(Credit: Netflix)

Netflix is well known for bringing its fans unputdownable shows they cannot get enough of, and one such recent release was The Eternaut. The Argentine sci-fi series did not end with a resolution but with a haunting question of who or what is trying to pull the strings. Based on the iconic graphic novel by Héctor Germán Oesterheld, the show delivers a finale that is as unsettling as it is ambiguous.

The plot follows Juan Salvo (Ricardo Darin) against the backdrop of a snow-covered Buenos Aires. As he navigates a deadly snowfall that kills on contact, he discovers he is caught in the first wave of an alien invasion. To survive, one requires gas masks and waterproof clothing. But even these precautions cannot protect you against the psychological toll of the unfolding catastrophe.

As the show progresses, Salvo’s journey becomes increasingly surreal. He keeps on encountering friends and family members who exhibit strange behaviour, with the only possible reason he can discern being that they might be under alien control.

Another strange encounter Salvo has is when his daughter, Clara, mysteriously disappears and then returns like nothing happened. Upon return, she is unable to recall how she survived the snowfall or how she found her way back. Clara’s memory lapses and her odd demeanour raise suspicions of her being compromised, too.

What happened to Clara in the end?

The final episode of the show intensifies the themes of control and manipulation showcased throughout. In his journey, Salvo discovers beetle-like aliens that are not acting independently but seem to be controlled by an even more powerful entity, referred to as “The Hand”. This revelation changes the whole narrative and reframes the invasion, clearly indicating the existence of a hierarchy of control beyond visible threats.

In one of the most chilling scenes, Salvo encounters a human calmly walking among the aliens, completely unharmed and accepted like one of their kind. This scene reveals to both Salvo and the viewers that the aliens do not just possess the ability to control humans but are also capable of turning them into collaborators of their kind.

One of the most poignant examples of this situation is Clara’s transformation. In the final moments of the show, Salvo sees her at a military base, being trained with a weapon and a blank expression on her face, completely unrecognisable. Finally, what breaks Salvo is the fact that his daughter is now part of the same force he battled hard to save her from.

Adding to this moment of heartbreak is also one where we discover that Salvo might be having recurring visions. These indicate that he might either be trapped in a time loop or experiencing events from alternate realities. These visions blur the line between his memory and prophecy, again raising questions about free will in a different context.

The series concludes with Salvo confronting “The Hand”, which leaves both him and the audience with more questions than answers, one of them being, who is truly in control?

The Eternaut does not offer easy solutions, and instead presents a world with layered control. The best part about the show is that it has stayed true to the spirit of the original novel. So go watch this six-episode first season and prepare to unravel the world of a new alien species.