El Eternauta

After a disappointing summer of enduring "The Thunderbolts*", "Alien Earth", James Gunn's "Superman" regurgitation, I was refreshingly and solidly entertained by "The Ethernaut" series on NetFlix.

Having no expectations, and no knowledge of the source material, I decided to give Season 1 a try. I am really glad I did, and I was pleasantly surprised by how entertained I actually was.

Without any giving spoilers, after some initial character development, which I almost bailed on, "The Ethernaut's" plot hook was set, with the visual image of the lone, gas-masked hero, wandering out into the lethal, desolate, urban landscape.

Maybe it was all those formative hours playing STALKER and DayZ, but the initial visual of an "anti-pretty boy", grizzled, Juan Salvo geared up, searching for his family in the mysterious apocalyptic aftermath and some similar subsequent gritty scenes, really held my interest all the way through the final 6th episode of season 1.

I am VERY thankful the owners of the source material insisted this production be filmed in Buenos Aires, in Spanish, specifically be "not made" to reach broader, modern audiences, and most of all-that Hollywood did not get their creatively bankrupt mitts on this property.

The pacing is slower, with plenty of dialogue, and character development. The production value is relatively strong for a series coming out of South America and not funded on an obscene Disney budget. While there is an English dubbed version, I watched the original dialogue with English subtitles on NetFlix. I look forward to Season 2's release. SOLID. Hardcore Action SCI FI fans might find this a too slow of a burn.

For me, as a Uruguayan, the Argentine influence is always a constant; it's not for nothing that we're so closely related.

As a science fiction fan, Héctor Germán Oesterheld's work, published in the 1950s, marks a turning point for the genre... it predates "Dune" and "Star Wars," considered the fathers of science fiction. But it's also a work ahead of its time; perhaps today, with so much material about dystopian futures, its impact isn't as noticeable.

But also, as an advocate for social justice, it's impossible to separate what happened to the author and his family with that tragic ending that still hurts a lot to this day.

When I found out that Netflix would be making an adaptation, I was quite scared; it's not easy to capture the magnificence of this work on screen. However, people like Bruno Stagnaro, whom we know from "Pizza, Beer, Weed" or "Okupas," or people of the caliber of Ricardo Darín or Cesar Troncoso, gave me great peace of mind.

Its premiere marks a milestone in the history of Latin American fiction; along with "One Hundred Years of Solitude," it is one of the most financially invested works, and luckily we see that reflected on screen.

The story, adapted from Oesterheld's classic but in a modern era, with current problems and all of Argentina's history behind it, such as the references to political issues or the Falklands War, sets an extremely powerful context.

However, it is the setting of that vast and desolate Buenos Aires and some of the acting that elevate this series to become, over time, a cult favorite.

I have heard and read many criticisms about the series, which, in my opinion, are unjustified. I wish series from other countries with bigger budgets could convey what Stagnaro conveys, whether it's watching the protagonists play Truco, listening to Mercedes Sosa, or the mantra repeated by Tano Favalli, "No one saves themselves alone." "El Eternauta" is pure history; it's past, present, and future, and above all, it's a message from Argentina and Latin America to the world that we have stories, grit, heart, and talent to direct and act, that there's nothing to envy the rest of the world, and that this series will only get better and better...

A bit of context for American folks: You're used to seeing sci-fi productions set in your own towns. Your industry is huge-Hollywood, whether through independent or commercial films, has explored every movie genre there is. But for us Argentinians, sci-fi is a largely unexplored genre, and large-scale productions like this are extremely rare.

El Eternauta is an adaptation of a 1957 graphic novel. In this part of the world, you don't usually see major apocalyptic events happening on our soil-every alien in the universe tends to invade the first world first. But in El Eternauta, the catastrophe happens right here. That's why it's so compelling and special for us to see the streets of Buenos Aires covered in toxic snow (it has only snowed twice here in the last 100 years!) or our local buses overturned by giant beetles.

And please, don't watch it dubbed.

Much respect to dubbing actors, but every show or movie feels less authentic when dubbed. Subtitles don't hurt, seriously. We've been reading them for years and it really changes the experience.

