As the breakout hit Game of Thrones neared its conclusion, the world began to wonder what sci-fi series would captivate audiences next. Where established studios and streaming platforms started to set up their claim for the throne, Apple TV+ decided that there was no reason to wait. Bringing Steven Knight and Francis Lawrence on board, See not only tries to become a fantasy epic, but also decides to use the gimmick of a world where a sense gets taken away, which has become continually more popular since the release of A Quiet Place.

Instead of a world forced into silence, the world of See takes place in a distant future where humanity has lost the sense of sight. Society has evolved into a series of groups and factions, one of which being the Alkenny tribe led by a man named Baba Voss (Jason Momoa). Things seem to be going according to plan until his wife, Maghra (Hera Hilmar), gives birth to two twins, Kofun (Archie Madekwe) and Haniwa (Nesta Cooper), from a previous relationship. It is quickly revealed that these children have the ability to see, effectively putting a target on the entire village as they try to track down their father Jerlamare.

The quickest way that See could have failed was it's premise. Whenever there is a fantasy world that features a very clear gimmick, like humanity going blind, the risk of the world feeling cheesy and forced goes way up. Luckily for See, the world and creativity in building it actually becomes the show’s best aspect. It truly feels like the creators behind the show gave this world thought and conceptualised how they could develop it in unique ways. From individuals who have mastered the art of being quiet allowing them to spy on people, physical communication using knots and heartbeats being used to tell the good from the bad — this is a world filled with so many small yet clever pieces of worldbuilding. In this way, See really succeeds in building a world that stays engaging and smart. It also helps that the technical aspects of the show are impressive. With only a few exceptions where CGI negatively stands out, there is a real merit to elements of the show, such as the costumes and production design. This isn't a show trying to take the lazy way out. It is one with a mixture of skill and inspiration that helps elevate it on a technical level.

The same can be said about the acting. From a premise standpoint, having to give compelling performances while also having to be constantly aware of how the actors carry themselves — considering their characters lack of sight — each actor in this show should give themselves a pat on the back. See truly is an ensemble cast, with everyone giving emotionally significant performances that hold the illusion of the world while also actually feeling genuine. Where it might not be such a shock that actors like Alfre Woodard are able to give something of substance, it has to be Jason Momoa who surprises the most. Where Momoa has been bundles of fun in roles like Aquaman, with his role as Baba Voss, Momoa has to reach much deeper. His character is the leader of his tribe and has to come off as a powerful warrior in that regard, but he also is someone who fears the future for his children and has to deal with the fact that he won't always be able to take charge and be that shield — especially when it comes to others who have the ability of sight. This is a really impressive outing for Momoa and hopefully, as his career continues, he can find more roles to show this side of him.

Sadly, when it comes to story, the show quickly starts to go downhill. The first few episodes set up a clear relationship between a small handful of parties that, despite not being the most original or engaging, was at least easy enough to follow. As the show goes on, each party that originally had clear goals gets into increasingly complicated situations with layered motivations. This may work well enough on its own but the show becomes disorienting as it keeps switching between these plots. It becomes impossible to fully keep track of what is happening with each character, which also means it becomes impossible to truly become invested in each of their stories. Characters like Queen Kane (Sylvia Hoeks) seem interesting but the show never allows the audience to truly care about those arcs.

Where See might not have ended up as a major hit, at least from its first season, this is a show that demands some respect. Especially when it comes to building this world and its technical elements, See is a show of pure quality. It is not some lazy and basic attempt to make a popular sci-fi show but rather one that truly has some thought behind it. Despite the equally strong acting, it is the structure of the show that it ends up hurting itself, never allowing the story to truly be as enthralling and captivating as it's supposed to be. With a second season confirmed, it will be interesting to see how the show evolves but for now, it remains a solid sci-fi epic that overall deserves more eyes on it.

SEE is streaming exclusively on APPLE TV +

See - Season 1

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