Apple TV+’s ‘See’ is a respite from our own world: Review

Apple TV+’s See is not grounded in a reality similar ours. Due to its almost otherworldly premise, creators of the series, including Steven Knight (Peaky Blinders, Dirty Pretty Things), tasked themselves with an immense amount of world-building to make See believable. 

Based on the two episodes (out of ten) I’ve seen thus far, See certainly succeeds in creating a plausible, futuristic vision in which its characters and plot can exist. Both in concept and meticulous execution, the series is creative, different, and fresh. For that reason alone, it’s worth checking out the first episode. 

The sci-fi fantasy series is set in the distant future after a virus wiped out much of the world’s population. The humans that remained developed uniform blindness, which was then passed along to their offspring. With such a scarce population living in a world dependent on sound and touch rather than sight, See shows society as having reorganized itself into tribes. 

Among them are the Alkenny and the Payan. The Alkenny tribe is led by Baba Voss (Jason Momoa), the tribe’s protector, and Paris (Alfre Woodard), its spiritual advisor. Their rivals, the Payan, are ruled by Queen Kane (Sylvia Hoeks). Queen Kane specifically refers to vision as “the evil power of sight,” and maintains that vision destroyed mankind before the deadly virus did. Both the Payan and Alkenny remain steadfast that their uniform blindness is a sacred, beneficial trait.

Maghra (Hera Hilmar), Baba Voss’s partner, gives birth to twins. Unbeknownst to many of the Alkenny, the twins have the power of sight, which was passed on from their father, Jerlamarel (Joshua Henry). Baba Voss, Maghra, and Paris refrain from telling anyone about the twins’ vision because Queen Kane has prohibited sight in her kingdom. 

After a series of flashforwards, viewers are introduced to the twins as teenagers. See’s story then transitions to focus on their ambitions to break from the safety of the Alkenny tribe and Baba Voss’s protection, and brave the wilderness — and the Payan — to find their father. 

See certainly succeeds in creating and building a plausible, futuristic world.

Although its world seems almost alien, See feels incredibly real. The series explains the confines and norms of its setting through expository, necessary dialogue. Sweeping panorama shots of the Alkenny Village and Queen Kane’s palace reveal that the futuristic society flourishes using the four remaining senses: sound, smell, touch, and taste.

See consists of a unique sort of visual dramatic irony. Because the audience sees what the characters cannot, viewers are all-knowing in a way that is usually impossible when watching other shows. Seeing developments in scene, such as spies or an ominous presence approaching, before characters hear or smell any sort of shift, is suspenseful on a whole new level. 

See’s appeal is also significantly bolstered by the social commentary its premise provides. In many ways, a blind macrocosm can be interpreted as an antidote to our reality. A sense of civility that is unachievable in our world pervades because no person or group of people can conceive of themselves as superior to others based on looks, appearance, or physical characteristics.

That evolved civility combined with the characters’ primitive lifestyles makes the show feel enthrallingly timeless. Besides the shots of Queen Kane’s record player, See could take place at any point in history because its premise is so interestingly disconnected from reality. 

Additionally, See presents a host of strong, complex female characters. Maghra and Paris, in particular, are steadfast and stoic in their morals. Although Maghra depends, in part, on Baba Voss, Paris is self-sufficient, revered, and acts decidedly alone. As Paris is the show’s unbending moral compass, Woodard is a natural in such tenacious role. 

Separately, Queen Kane is ruthless, all-powerful, and (literally) takes no prisoners. Hoeks’ portrayal is chilling, and Queen Kane is a certified fictional feminist icon in the making. Furthermore, the character seems to alternate between presenting as androgynous and feminine. Such a female lead, especially one in a position of immense power in the show’s universe, is important, empowering representation.

It’s also worth noting that Marilee Talkington, who plays another member of the Alkenny tribe named Souter Bax, is blind. Talkington has championed that she has been able to “” on the series. As the show is sure to receive responses and assessments from prominent groups and organizations that advocate for and alongside people with disabilities. 

Naturally, See stumbles upon tropes frequently used for blind characters in television. Baba Voss resembles the “,” whereas Paris’s prophesying abilities coincide with the “.” As See aims to create an “inclusive and authentic world,” its creators seem to utilize tropes as tools to empower, rather than reduce, blind characters; such characterizations aid Baba Voss and Paris in being show’s mightiest characters.

After a laudable first batch of episodes, See now has to keep viewers invested. Such a fascinating, interestingly evolved premise and fantastic performances from Momoa, Hilmar, Woodard, and Hoeks will do much of that work, but the show’s complexity (reasonably) slowed the first two episodes. Now that audiences presumably understand the ins and outs of See’s universe, I hope the action will ramp up.

See will be available for streaming exclusively on Apple TV+ on November 1.