What if Gods' legendary creatures and timeless myths collide with the mayhem of the modern world?
KAOS, a Netflix original, answers that question by bringing this mystical world into our everyday lives, once again speculating ancient mythology into the context of contemporary life with clever bends of dark humour.
The result is a world where Gods walk among us and heroes navigate an urban landscape. This series revives age-old legends as they transform epic tales of Gods, monsters, and cosmic conflicts into exciting modern stories.
Ancient powers exhibit resilience by facing modern challenges, including power struggles, existential dilemmas, and human relationship complexities. Whether it is Gods fighting over power in the modern world or how Norse mythology interacts with everyday life, this series blurs the lines between myth and reality and blend fantasy with action, thus incorporating influential themes in philosophy. KAOS explores how mythology from Greek Gods, Norse legends and supernatural folklore, continue to influence modern storytelling.
KAOS fans are eagerly anticipating more shows in this genre.
So, today, we have listed 20 shows like KAOS that redefine mythology in today's context. Each series boldly combines ancient lore with modern themes, portraying fresh and immersive stories where the past and present intertwine in mysterious ways, without letting go of their respective cinematic experiences.
20) Gods of Egypt
Gods of Egypt is a journey through the mystique world of ancient Egypt, where Gods and mortals struggle for power and survival. The narrative trail of the story follows Bek, the bold mortal, teaming with Horus, the falcon-headed god, to rescue his kidnapped love from the evil plans of Set, who is determined to rule over the world.
Bek and Horus, suffering through immense challenges and understanding each of their destinies, serve to tell a love story. It is a story of sacrifice, of eternal struggle between light and darkness, a ride-and-roll-take-no-prisoners cinematic experience that is a must-watch for fans of KAOS.
19) Camelot
Camelot weaves a reinterpretation of the legend of King Arthur, a cinematic journey from his battle against the very illegitimacy he confronts to how he rose to power. Under the tutelage of both Merlin and the mysterious Morgan le Fay, Arthur battles against treachery in attempting to unify the kingdom.
Camelot explores themes of power, loyalty, and a quest for justice in the style of KAOS, where mythological stories are meshed with contemporary dilemmas. With captivating storytelling and rich character development, Camelot brings a fresh perspective to Arthurian legend, exploring the timelessness of heroism and sacrifice.
18) Atlantis
Atlantis is another show that takes viewers on a rollercoaster of a journey to the legendary city, where myths and adventure collide. The plot is framed in the story of Jason, who finds himself mysteriously transported to an ancient world with Gods, heroes, and mystical creatures abound.
He will cross paths with other icons such as Hercules and Pythagoras, as twists and turns of adventure await him. Like KAOS, this one is another perfectly mixed mythology plus modern storytelling, as it speaks to the viewer about friendship, valour, and fate.
The rich world-building and enticing narratives have drawn viewers into this captivating universe, where every moment unfolds as a tale of intrigue and adventure.
17) Blood Ties
Blood Ties follows Vicki Nelson, a tough and determined private investigator with a knack for uncovering the supernatural. When she crosses paths with Henry Fitzroy, a charismatic vampire who just happens to be the illegitimate son of King Henry VIII, their worlds collide and turnaround in unexpected ways.
Together, they tackle cases that range from ghosts to demons, in between not being entirely sure of how they feel about each other. The series can be likened to KAOS in a way that the old and the new intertwine, but the focus on love, loyalty, and what it is to be human amidst a supernaturally chaotic world makes it an intriguing watch as a viewer.
Blood Ties offers a novel spin on vampire mythology that captivates viewers with its mystery, romance, and complex cast of characters.
16) Sleepy Hollow
Sleepy Hollow comes on the heels of contemporary The Legend of Sleepy Hollow - Ichabod Crane's rebirth in order to help defeat the dark supernatural forces. They dig deep into long-buried secrets in battling evil while teaming up with Lieutenant Abbie Mills. This series shares mystery, action, and American folklore with KAOS as it unleashes legendary, yet contemporary storytelling.
Sleepy Hollow is thus one television show that is able to enthral audiences through its exciting plot with richly developed characters, as it weaves together history, myth, and suspense to express the broad struggle between good and evil.
15) The Wheel of Time
The Wheel of Time, an epic fantasy series based on Robert Jordan's novels, is a collection of books with a richly developed world and timeline which is set in a cycle. The hero's quest follows Moiraine, a powerful Aes Sedai (servants of all), and her young heroes throughout the land in the battle against dark forces, as they delve into themes of fate and power.