That being said-WOW!

I didn't know we had this level of FX and makeup artists in my country! The costume design, the effects, the production design, the makeup, the script-it's all incredible. I couldn't be prouder. Amazing performances, amazing storytelling. I couldn't take my eyes off the screen for even a second. I was nervous, totally immersed in the story-and that's a rare feeling to have while sitting in your own living room.

The acting was excellent, with just a couple of exceptions. For example, Carla Peterson-I've seen her in many TV comedies, but she doesn't quite work for drama, in my opinion. Her delivery didn't feel natural. But the rest of the cast? Outstanding! I loved seeing both familiar faces and completely new ones.

I also read that El Eternauta was filmed using StageCraft (the same production technology used by Lucasfilm for The Mandalorian). There are only three studios in the world with that technology-and one of them is just a few blocks away.. That makes me even prouder.

In short: an amazing and incredible show. I can't wait for the next season!

Excellent. I didn't expect a good adaptation from Netflix, given its history of failures, but they did it. A 70-year-old comic had to be updated, and it's fine. The original story is a classic that particularly portrays the fight against fascism, and in its second version, against the Argentine military government. For audiences far removed from the social, cultural, and historical spheres of Latin America, it's probably difficult to identify with the plot or historical events like the Malvinas argentinas War. But a story that goes from - to +, and ends on a high note with pure science fiction is worth it, even for the most demanding audiences. It's highly recommended to read the original comic to get a taste for it. I can't wait for season two... I hope it doesn't take two years!

Some clarifications for the non-Latin American/Hispanic public. SPOILERS 👇

In Argentina, guns aren't sold the same way they are in the US, for example. Access to the legal market is almost nonexistent. That's why certain individuals don't want to pick up a gun, because it's abnormal in such a society, and it goes against their principles, in Elena's case, because she is a medical doctor.

Distrust isn't common around everyone; neighbors know and greet each other, and generally, coexistence is good; it's not a generally defensive society.

Many situations are impossible to translate, much less behaviors. What may seem strange is the common way of behaving in these countries. Things are taken for granted, obvious, and there's no need to express them; just act or think about them/reflect. Silences are normal and have their meanings depending on the context.

In Buenos Aires, it has only snowed twice in its entire history, and obviously not in the summer. Originally, they think it might be asbestos from the burning power station, but they quickly realize that the shiny snow is the cause. There is no other reason, and there can be no other reason. In the original comic, they realize it just as quickly.

For a character to leave even with the possibility of death, is part of human irrationality, and they must keep that in mind at all times. Humans in these situations are not rational.

The beetles originally appear in the comic, as do the other creatures. The design is very similar. Keep in mind that this comic was written in the 1950s and translated into several languages. It's a precursor to science fiction, not an imitation. It existed 70 years before and is very faithful to the original work.

The slow pace in the first four episodes is due to the psychological foundations being established, where the characters adapt to what is happening and feel paranoia taking over. Then everything speeds up.

The secondary narratives that seem pointless will later be resolved in what will be the second and final season. Remember that this is an already known work, and a comic book; not everything is given to the viewer.

P. S. Claiming that those who positively rate the series are likely relatives of the actors is deeply disrespectful. You may not like it, but that doesn't mean you should dismiss something because you simply don't understand it or don't like it. This is a work that has waited decades to be adapted, with a huge fan base, and above all, because it has a very distinctive idiosyncrasy from the Río de la Plata region, and because it is loved by millions of Argentinians. P. S. 2. Watch it with subtitles and stop complaining about the dubbing. We watch American movies all the time, and we don't complain.

I'm afraid this reviews are completely biased. Argentinian folks are crazy fanatics about any cultural product they do and they're brigading to keep the stars up. I understand the love they have for the comic book, since The Eternaut is a book you can find in most homes and it's recommended for kids early in their lives. This adaptation is really good and that's it. It's not a "masterpiece" as some reviews are depicting it. Actors are expectedly fine; Ricardo Darin and Cesar Troncoso steal the show as usual.

I hope Netflix keeps founding LatAm projects, since is proven that great products can be made here.