As a literary medium, cartoons, comic books, and graphic novels have been used as a weapon wielded by writers and artists against oppressive state machinery since as far back as the 18th century, showcased through some of the most critical, influential political allegories like Maus, V for Vendetta, and Persepolis, to name a few. In a similar vein, renowned Argentinian journalist and writer Hector German Oesterheld penned his famous comic series, The Eternaut, to use the seemingly conventional sci-fi elements of an alien invasion theory to raise a voice against the autocratic military governance prominent across South America. The visionary nature of his work is demonstrated by the fact that The Eternaut acted as an ominous prediction of Argentina turning into an autocratic military state, and the writer perished along with a number of his family members in his efforts to counter the tyrannical forces in power. The characters in The Eternaut play a seminal role in the context of the narrative, as they represent Oesterheld’s belief in collective unity and mutual trust among the common people being the key to destabilizing the vicious machinations of the oppressive state. Netflix’s recent TV series adaptation of the comic series adheres to Oesterheld’s ideology, as shown through character writing.
Juan Salvo Played By Ricardo Darin
Renowned Argentinian actor Ricardo Darin has acted in numerous acclaimed silver screen ventures over the span of his four decade acting career, making a name for himself through his performances in movies like Truman, The Secret in Their Eyes, Wild Takes, Delirium, etc. In The Eternaut, he portrayed the lead role of Juan Salvo, a Falklands War veteran, essentially a common man who struggles to keep his family and close ones safe in the aftermath of an alien invasion. Salvo is a natural, dependable leader who steps up whenever the situation calls for it, but at the same time, as he witnesses the struggle of survival turning the people around him more individualistic, he finds it hard to maintain a balance in his empathy and morals. However, as mentioned earlier as well, the emphasis on the collective has translated into the characterization, and in sync with it, Salvo is not the traditional know-it-all protagonist. Instead, he depends on the people around him to find solutions to problems for which he doesn’t have an answer. Salvo is the titular Eternaut in question; his symbolic resistance to the invading aliens is unending as he enters a doomed time loop, which symbolizes the eternal struggle against tyrant governments Oesterheld wanted to instigate with his words. In a sense, Salvo is the author’s narrative stand-in, his tragic fate of being unable to save his close ones mimicking his own as Oesterheld wasn’t able to protect his family, who perished at the hands of the Argentinian junta.
Alfredo Favalli, played by Cesar Troncoso
Uruguayan actor Cesar Troncoso has acted in several acclaimed movies through the years, namely The Pope’s Toilet, Time and the Wind, A Twelve Year Night, The Visitor, etc. In the series, he portrayed the character of Alfredo Favalli, Salvo’s close friend and an electrical engineer, who can be regarded as the brains of the survivor group given how he comes up with ingenious solutions and answers regarding the alien invasion. However, Favalli has major trust issues, which are revealed from his interaction with his friend Ruso’s brother-in-law, Omar, whom he considers an outsider—possibly due to his different cultural background. Favalli initially refuses to help his fellow survivors, maintaining his stance of only prioritizing his family’s well-being at any cost. However, his experiences as a survivor wisen him, and Favalli goes through a change of heart at the end, believing in the nobility or fighting for the greater good.
Omar Played By Ariel Staltari
Argentinian actor/writer Ariel Staltari has previously worked on movies like Expiration Date, Animal, and Okupas, to name a few. In the series, he played Omar, a character who doesn’t belong to the same social background as the rest of the survivors on whom the narrative focuses. Still smarting from his recent separation, Omar arrives in Buenos Aires from his place in the States and continues to face hostile behavior from the likes of Favalli and Juan. Omar can be a difficult type of person to adjust to, given some of his eccentricities and immature antics get on everyone’s nerves, but he is a decent human being, as seen in the way he doesn’t hesitate to help the same individuals who wanted to sideline him on several occasions.
Elena Played By Carla Peterson
Argentinian model and actor Carla Peterson has an envious tally of acting credits on both the small and silver screens, with her most memorable performances including roles in the telenovela Son Amores, Lalola, and the movie 2+2. In the series, Carla portrayed the role of Juan’s ex-wife, Elena. As a medic by profession and a concerned mother, Elena perfectly balances the emotional implications of facing a crisis of such scale by complementing Juan’s desperate, repressed demeanor.
Ana, played by Andrea Pietra
Argentinian actor Andrea Pietra has previously acted in movies like Solos and La Senal. In the series, her character of Ana, Favalli’s wife, acts as a counterbalance to her husband’s paranoid, distrusting self and also as a necessary moral compass. Ana was the first person in the group of survivors to notice the onset of the alien assault through toxic snow, and it is her kindness and pragmatism that keep Favalli from making a misstep till the end.
Miscellaneous Characters
Aside from the leads, the supporting cast of The Eternaut was pretty amazing as well, leaving a strong impression on the viewers through their performance in the designated roles. Marcelo Subiotto was great as Lucas, the mild-mannered friend of Juan and Favalli. Orianna Cardenas was fabulous as Inga, and I wished her character got a meatier arc to work with. Mora Fisz played Juan and Elena’s daughter, Clara, whose fate as a mind-controlled slave robot of aliens will drive the plot of the second season forward.