Like KAOS, it interweaves mythology with modern storytelling that propels one through ancient prophecies with the edges of heroism. It is an interesting storyline that follows the development of characters who struggle to seek their destinies, amid exciting adventurous escapades and magic.
14) Avatar: The Last Airbender
The Last Airbender is a critically acclaimed animated series that tells the story of a world of four nations, each of which embodies an element: Water, Earth, Fire, and Air.
Following Aang, the last surviving Avatar and his friends, the show portrays friendship, destiny, and balance as the primary themes. Its rich mythology and character development highly resemble with the viewership genre of KAOS as ancient lore is weaved with struggles that are, in their very nature, contemporary.
Avatar: The Last Airbender series artfully goes into how the past impacts the present and it comes up with engaging narratives and lessons in life, which label it as sort of a timeless classic.
13) Wynonna Earp
Wynonna Earp is a story about the great-great-granddaughter of Wyatt Earp, who fights revenants-dead outlaws that her ancestor killed. Wynonna returns to Purgatory, her hometown, to wage war on dark supernatural forces that are threatening her community using her family legacy.
This supernatural drama with action, humour, and really good mythology serves themes of duty and identity. Just like KAOS, it recontextualizes legendary characters in the setting of modern day, while showcasing the battle between good and evil. Storytelling about personal maturity and the strength of family bonds within fantasy is one of the major themes of this show.
12) The Umbrella Academy
The Umbrella Academy is a series about quirky superheroes and an adopted family of siblings, who are aberrant beings. After their father's alleged death, they reunite to unveil the mystery behind their abilities. With rich character development along with a dark-humoured theme on family, identity, and destiny, this show is a must watch if you liked KAOS.
The Umbrella Academy is similar to KAOS, as it weaves myth into contemporary storytelling as ancient heroes contend with the modern challenges thrown in their way in an excitingly bizarre screenplay, full of supernatural battles and personal issues that serve to bring home a unique experience to the viewer.
11) Siren
Siren is a supernatural drama on the mythology of mermaids, not to mention a great "KAOS"-inspired show. In Bristol Cove, a mysterious young woman named Ryn washes up and it is revealed that she's a mermaid.
As Ryn joins the community, she begins to confess some dark secrets regarding her kind and the relationship between humans and mermaids. The series focuses on the themes of identity, belonging, and the conflict between nature and civilization.
With suspense, romance, and rich mythology, Siren presents a unique twist on mermaid folklore that captivates viewers.
10) Ragnarok
Ragnarok is a Norwegian fantasy series that revists Norse mythology in a unique manner, which is set to appeal to KAOS enthusiasts. It is about a teen, Magne's life, who discovers he is the reincarnation of Thor and has a purpose to achieve.
The journey of Magne and his powers comprise of personal crises and the burden of divine legacy. Ragnarok contemplates issues of identity and environmentalism while addressing heroism and destiny in a way we've never seen before.
9) Shadow and Bone
Fantasy series Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo merges magic and mythologies. Thus, it relates to the preferences of those who like KAOS. A young soldier, Alina Starkov makes a discovery that may change the fate of her country in an environment inspired by *Tsarist Russia* from the time of war.
Alina enters the Grisha training school and walks into a dangerous magical society marked with a dark secret called the Shadow Fold, which is home to horrific creatures. Her struggle is acknowledged and accompanied by support from friends as she fights against those who seek to exploit her power.
Shadow and Bone is a series that gets into identity, friendship, and the protagonist-antagonist struggle set against a well-crafted world with memorable characters. Shadow and Bone combines adventure, romance, and supernatural elements, creating a bridge between mythology and modern fantasy.
8) Blood of Zeus
An animated series, Blood of Zeus breathes Greek mythology back to life and could definitely appeal to you if you are a fan of KAOS. It follows Heron, a sort of illegitimate son of Zeus, who has to face dark forces ravaging and attacking mortals and Gods.
Blood of Zeus exudes stunning animation and storytelling, centered on themes of fate, love for family, and the battle between good and evil. Heron focuses on family myths as gods' and monsters' paths cross in a unique way.
Heron's part in this epic fight of course takes the audience through adventures of magic, treachery and epic proportions of bravery, thus drawing fans to witness life-inspired films wrapped in fantasy.
7) Heroes
Heroes could be one of the most evident choice of a fan of KAOS because of the development of characters who look ordinary, but are powerful in nature. Many such characters have been featured on the show and their numerous resultant dilemmas are showcased to the viewer.
These 'heroes' discover that they are part of a larger story in which a possible catastrophe hangs over the head of human beings. Dealing with destiny, sacrifice, and battle between good and evil, Heroes follows how people find their way harnessing their own powers in a world that dreads the unknown.
