Some of my favorite stories on TV are post-apocalyptic. Shows like The Last of Us and Silo offer unique takes on world-ending scenarios, using sci-fi ideas to bolster their characters and storylines along the way. However, The Eternaut is unique because of the historical importance of its source material. Héctor Germán Oesterheld's comic of the same name was published from 1957 to 1959, depicting a devastating, world-ending event happening in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The TV adaptation modernizes the story, but keeps the core beats surrounding its premise.

The Eternaut is adapted for TV by Bruce Stagnaro.

During a gathering one summer night, everyman Juan Salvo (Ricardo Darín) and his friends are thrust into a new reality after all electricity and electronics stop working. Moments later, snow begins to fall, killing anyone who goes outside without protective gear on. Determined to find his ex-wife and daughter, Juan leaves the safety of his friends' home and ventures into the deadly snow. What follows in the four episodes Netflix provided is a highly creative, modern reimagining of Oesterheld's original comic, while retaining the many important story beats that make it such a unique part of sci-fi history.

The Eternaut Crafts An Engaging Mystery That's Bolstered By Its Characters

The Story Offers Plenty Of Scary & Dramatic Moments

Much like some of the best post-apocalyptic TV shows, The Eternaut's core focus is on its characters and how they react to the nightmarish situation they're now in. Juan takes the spotlight for the most part, with Darín delivering an engaging performance thanks to his empathetic situation. However, other survivors also get a chance to shine, such as Juan's hard-nosed best friend, Alfredo (César Troncoso) and the untrustworthy Omar (Ariel Staltari). Not only do all of them have something sympathetic about them, but their interactions lead to both tense and entertaining events.

The group's experience with the mysterious snowfall is also elevated by how much the show got me to care about them. As the story unfolds, we learn details about what's going on before the characters do. However, the exact details are saved for when Juan and his group make their own discoveries. It makes the show's questions twofold, offering relatively satisfying answers before showcasing details that offer more sensibility to what's going on. By the end of episode 4, the show does a good job at firmly establishing its premise while leaving plenty of room to grow.

The storyline of Juan trying to find his family also has weight behind it, showcasing the complexities of his relationship with his ex-wife and daughter. The show doesn't go in-depth on all its major characters, being more mystery-focused than something like The Last of Us season 2. However, it does offer some besides Juan a chance to shine, with Alfredo and Inga (Orianna Cárdenas) getting some of the more standout development. It helps the survivors feel more fleshed-out, especially as difficult events start transforming their lives even more.

The Eternaut Has The Potential To Be A Multi-Season Apocalypse Story

It Feels Like The Series Is Only Just Beginning

While I've only seen the first four episodes of The Eternaut, the show's intriguing mystery, character-driven storyline, and strong performances make me hopeful this is just the beginning of a larger tale. So far, it doesn't seem likely everything will be resolved by the time season 1's six-episode run is complete, but will offer both questions and answers that set up a bigger future. This makes me hopeful for the series' success, as everything about the show is perfect for anyone who loves post-apocalyptic, sci-fi TV shows.

The show provides plenty of high-octane sequences, strong character moments, and a mystery that keeps revealing wild new elements that bolster its story.

With an interesting story adapted from an equally impressive sci-fi comic, The Eternaut is a strong addition to the post-apocalyptic genre. The show provides plenty of high-octane sequences, strong character moments, and a mystery that keeps revealing wild new elements that bolster its story. It offers an exciting setup for many larger stories to come, while also providing plenty of intrigue on its own thanks to the way it handles its story. This post-apocalyptic story just might be Netflix's best in a long time.