"The Eternaut": The Toughest Alien Invasion in Buenos Aires (And Why I Can't Stand It)

Well, here we are, talking about The Eternaut, the series that Netflix and K&S Films decided to make after decades of every producer giving their all. And look, it's not easy to adapt an Argentine comic that's like War of the Worlds, but with more guts, more neighborhoods, and fewer Englishmen in suits.

The Synopsis: Toxic Snow, Aliens, and A Guy Who Won't Shrink

If you don't know what it's about, here's the quick summary for those who don't read comics (or don't have the patience): one night in Buenos Aires, a deadly snowfall falls, killing almost everyone. Juan Salvo (Ricardo Darín, because obviously) and his friends realize it's not the crazy weather caused by climate change, but an alien invasion. Solution? Get together, arm yourself with whatever you have (an iron, a radio, a will not to die) and stand up.

Osterheld, the comic's creator, said it clearly: "The only valid hero is a hero in a group." In other words, no Superman flying solo; here you survive in a pack or you don't survive at all. And that's cool with me, because in this life, you either support your own people or they'll leave you stranded like an idiot on a street corner in Flores.

Darín from Eternauta: More Tough Than Ever
Ricardo Darín as Juan Salvo is like watching that guy who always has a plan in the middle of a mess. He's not a superhero with a cape; he's just a normal guy who got himself into some cosmic shit and decided not to sit idly by. If you think aliens are the only dangers, wait until you see how they deal with Buenos Aires traffic, power outages, and gossipy neighbors.

The cast is packed with talent: Carla Peterson, César Troncoso, Andrea Pietra, and others who are sure to put their best foot forward when the aliens start messing things up. But the best part is that, unlike Hollywood, there's no single savior here. Everyone has to pull together, because "no one saves themselves," and that's something we should be clear about in this country by now.

Production: Money, Effects, and a Post-Apocalyptic Buenos Aires
Filmed in more than 35 real locations and with Virtual Production (what they use in The Mandalorian to hide the fact that it's all a lie), the series promises to be a visual spectacle without losing its neighborhood flavor. In other words, it's not Stranger Things with kids on bikes; it's Buenos Aires turned into a war zone, with neighbors armed with whatever they can and aliens who can't understand why no one pays attention to them.

K&S Films (the same company behind Relatos Salvajes and El Reino) put all their effort into it. It's not a crappy production with effects done in Paint; this is cinema with a capital C, but without losing the comic book DNA.

Why Do I Give Up?
Because it's science fiction made here, with our codes, our streets, and our way of facing misfortune: with dark humor, anger, and camaraderie. It's not a story of Yankees saving the world; it's the struggle of a group of Argentinians who, even if they don't get along, know that together they have a better chance.

Furthermore, the original comic is a brutal political metaphor. Oesterheld wrote it in the 1950s, but it could be today: it speaks of resisting against superior forces, of not giving up even when all seems lost. And in a country where chaos is the order of the day, what better story to identify with?

Conclusion: Prepare the Mate and Wait for the Invasion
If you're a comic book fan, this is a dream come true. If you're not familiar with it, this is your chance to get hooked on one of the best Latin American science fiction stories. And if you just want action, Darín hunting aliens with a sawed-off shotgun will do the trick.

Premiere: Coming soon to Netflix (6 episodes of pure adrenaline).
Expectations: High. I hope they don't screw up, but with this team, it's going to be tough.

And if the aliens don't like it, screw them, we're tough here.

What do you expect from The Eternaut? Do you think Darín will bring a little flair to it, or will he be just another predictable "hero"? Leave your comment (or your conspiracy theory) and endure the wait like a champion.