Netflix’s latest dystopian drama, The Eternaut, has rapidly become a worldwide sensation. According to The Associated Press, this six-episode Argentine series blends science fiction with a gripping story of survival and resilience. Since its release on April 30, it has topped Netflix’s charts among non-English language TV shows.
Set in Buenos Aires, The Eternaut begins with a group of friends playing truco, a popular Argentine card game. Suddenly, a power outage, dying cellphones, and a deadly snowfall disrupt their lives. As the threat spreads, the friends realize the danger affects all of humanity. The series skillfully combines familiar cultural elements such as mate drinking and local cityscapes with the eerie, alien threat.
The show is based on the 1957 graphic novel by Héctor Germán Oesterheld, a renowned Argentine sci-fi writer who was forcibly disappeared during the country’s military dictatorship from 1976 to 1983. His family, including grandson Martín Oesterheld, who serves as a creative consultant and executive producer, insisted the series stay true to its roots by filming in Spanish with an Argentine cast and locations.
Netflix invested $34 million into production, involving nearly 3,000 local workers. The show’s impact goes beyond entertainment: it has brought renewed attention to Argentina’s troubled history and the ongoing search for missing persons linked to the dictatorship.
Martín Oesterheld explains, “For it to be embraced by so many people in this way … there is no greater social commentary.” The series’ message, “No one gets through it alone,” resonates deeply amid current social challenges, appearing on protest signs during recent demonstrations in Buenos Aires.
The story also revisits the 1982 Falklands War, a still-sensitive chapter in Argentine history. The protagonist, Juan Salvo—played by acclaimed actor Ricardo Darín—is a former soldier haunted by the war’s loss. This connection adds emotional depth and relevance to the unfolding crisis.
Following its overwhelming success, Netflix has confirmed The Eternaut will return for a second season, with filming scheduled to begin next year. Meanwhile, renewed interest in Oesterheld’s original work has led to reissues of the graphic novel in the U.S. and abroad.
The Eternaut blends science fiction, cultural identity, and history in a way that captivates viewers worldwide, making it one of Netflix’s standout series of 2025.
Article updated 4 weeks ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
