’90s Vibes
Nautiluscomes across like it was supposed to have been made some 20 years ago. It feels more like television of the late ‘90s/early 2000s, hearkening back to shows likeFarscape,Seaquest DSV, orStargate SG-1. The premise of weekly adventures where the crew must work together to overcome obstacles – be it an attacking sea creature, outrunning the Company’s warship, or simply learning to trust in each other – feels inspired by ensemble shows likeFireflyor just about any iteration ofStar Trek.Nautiluswould’ve been right at home on the old Sci-Fi Channel, of that I’m certain.
One moment, it’s a thrilling underwater adventure peppered with hokey dialogue delivered with the utmost sincerity, and the next, it’s dabbling in real world issues like slavery or rebellion, but never in a way that feels meaningful.
Unfortunately,Nautilusis also trying to be a serious drama about important things, and it can’t quite balance that with the wackier tone. There’s a bit of whiplash that comes when switching from the silly adventure stuff to colonialism, capitalism, and their very real horrors. As such,Nautilusstruggles to do either justice. One moment, it’s a thrilling underwater adventure peppered with hokey dialogue delivered with the utmost sincerity, and the next, it’s dabbling in real-world issues like slavery or rebellion, but never in a way that feels meaningful.
It’s also hard to know just who the audience is forNautilus. For much of its 10 episodes, the show plays like an adventure made to watch with the family, with exciting action and exhilarating escapes as Captain Nemo and his crew tackle one problem after another. There are some scary and tense moments, but most of these I believe older children can handle. Then there are darker moments where characters are threatened or even killed that are more difficult to watch, and those scenes suggest it’s a show intended for a more mature audience.
Thankfully, this uncertainty in tone and intended audience doesn’t detract from how goodNautiluslooks. The show reportedly had a pretty significant budget, and the design and execution of the sets, costumes, and visual effects are all excellent. The Nautilus, in particular, is very cool-looking, and the creatures come off as believable enough. Even the fight choreography, while showy and theatrical, is very good and shot well. From a technical standpoint,Nautilusis a joy to watch.
The Whole Cast Puts In An Admirable Effort
But None Of Them Can Ever Elevate The Material
Nautilus’ cast is also commendable, with every actor playing their part in earnest, completely buying into the madcap nature of the show. Latif is quite good as Nemo, portraying the prince-turned-prisoner-turned-captain as both the big hero and a conflicted man with deep-seated anger. He builds a good rapport with Georgia Flood’s Humility Lucas, a clever Englishwoman bucking against societal norms, and Thierry Frémont’s Gustave Benoit, a French scientist and designer of the Nautilus.
HadNautilusreceived something like the 20-22 episode seasons of the past, there would have been more time to flesh these characters out.
However, many of the supporting characters are underwritten. There are a few bright spots, notably Céline Menville’s Loti, Humility’s chaperon with a mercenary’s set of skills, and Tyrone Ngatai’s Kai, a Maori warrior whose tough exterior hides a sweet side. There’s also a fun, if one-note, villainous turn from Damien Garvey as the Company boss Director Crawley, and a more complicated performance from Luke Arnold as Captain Billy Millais, a former childhood friend of Nemo’s. Cameron Cuffe is also a hoot as Lord Pitt, Humility’s fiancé, giving a delightfully over-the-top performance.
Still, many of the characters feel underdeveloped, and that’s likely a result of a 10-episode season. HadNautilusreceived something like the 20-22 episode seasons of the past, there would have been more time to flesh these characters out. Then again, a show likeOur Flag Means Deathwith a similarly short season has an ensemble filled with fully realized, eclectic characters, so it’s possible that even with more time,Nautilus’ cast of characters would still have fallen short.
Will Nautilus Get A Season 2?
There’s Certainly A Setup, But The Show’s Future Is Murky At Best
Nautilusseason 1 has a bewildering ending that flies in the face of history, but it suits a show that’s more interested in the fantastical than historical. It also wraps up the main story, but there are multiple plot points either left dangling or introduced as setup for a potential season 2. Will Nautilus receive that second season? I’m not especially confident.
The biggest problemNautilusseason 2 faces is its first season’s troubled journey to the screen. It was first ordered by Disney+, but they chose not to distribute it. Then it was picked up by AMC, but they sat on it for nearly two years before releasing it. None of this suggests any network has a lot of interest in it, which is a shame because the show has real potential.
Again, had it been released at a time when shows were allowed a season or two to find their footing, then perhaps it would have had better odds of continuing. Suffice to say,Nautilusis an entertaining enough series, but there’s nothing particularly remarkable that will make it stand out. And in today’s television landscape, that could be its downfall.
Nautiluspremieres June 29th with two episodes on AMC and AMC+.
