Nautilus

Action, political intrigue, plot twists and a healthy amount of sea monster skirmishes:

These are just some of the many reason why even those unfamiliar with the works of Jules Verne will find "Nautilus" to be an engaging SciFi adventure series.

Here are my (spoiler-free) thoughts on the show.

Note: as I write this, "Nautilus" is airing only on SVT: This is How I Watched it Living Outside of Sweden

When I heard that there was going to be a TV series about Captain Nemo's backstory, I was mightily aprehensive. The main reason for this apprehension was the mere fact that Captain Nemo's past is so dark and tragic. Thankfully, the series begins after the horrific events of the 1857 rebellion and just as the Nautilus is launched. What happened to Nemo's family is shown in flashbacks which explain the events without being graphic.

When I began the show, I honestly had very low expectations. I didn't really expect to like it. To my delighted asonishment, it turned out to be one of the best film tributes to Jules Verne I've ever seen - no hyperbole.

Throughout the series, there are fight scenes, periodic depictions of people bleeding and a couple "blink-and-you'll-miss-it" innuendo jokes, so I wouldn't watch it with a small child, but I think it would be appropriate to watch with most young teenagers (13+).

I believe both well-read Jules Verne fans and those who've hardly heard the name "Captain Nemo" will enjoy the intriguing storyline, likable characters and aesthetic scenery. There are many other factors which made me fall in love with "Nautilus" as well:

The Man of the Seas

The character of Captain Nemo has always facinated me. I was blown away by how perfectly and accurately Captain Nemo was portrayed in this series. Shazad Latif, in my opinion, is an immaculate Captain Nemo and he really brought the character to life with all his complexities. Out of all the film portrayals of Captain Nemo I've seen, I'd have to say his has been by far my favorite.

Tributes to Indian History and Culture

I'm American an my husband is Indian. He and I were both very impressed with the way in which Indian culture and history were presented. I want to see more shows like this to teach our son about his heritage. 

Many of the action scenes reminded me of South Indian cinema. In one episode there is a scene where the Nautilus crew is playing cricket against some Englishmen, which may seem a little disconnected from the rest of the story, but Bollywood fans may recognize it as a delightful tribute to "Lagaan."

The Writers Were Well-Verse in Vernian Lore

Although the story wasn't 100% accurate to the book, the writers obviously had read Verne's books and knew the nuances of Nemo's story and background quite throughly.

There were certain details which made me excited, such as when Nemo has an enigmatic exchange with an Englishman in which they greet each other warmly and seem to be thanking each other for...something. Nemo ends the conversation by saying, "Give my regards to Phileas!"

In Verne's other classic, "Around the World in 80 Days," Princess Aouda is the widow of the Raj of Bundelkhand. Since Jules Verne often dropped little hints that his books existed in the same universe, I always wondered if Aouda and Nemo were distantly related, since Bundelkhand is Nemo's kingdom of origin.

A question is posed: in this conversation, was Nemo thanking the Foggs for saving someone he cared about? This is the first time I've ever seen anyone address the detail that Aouda and Nemo might be relatives.

Tributes to the artwork of Alphonse de Neuville and Édouard Riou

I noticed several shots which were obvious tributes to the first-edition illustrations of Jules Verne's classics, such as Captain Nemo standing on the submarine deck with his spyglass, and the map of Lincoln Island on a cave wall. Those details absolutely thrilled me! 

Everything I've Ever Wanted in a Verne-Inspired TV Series - Except for That Cliffhanger!

Everything about this show absolutely floored me. It was everything I could have hoped for in a Captain Nemo TV series...and then it ended.

Such a well-done series ending with fairly significant loose ends felt like a punch in the gut more forceful than the maelstrom itself. I've been trying not to let it overshadow the rest of the show. I wish with all my heart that there could be a season two!

If anyone's curiosity gets the better of them, I compiled a list HERE of questions I desperately want to know the answers to. I hope someone may be able to answer my questions one day!

I want NEED more!

While I'm still coping with my post-series let down, I find myself pining away for more shows like this; shows based off of classic adventure novels which honor the spirit of the origional author.

🎄For the Fandomtrees event ☃️

🚢 Mutiny canon divergence:

Suyin comes in while Jiacomo and Nemo are fighting.

Realizing the prisoner-captain almost escaped (and that letting Jiacomo guard the door wasn’t such a good idea), she steps in. Nemo, distracted for one fatal second, gets knocked out.

The crew succeed in fighting off the metal-eaters without nemo's help and turn tail before getting trapped in the magnetic field, desperate to escape the iced-over ocean. All danger put aside, they now have to deal with a stubborn prisoner Nemo (who is likely to jump at the throat of the first person coming to bring him lunch XD. )

With the Nautilus new trajectory, it's very probable they cross path with the Dreadnought. Would the crew then try to sell their prisoner-captain, in exchange for freedom?

🎉 For the Smallfandomfest 🎊

🚢 Nemo gets cursed and ends up transformed into a clownfish (yes, for the joke). Does he get captured by the company, ending up as a pet fish on Crawley or Millais’ desk, or does he get picked up by his own crew unaware of his identity behind this new shape? What are the mental consequences of this transformation?

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🚢 Nemo crosses some lines searching for the treasure. He ends up sea-cursed, Davy Jones-style or Barbarossa-style (to take some pirate of the caribbean exemples)

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🚢 Nemo has Hanahaki disease (platonic version). After losing both Benoit and Aadesh, the seeds nestled in his heart that his wife's death created finally swallow him and flowers grow. Only shows of affection from his crew - until they become family could heal him - but they'd have to know what's happening first. And with how Nemo treated them, would they even genuinely be able to love him?

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🚢 Nemo dies. His consciousness awakens in the Nautilus. He can feel each step in the hall, each shift of the rudder, and the roar of the motors sing to his mind like the beat of his own heart.

He is the submarine.

Some of these are explicit inspirations for the season (from interviews/articles), and others are ones I either like/might appeal if you've been liking the Cloudward, Ho! so far:

Treasure Planet (2002) - animated movie

Disney movie based on the book Treasure Island

Has a solar-punk / space pirate aesthetic

Great characters, great music, fun adventure movie

My favourite Disney animated film (cause I love pirates)

Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001)

Disney animated movie

Very adventure/historical with a similar premise as Cloudward, Ho!

Has steampunk/dieselpunk aesthetics & a good story/characters