by Mike Hilty, Contributing Writer
I remember the first time I saw the movies The Matrix and Inception. These movies profoundly affected me because they stretch the boundaries of what I thought was possible from a film. In both films, I had to watch them multiple times in the theaters. Not only because a second viewing helps with understanding, but also because I wanted to experience them again with new audiences. It’s hard to do that with a television show, because unless you are watching it with a group, TV is a largely solo activity.
One of Netflix’s latest shows will be one that I’ll remember watching for the first time, for a while
1899, created by Jantje Friese and Baran bo Odar, tells the story of the Kerberos steam liner ship. In the year 1899, the steam liner is taking a group of European migrants to America. On the way, they hear a distress signal from another ship and decide to answer the call. What happens from there is something no one has imagined, as a nightmare scenario begins for the passengers and crew.
Fair warning for all of you, check your expectation at the door. If you have seen trailers or read anything about 1899, what you see will be wildly different. What 1899 does extremely well is subvert your expectation for what you’re seeing. Nothing is what it seems. I’m extremely grateful that I didn’t watch any trailers and went into this show blind, except for reading the premise. This is perhaps the best way to go into it. It is also a little tricky to write about because there is a ton to talk about, and oh so many spoilers to potentially give away. If I’m being vague, it’s intentional because I want you to experience this for yourself.
1899 has some amazing technical achievements. Between the look of the ship and the effects of the water, the series looks fantastic. The visuals, along with the lighting and music, set an atmosphere of dread. You always feel like there’s something around that could scare you. There are some jump scares, but not enough that I would say this would be considered full-on horror. The music is amazing, as it uses modern music to enhance some of the moments in each episode with new context. I also have to give props to the special effects. There is a scene towards the end of the series that involves the ship going through water, which is truly awesome.
The story begins with the crew members and passengers onboard the ship Kerberos. Two individuals we get to know right off the bat are Maura (Emily Beecham), a passenger heading to America due to a letter from her brother, and captain Eyk (Andreas Pietschmann). Maura is our de facto main character in a rather large ensemble of passenger and crew members. We do not get a lot of information or backstory about anyone on the steam liner, which is a testament to the writing, as they allow the characters to develop organically.
I have to give Beecham a lot of credit for what she’s doing. She does an amazing job of showcasing her talent and performing a complicated character like Maura. There are layers upon layers to her character that have depth and twists. I appreciated Maura as a character as well. She has a tall task of lifting this story. It’s no easy task. Pietschmann also does a lot of great work as the captain. He has an equally tough task of captaining this ship, while also potentially steering them off course and into danger for this other ship. Beecham and Pietschmann also work incredibly together.
This isn’t to say other characters don’t hold their weight. There are so many other characters to parse through that have parts to play. Two characters whose story I enjoyed are Ling Yi (Isabella Wei) and Olek (Maciej Musial). Their story is interesting, and we’re left with these two performances speaking for themselves. There’s a language barrier between them, so what they convey to one another is largely left to the emotions they show one another. Another storyline that I enjoy, although it is very much wrapped up in a mystery, is The Boy (Fflyn Edwards). His appearance is strange, involving the other ship. As his story begins to unfold, there’s clarity with more questions arising. In addition to The Boy, a character named Daniel (Aneurin Barnard) has an intriguing plot. I give both Edwards and Barnard a ton of credit for their roles. They’re both amazing characters, and they play huge parts in the overall mystery.
That is also the nature of the story of this entire show: two steps forward, one step back. This isn’t a bad thing, as it keeps the mystery going. As soon as you think you have a grasp on where the story is going, something comes up and brings you back to square one. I, for one, sometimes can’t guess where a plot is going, and this is one where I just couldn’t wrap my head around it. Every few episodes, a new piece of the puzzle is unveiled and it’s honestly mind blowing until the final two episodes. There, the series reaches a boiling point where a lot is revealed, but even more questions come up. I know this will not be for everyone, as some will find 1899 as having too many turns. Some will go the other way, though, and say it’s too boring, which I completely disagree with.
The story is filled with themes involving what lengths people will go to forget their past after some of the traumas they suffer. These are experienced in a variety of different ways, but it is worth noting that there are some trigger warnings involving death, violence, and sexual assault. These backstories are important for the context of the characters of the show. However, how it is presented is something that I was not prepared for. Even so, there are still a lot of questions that need to be answered. That might be the most frustrating part about 1899: the sequel-baiting for Season Two, when there isn’t a guarantee that it’ll get one. The bomb that the finale drops in the final moments only invites more questions.
1899 is an astonishing show. It’s ambitious, layered, and filled with a lot of unexpected story beats. It is going to hit people differently in a lot of different ways, but I will always give props to shows that just go for it and remain true to themselves. If you plan on watching 1899 (which I think you should), pay attention. Little details come back in ways you will not see coming. It might require multiple viewing, but it’s well worth it for a strong mystery with great characters and stunning visuals. This one will stick with me for a while.
Score: 8/10
1899 is currently streaming on Netflix
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