Nautilus’ Episode 8 Review

In episode eight of ‘Nautilus’, the crew go under the ice to escape from the Company, but as things get desperate, they decide it’s time for a change of leadership.

Sailing under the thick sea ice, with no way to surface, Nemo reveals that they will have just enough air to get to the open sea and safety, but Humility contradicts him, and tells him his estimates are wrong and he’s putting the crew in danger. This leads to a breakdown in trust between captain and crew, culminating in a mutiny, with Boniface taking up the position of captain. That doesn’t go well for them, though, as without Nemo in command, they end up trapped on a shelf beneath the ocean.

This episode has two main parts, one that’s OK, one that isn’t. The first is the mutiny storyline. It’s not too badly played, after all, Nemo hasn’t been the best captain, and has tended to take his crew’s loyalty for granted. He’s often unlikable and relentless in his drive for revenge, even if that means putting their lives in danger. It makes sense, considering he’s no real experience of command, and is far from the Nemo seen in other stories, such as ‘Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea’. This gives him an opportunity to reflect on his behaviour, and work to become a better leader.

Unfortunately, this isn’t the only storyline going on, as the ship is also under siege from metal eating bugs, which have crunched their way through the sub’s hull. I’m not sure if they came from the desert island and have been riding along for a while, it doesn’t seem likely they would be living under the ice, where there can’t be much metal, but if so, why haven’t they struck before now?

This is mainly used as a plot device to get the crew to work together under Nemo’s supervision, so they can stop the Nautilus from sinking and get moving again. It’s fine for what it is, but there could have been a better way to handle the character development, especially as the metal bugs feel out of place here somehow, more like something from the Monsterverse, rather than Jules Verne. They are also overcome easily using steam, which somehow works, and they are shot out in a torpedo, never to be seen or mentioned again.

That’s the main focus of the episode. The crew all get some “Zack Snyder” character development, getting thirty seconds to give a brief rundown of their backstory. It’s not much, but at least it’s something to go on. Now there are only two episodes left, so maybe things will focus on the Company from now on, as the show reaches its conclusion.