Ever wonder what would happen if Captain Nemo ditched his stiff upper lip and joined a revenge-fueled steampunk boy band? Enter Nautilus—AMC’s high-stakes, high-gloss origin story that takes the world of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and makes it hot, haunted, and vaguely anti-colonial.
The pitch is simple: what if Les Misérables, Assassin’s Creed, and Waterworld had a nautical love child? And that child was angsty, British-Indian, and looked incredible in a leather coat? That’s Nautilus. It’s trying hard to be epic—and occasionally succeeds—but also feels like a Tumblr fanfic with a Netflix budget. And honestly? I’m okay with that.
The Nemo You’ve Never Met
Let’s start with Captain Emo—sorry, Nemo. He’s not your grandpa’s crusty sea commander. This guy is brooding, brilliant and pissed off at the empire. Played by Shazad Latif, this Nemo is an exiled prince who hijacks a submarine and builds a crew of misfits to take down the British Empire. Like Robin Hood, but underwater. With more existential dread.
Is it historically accurate? Absolutely not. Is it visually stunning and strangely moving? Surprisingly, yes.
What’s Actually Good Here
- The Aesthetic Slaps: Gears, steam, leather, torches, cryptic maps, glowing squid—if it exists in a steampunk Pinterest board, it’s in this show. The Nautilus itself looks like a metal dragon’s ribcage, and I want to live in it.
- Moral Complexity, Sorta: The show tries to ask big questions about colonialism, loyalty, and vengeance. Sometimes it nails it. Other times, it’s just a moody voiceover while someone gets harpooned.
- Monster of the Week Energy: There’s a Kraken. There’s Atlantis. There’s a glowing orb of… something? Look, logic isn’t always the point. If you like your adventure with a side of “what the hell is that thing?”—you’re in luck.
But Let’s Be Real…
- Plot Holes You Could Sail Through: For a show about genius-level engineers, some of the decisions are so dumb they should be illegal at sea.
- Not Everyone’s Acting on the Same Show: Nemo’s intensity could boil an ocean. Half the side characters seem like they wandered in from a CW drama. It’s disorienting—but not boring.
- Occasionally Corny: There are lines that feel like they were written by ChatGPT Beta Version 1. If you hear someone dramatically whisper “The ocean is my only god,” just roll with it.
So… Should You Watch It?
Yes—if you like pulp, pirates, and post-colonial shade. This isn’t a literary adaptation; it’s an aesthetic experience. It’s here to give you mood, movement, and just enough plot to keep the tentacles coming.
If you want a historically respectful take on Jules Verne, read the book. If you want to vibe in a wet metal cathedral while a traumatized prince slow-burns his way to vengeance, Nautilus is your new weekend binge.
I write like I think—fast, curious, and a little feral. I chase the weird, the witty, and the why-is-this-happening-now. From AI meltdowns to fashion glow-ups, if it makes you raise an eyebrow or rethink your algorithm, I’m probably writing about it. Expect sharp takes, occasional sarcasm, and zero tolerance for boring content.
