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The Eternaut Finale Explained: Alien Mind Control, Twists, and Will There Be Season 2?

BBG News

One evening during a sultry summer in Buenos Aires, Argentina, an unexpected snowfall with deadly consequences blanketed the city. Whatever it touched, it immediately turned lifeless. Thousands of residents found themselves confined within their homes, offices, and shops, the barrier of no communication only intensifying their isolation. The first query that arose was whether this was the aftermath of a nuclear disaster or something even more enigmatic.

To endure the harsh outdoor conditions, it’s essential to don multiple waterproof garments and utilize a protective gas mask. Juan Salvo (Ricardo Darín) and his companions engage in a desperate fight for survival, aiming to locate Juan’s daughter Clara. However, their situation takes an unexpected turn as they uncover that the poisonous storm is merely the initial assault from an alien force invading our planet.

Netflix’s latest science fiction series, “The Eternaut,” is modeled after the Eisner Award-winning graphic novel “The Eternaut (El Eternauta)” by Héctor G. Oesterheld and Francisco Solano López. Originally serialized from 1957 to 1959, the comic was later compiled into a single volume in 2015.

As director Bruno Stagnaro explained to TIME, he found adapting “The Eternaut” a lengthy and complex task due to the integration of diverse narrative elements within it. According to him, the work is characterized by various components that harmoniously exist together. He also mentioned the difficulties stemming from its significant cultural legacy in their country, as well as high expectations. To avoid being overwhelmed by these factors, he anchored himself in his early reading experiences with the work and later readings as he grew older. For Stagnaro, “The Eternaut” was instrumental in shaping his personal growth and played a pivotal role in his professional journey.

Beyond being merely a science fiction tale focused on survival, The Eternaut has significantly impacted Latin American culture. This influence can be attributed partly to its engaging narrative, but also to the life story of its creator Oesterheld. During the Argentine military dictatorship in 1977, Oesterheld was kidnapped and declared dead, transforming this graphic novel into a powerful symbol of resistance. As Bruno explains, “The story and the author’s life became intertwined, each fueling the other. Today, it stands as a rich cultural symbol, laden with various meanings – some connected to the work itself, others tied to Oesterheld’s biography, and still more accumulated over time, often for political purposes, whether from those who admire him or those who oppose his ideals.

Let’s break down the major plot points of the The Eternaut.

The first alien encounter

As soon as the snow starts falling, it seems like red stars are raining down from above, similar to meteors. However, it isn’t until Episode 4 that viewers clearly see the extraterrestrial beings. Juan Salvo and his companion, Alfredo Favalli, are on their way to the capital in a bid to find Juan’s daughter, Clara, who was with friends when the events unfolded. During their journey, they come across a traffic jam caused by stopped cars. Men in uniforms show up and inform them that the capital is off-limits until further notice. Despite assurances that assistance is coming, Juan harbors suspicion towards the military and chooses to follow the soldiers.

As they drive through a tunnel, they find themselves facing soldiers up ahead. Upon drawing nearer, Alfredo declares his intention to explain their mission of entering the capital to locate Juan’s daughter. However, events take an unexpected turn when the army starts firing. In response, they hastily back away, only to encounter a car plummeting from a bridge overhead, obstructing their path of retreat. It is at this point that it becomes evident that the soldiers are not targeting them; instead, they’re shooting at extraterrestrials on the bridge. With renewed determination, Alfredo accelerates, but their vehicle is struck and overturns. Subsequently, we witness insect-like aliens assaulting the soldiers. In an eerie scene, one of these beings opens its maw, revealing tentacles that ensnare a soldier in silky threads reminiscent of spiderwebs.

As a movie enthusiast, let me share my thoughts on this thrilling cinematic experience. In the film, I found myself alongside Juan and Alfredo, who inexplicably find themselves in a precarious situation after their car collides with a tire repair shop. As if fate had it out for them, they stumble upon an invasion of alien insects, forcing them to hide among the tires for cover.

The tension builds as the creatures seem to vanish, only to return moments later, carrying one of the humans wrapped in webbing towards their lair. Determined to save the captured individual, Juan and Alfredo cautiously make their way back onto the road, but a minor mishap alerts the aliens to their presence once again.

In an attempt to defend themselves, they open fire on the creatures and follow a mysterious figure who beckons them for help. Their path leads them to a church, which unfortunately is locked, leaving them vulnerable to the alien assault. As if by some miracle, someone throws fire at the invaders from an upper window, and another individual opens a side entrance to provide sanctuary.

Though they’ve managed to escape the immediate danger, Juan and Alfredo are left shaken, questioning the nature of these colossal insects and what other horrors may be lurking in the shadows. The suspenseful ending leaves audiences on the edge of their seats, eagerly anticipating the next chapter in this gripping saga.

Clara’s mysterious return

In the early stages of the series, it’s Clara, Juan’s daughter from his previous marriage with Elena, who goes missing. She was on a boat with friends Loli and Tati when a city-wide power outage occurred. Fearing for their safety, they decided to leave. Clara went downstairs to check the GPS, heard a strange noise, and noticed Loli lying dead outside the window. The door then slammed shut, trapping her, and despite her attempts to reach Tati, there was no response—it’s assumed that Tati too might have met with the same fate.

it was actually Clara who found them instead.

Despite knowing that they usually played cards at Alfredo’s on the said night, no one knows how Clara managed to get there. According to Elena, upon arrival, Clara was shivering and repeated “Mommy, mommy, mommy.” They don’t delve deeper into the mystery until later, while traveling in a trailer en route to Alfredo’s house on an island. In the trailer, Alfredo spots a mask and some bags and queries about their origin. Elena responds that Clara had them upon arrival. Alfredo asserts they belong to him and were on his boat; however, he later reconsiders, suggesting it could just be a coincidence.