As viewers ponder what power and community might be, the series makes for an interesting exercise on what makes an ordinary human being, exceptional.
6) American Gods
American Gods is an amazing show that, like KAOS, approaches the works of mythology in the actual world. Based on Neil Gaiman's novel, it follows Shadow Moon, an ex-convict caught in a conflict between old Gods, that are forgotten in the current world, and new Gods, who represent technology, media, and consumerism.
A few of the series' themes include belief, identity, and the impact of mythology on human life.
American Gods is a rich tapestry interlocking diverse mythologies in beautiful visuals and elaborate storytelling. It presents ancient deities in an intriguing manner, thus making it a good watch for anyone interested in a blend of mythology and modernity, like KAOS.
5) The Witcher
The Witcher is a fantasy series based on Andrzej Sapkowski's book, and could draw some similarities with KAOS viewers. With juicy world-building and complex characters, it is the story of Geralt of Rivia, a monster hunter known as The Witcher, whose abilities have been enhanced due to mutation.
A full outsider in every regard, Geralt of Rivia lives within an untidy, medieval-ambient world full of magic, wherein he finds his place in a very fearful society. He is accompanied by characters like the mighty sorceress Yennefer and a girl with a mysteriously prophecised destiny, Ciri.
Through a mix of action and in-depth philosophy, The Witcher opens up to questions of faith versus free will and humanity in an interesting manner.
4) Lucifer
Lucifer is a highly engaging series because it links a crime procedural drama with celestial themes, making it a good fit for those who liked watching KAOS. The series revolves around Lucifer Morningstar, the Devil, who has become disillusioned with ruling Hell and has retired and moved to Los Angeles, where he opens a nightclub called Lux.
Lucifer is a civilian consultant for the LAPD when he gets involved in a murder investigation by using his ability to compel people to reveal their deepest desires. In merging forces with Detective Chloe Decker, he encounters problems of identity, relationships, and moral dilemmas.
Having equal parts wit via dialogue with good vs. evil themes, Lucifer weaves the poles of mythology nicely into a modern scenario to pit angels and demons against each other in a most refreshing spin on a crime-solving supernatural genre.
3) The Good Place
The Good Place shares a combination of the mythological and the mundane, as does KAOS. It is a nimble comedy that takes the viewer through the afterlife with deft humor as well as philosophical depth. The series is centered around Eleanor Shellstrop, a woman who dies and winds up in "The Good Place", where people spend the afterlife if they were good - however, she soon realises that she doesn't belong there.
Eleanor, realizing her mistake and how out of place she is in the afterlife, decides to change. She and her friends discover surprising afterlife facts as the series unfolds, fusing humour with ethical and philosophical dilemmas, including what it actually means to be good or bad!
Fans of mythical storytelling will love The Good Place's witty morality and supernatural setting, which offers a unique blend of humour mixed with deeper philosophical issues.
2) The Leftovers
The Leftovers and KAOS, both explore the impact of supernatural events on ordinary lives. In The Leftovers, "Sudden Departure" drives people to grapple with questions of destiny, intent, and faith in a world they no longer understand, which sounds almost like what KAOS characters have to face with the revelation of Gods and myths now being a part of the reality they live in.
The Leftovers is a story showcasing life after most of the earth's population disappeared, leaving behind just 2% of the population. The focus of the show was on these remaining people, as they struggled to deal with grief and confusion when it came to the cults, new beliefs, and supernatural events that blur reality and myth.
KAOS tells the story of ancient gods reinterpreted in a modern context, while The Leftovers explores humanity's response to uncontrollable forces, prompting existential questions about faith and the supernatural.
Both shows explore the human psyche in interesting ways.
1) Supernatural
Supernatural is an old drama TV series featuring two brothers, Sam and Dean Winchester, who spend their lives pursuing all kinds of monsters, demons, and supernatural creatures.
Beginning with their quest for their missing father, their story gradually turns into the epic struggle between heaven and hell and stretches from local urban legends to fierce battles as the show moves forward.
As they travel across the country in their staple Chevy Impala, Sam and Dean fight ghosts, werewolves, vampires, as well as Gods from various mythologies. At its core, though, it is the show of family, sacrifice, and the relationship between two brothers, as they constantly struggle to save each other—and the world—from dark forces.
Over 15 seasons, Supernatural is still conjuring up horror, action, and humour in unique ways. Its blend of heart-pounding adventures with dramatic sets of emotional moments keeps fans of the show hooked.
It is a show where myth and reality collide, with the message that even the most ordinary person can stand up against the evil forces of the supernatural.