Decoding the Alien Threat in The Eternaut: Invasion Explained

Netflix's post-apocalyptic hit, The Eternaut, quickly draws viewers in with a familiar premise: humanity on the brink of extinction. However, as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that alien forces are orchestrating the chaos. While the show maintains an intriguing level of mystery surrounding these extraterrestrial beings, it provides enough clues to keep audiences hooked and theorizing about their grand plan.

Unlike typical alien invasion narratives that depict outright war, The Eternaut suggests a more calculated and strategic takeover. The scale of the invasion gradually emerges as the aliens execute their plan step by step.

The Alien Beetle Creatures: Biological Weapons

Once the toxic snowfall subsides, the remaining humans discover an even greater threat lurking outside: giant alien beetle-like creatures. These bugs ensnare humans in a strange, web-like substance. Initially, many believe these beetles are the primary alien species responsible for the invasion. However, a key scene later reveals that these creatures make way for certain soldiers, hinting at a deeper, more complex relationship.

These alien bugs are essentially biological weapons of mass destruction. While season 1 doesn't fully explore their purpose, it's evident that the extraterrestrial beings use them strategically. After crippling human communication and transportation, the aliens unleash the bugs to suppress any remaining resistance before proceeding with the main invasion.

The Aliens' Origins and Motives: A Reflection of Totalitarianism

The Eternaut deliberately avoids revealing the aliens' precise origins or their ultimate goals. However, the show's source material portrays them as metaphors for totalitarianism and imperialism. Parallels are drawn between Juan Salvo's wartime experiences and the alien invasion, highlighting the dehumanizing effects of oppressive regimes and the erosion of democracy.

The aliens' control over military forces, as seen towards the end of the season, further emphasizes their desire to instill fear and violence to control the population. The training of ordinary citizens, like Juan's daughter, by the alien-controlled military signifies the rise of dictatorship and the suppression of individual autonomy.

Beyond the surface-level alien invasion story, The Eternaut serves as a reflection of real-world issues surrounding the centralization of power. The aliens, stripped of political undertones, can be seen as invasive forces driven by a thirst for power and dominion, potentially repeating this pattern on other planets before targeting Earth.

The Toxic Snowfall: A Calculated Attack

The show doesn't explicitly explain the reason behind the toxic snowfall. However, the character Favalli, an electrical engineer, proposes a theory. He suggests that Earth is experiencing a significant shift in its magnetic poles. This shift causes radiation from the Van Allen belts to bind with snow, resulting in the toxic precipitation. The aliens likely used their advanced technology to trigger this polar shift.

Favalli's theory is supported by his discovery of compasses indicating a complete reversal of the poles. The aliens initially use the toxic snowfall to disrupt human communication and transportation, gaining a significant advantage. Metaphorically, the snowfall can be interpreted as a corrupt political force that gradually undermines society from within, remaining unnoticed until it's too late.

The Alien Hierarchy and Mind Control

The Eternaut establishes a clear power hierarchy among the invading forces. At the bottom are ordinary human survivors. Above them are the giant alien beetles, acting as mindless biological weapons. Further up are humans under alien control, seemingly through chip-like technology implanted in their brains.

These manipulated humans are controlled by an alien with multiple fingers, who uses eerie music for mind control. In the original comic strips, this hand creature is controlled by another mysterious alien force known as Ellos ("Them"), who are likely to be introduced in season 2.

Are the Aliens Evil?

While the aliens' true motives remain ambiguous, their actions suggest malevolent intentions. The toxic snowfall attack and the mind control of humans demonstrate a disregard for human life and autonomy. From a political perspective, the aliens, like corrupt governments, are driven by a desire for absolute power.

They resort to extreme measures like genocide and mind control to achieve their goal of taking over the planet, making them objectively evil, even if their long-term plans are yet to be revealed. With Netflix renewing The Eternaut for season 2, audiences can anticipate further exploration of the aliens' purpose and the resistance against their oppressive regime.