🎬 Nautilus (10 episodes, 2024–2025)
Creator: James Dormer •
Director: Michael Matthews et al. •
Stars: Shazad Latif (Captain Nemo), Georgia Flood (Humility Lucas), Thierry Frémont (Gustave Benoit), Pacharo Mzembe (Boniface), Céline Menville (Loti) and others
🌊 Premise
Set in 1857, the powerful East India Mercantile Company enslaves Indian prisoners to build an experimental submarine—the Nautilus—in Kalpani, India. Designed for colonial domination, it becomes Captain Nemo’s chance for vengeance and freedom
⚙ Episode 1: Rebellion Sparks
Nemo, an Indian prince turned enslaved engineer, perfects the Nautilus engines under coercion. When the Company orders an early deployment, he seizes the vessel during a jailbreak, sinking a Company battleship and freeing a mixed crew—including Humility Lucas and her maid Loti. Director Crawley vows to hunt them down
🛠 Episodes 2–4: Underwater Survival & Escape
As the Nautilus sinks due to engine damage, Nemo’s crew cleverly surfaces it using ballast-air diversion. The ship is then spotted by Company forces; Nemo must win his crew’s trust while fending off pursuit. During a stop on a deserted island for supplies, Blaster goes missing, and the crew confronts a giant electric eelRotten
🐟 Episodes 5–6: Monsters & Myth
After narrowly escaping a volcanic eruption, they pursue a clue to a submerged Norse treasure, believed to fund Nemo’s anti-colonial fight. This leads them to glimpses of an ancient Atlantean outpost deep beneath the sea
🎭 Episodes 7–10: Conflict & Confrontation
Tensions rise as Flashbacks deepen the backstory of Nemo’s aristocratic origins and his betrayal by the Company. The crew navigates betrayals, sea monsters, and political scheming, including rival naval captains and a tyrannical mahrajah. The series culminates in a daring showdown as Company forces close in, while Nemo harnesses the legendary treasure to strike back
🎭 Major Themes & Character Arcs
- Anti-Colonial Rebellion: Nemo’s mission is more than escape—it’s a crusade against the injustices of imperialism. The Company is depicted as a capitalist-powered oppressor akin to historical colonial evils
- Diverse Crew Unity: The Nautilus’s crew includes former prisoners and enslaved workers—voices historically silenced—united under Nemo’s leadership and shaped by their shared struggle for freedom
- Underwater Wonder: The series balances political commentary with high-adventure encounters: sea creatures, mythical ruins, natural dangers, and steampunk machinery all provide rich spectacle
🧭 Reception & Legacy
Though Disney originally shelved the project—despite a $300 million filming budget—it was revived by Amazon Prime for the U.K. in Oct 2024 and by AMC in North America in June 2025nine.com.au+9Wikipedia+9es.wikipedia.org+9. Critics praised its ambition, special effects, and thrilling adventure, though some noted underdeveloped characters and pacing issues due to its ten-episode length. Rotten Tomatoes reports ~77% approval, and it holds generally favorable reviews on Metacritic (~64/100)
✅ Final Summary
Na ulus reimagines Captain Nemo not as a mysterious antihero, but as a displaced prince forging his legend—leading an eclectic crew aboard a submarine of vengeance beneath the waves. With steampunk flair, oceanic monsters, and high-stakes colonial oppositions, it’s cinematic escapism with a conscience.
