Sci Fi TV Review: Nautilus

Nautilus delivers a grand and epic adventure for viewers of all ages, and it deserves more than the short shrift it was given by Disney.

What Is It?

This series acts as a prequel to Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, centering on the exploits of a young Captain Nemo. Set in 1857, the series follows Nemo’s escape from British East India Company oppression using his prototype submarine, the Nautilus, with the goal of revenge—for his murdered family and stolen homeland—while battling imperial villains, giant sea creatures, and ethical dilemmas aboard his crewed vessel.

Airing: AMC, Sundays 9 PM EST

Starring: Shazad Latif, Georgia Flood, Thierry Frémont, Pacharo Mzembe, Arlo Green

Created By: James Dormer

Johnny Jay’s Thoughts:

As mentioned above, this series acts as a prequel to the Jules Verne Captain Nemo books, and it embraces the spirit of those and other action-adventure stories of that era with tremendous glee. There are plenty of derring-do moments, last-minute escapes, and unlikely rescues to fill every episode with excitement. Much of this is done in the Disney tradition, with an onscreen colorful palette and a show designed to appeal to adults and younger viewers alike. And while it can sometimes take this a bit too far, throwing one predicament after the next, it still balances things out well enough with humor and drama.

The Nemo character himself is quite interesting, presented as an Indian prince whose royal family and birthright are stolen by the East India Mercantile Company, giving him the motivation for his hatred toward conquerors and imperialists. This actually originates from the small hints Verne provided about Nemo’s past, with the series expanding upon that to set up his later crusading efforts against the warmongering governments of the world.

Shazad Latif (Star Trek: Discovery) does an excellent job with the character, demonstrating the single-minded drive that can be his weakness at times, while also revealing his more human and sympathetic side. He is supported by a strong cast, consisting of crewmembers who don’t just fade into the scenery, along with reluctant passengers that include two strong female characters who prove they can contribute. Georgia Flood as Humility Lucas and Céline Menville as Loti stand out as women stepping up in the man’s world of the 19th century, and they practically deserve a spin-off series of their own.

Through its first five episodes, Nautilus has delivered a grand sci‑fi epic with excellent production values that could have carried on for years and possibly even adapted the two Jules Verne novels. Unfortunately, that will not happen (more on that below), but perhaps it will reignite some interest in the character and convince some sci‑fi fans to head back to the classics and explore the source material. The series had plenty of potential and could have turned into a notable sci‑fi franchise, but it has been cut short by corporate execs who have little interest in supporting quality shows.

What’s Next?

Nautilus was canceled by Disney+ back in 2023 and never streamed on that service as originally planned. It, along with The Spiderwick Chronicles, was cast off as a cost-cutting measure and shopped around to other venues. The latter series is available on the Roku Channel, where it drew strong viewership for its first-season run. Nautilus was picked up by AMC in the U.S. and Prime Video in the UK, but it appears that will only be a burn-off run. It seems unlikely that AMC could foot the bill for a second season, even though viewership has been quite good. Amazon could, but I have not seen any signs of interest from them. However, if fans were to lobby for this one, perhaps a deal could be worked out, and I look at that in more detail at this link.

Where Can You Watch It?

New episodes air at 9 PM EST on Sundays on AMC, and it is also available for streaming on AMC+. In the UK, it is streaming on Prime Video, and in Australia it is available on Stan.

Are you watching Nautilus, and do you believe it deserves a chance to continue beyond its first season? Chime in with your thoughts in the comments section below.

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