As I stir from my afternoon slumber, I find myself in unfamiliar territory bound for Alfredo’s island abode. My immediate concern, however, is for my friends whom I had pledged to reunite with. Upon voicing my worry, my mother attempts to reassure me that they are safe and well.

Elena explains that she and my father scoured the city in search of me, only to discover me aboard Alfredo’s vessel at last. This revelation leaves me puzzled as I query, “What boat?” Alfredo affirms it was indeed his ship, but I insist that prior to that, I was at my mother’s house and with Loli and Tati – nowhere near Alfredo’s boat.

“What mask?” I deny ever having brought such an item along. The enigmatic events that transpired leave me feeling lost and disoriented, but I remain resolute in unraveling this mysterious web.

It’s evident that there are inconsistencies in Clara’s story about her return, such as how she left the boat, how she knew to wear a mask, and her denial of being there. Eventually, it becomes clear that someone is controlling her actions.

What’s happening to people?

Clara isn’t the only one displaying unusual actions. On their journey, Juan and his companions stumble upon a family slain by bullets – not extraterrestrials, but fellow humans. Later, they arrive at a mall teeming with survivors managing the parking area. When Juan brings up the dead family, he’s met with responses such as “We’ve heard similar incidents before” and “People seem to be losing their minds.

In another location, their friend Lucas sets out in search of some beer. As he hunts, a sound catches his ear. Simultaneously, the snowfall subsides, prompting everyone to exit and revel in the moment. However, when they notice Lucas is absent, Juan and Alfredo commence a search for him, discovering a shattered bottle along the way. All of a sudden, three individuals concealed by masks arrive in a car and start shooting at the joyous gathering.

Juan and Alfredo join forces with other armed combatants to retaliate. Two masked assailants meet their end, but one manages to flee. Shortly afterward, military vehicles roll in, bringing Lucas along. He clarifies that he was discovered on the road by the army and brought aboard. According to him, he consumed too much alcohol, passed out after discovering beer in the mall, and awoke to find himself surrounded by soldiers.

In the final moments of Episode 5, it becomes clear what has become of the third masked gunman: He ventures into a sewer, meets an alien insect that doesn’t attack him, and carries on. Other creatures part ways as he moves through. It seems he is under their control and working alongside the aliens. Clara, Lucas, and the assailants all display peculiar behavior, and Juan observes it all keenly.

How The Eternaut ends

In a city center, Juan, Alfredo, Lucas, along with some military personnel and volunteers, venture into an abandoned building to transmit a message to other survivors via radio. Their endeavor proves successful, and they decide to spend the night within the building. As the evening unfolds, the group relaxes in one of the apartments, enjoying drinks and card games. However, Lucas suddenly becomes agitated and announces he won’t participate any longer. Omar attempts to soothe him, but Lucas seizes a sharp instrument and wounds Omar in the abdomen before fleeing. It is important to note that Omar was present at Alfredo’s residence when the events unfolded initially. Although Omar had a suspicious demeanor at first, his character develops positively throughout the episodes, making him someone you’d be glad to have as an ally during an extraterrestrial invasion.

Juan pursues Lucas and locates him on the building’s rooftop ledge. He attempts to engage with him, but Lucas begins to speak incoherently, warning about careful speech due to suspected phone tapping, implying a threat to “the foundation.” As a light from a nearby stadium catches their eye, Lucas grins, claims it’s lightning, and then jumps off the rooftop.

After learning of their friend’s passing, Juan and Alfredo, who had arrived moments later, didn’t have a moment to grieve. Instead, they noticed a group moving toward the building with flashlights, prompting them to rush out. They joined forces with Omar and another volunteer before departing. Upon spotting another volunteer in the courtyard of the building, they called out to him, but he warned the others about their location. The group eventually made it to the locomotive that transported them to the city center, informing the train operator about the situation while emphasizing the urgency of heading to Campo de Mayo and alerting the army and others about the events unfolding. However, Juan became fixated on the light emanating from the stadium and urged the group to investigate it further.

Juan and the train conductor opt to explore, while Alfredo (the one driving the locomotive) and Omar, along with another volunteer, make their way to the military base. En route, they encounter gunfire and a bustling street inhabited by people and strange creatures going about their business as usual. They step inside a building for a clearer look at the situation. The people apparently influenced mentally are organizing themselves in rows, reminiscent of a military formation. A light emanates from a bandstand nearby, causing both the people and colossal insects to pause and gaze.

In the scene, an alien with multiple fingers emerges, leaving Juan believing this entity has power over everyone. He glances at a young girl standing in line, and then the shot shifts elsewhere. Meanwhile, Juan’s daughter Clara is undergoing gun training at Campo de Mayo, her countenance grave. At that instant, Juan shuts his eyes, realizing why his child had been behaving oddly. Now, he acknowledges that the true challenges are about to unfold even further.

Will The Eternaut have a second season?

As a devoted cinephile, I can’t help but express my anticipation for more! Netflix only adapted the initial phase of Juan Salvo’s epic struggle against extraterrestrial invaders in ‘The Eternaut’. There’s still so much more to explore in the comics that remain unadapted. Though no official announcement has been made about new episodes, our esteemed lead actor Ricardo Darín has given us a tantalizing hint in an interview – it seems that the second season is indeed on its way! “We’ve yet to experience the second part of ‘The Eternaut’,” Darín says. “I think we’re aiming even higher!” he tells Forbes, igniting our excitement for what’s coming next.

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2025-05-01 07:08

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