The War of the Worlds (2019-2021)
Creator: Howard Overman
Starring: Gabriel Byrne, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Léa Drucker
Unique Angle: A three-season series that reimagines the Martian invasion as a gritty, post-apocalyptic survival story, blending science fiction with human drama.
Checklist Comparison
| Checklist Item | Included? | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Tripods | ❌ No | The iconic tripods are replaced with canine-like alien machines. |
| Tentacled Martians | ❌ No | The aliens are humanoid, abandoning the tentacled design of the original. |
| Red Weed | ❌ No | No mention or depiction of the red weed. |
| Black Smoke | ❌ No | Black smoke is not featured; the aliens use other means of destruction. |
| Heat Ray | ❌ No | The aliens rely on advanced weaponry, but it is not a heat ray. |
| Snatching and Feeding on Humans | ⚠️ Sort of | Humans are captured and experimented on, but not explicitly used as sustenance. |
| Humming Sound | ❌ No | No iconic sounds are associated with the alien machines. |
| The Curate | ❌ No | No character resembling the Curate is included. |
| The Artilleryman | ❌ No | No equivalent of the Artilleryman is present. |
| Martians Destroyed by Microorganisms | ❌ No | The resolution focuses on humanity’s resistance rather than natural causes. |
| Historical Setting | ❌ No | The series is set in modern Europe, removing the Victorian context. |
| Societal Collapse | ✅ Yes | The series effectively portrays the collapse of society and human desperation. |
| No Human Victory | ⚠️ Sort of | Humanity struggles against the aliens, but the outcome is more ambiguous. |
| Atmosphere of Horror and Helplessness | ✅ Yes | The series captures a bleak, tense atmosphere of survival and loss. |
| Thunder Child (Naval Resistance) | ❌ No | No equivalent to the Thunder Child is depicted. |
Observations and Analysis
Strengths:
- The series explores human relationships and ethical dilemmas in a survivalist setting, adding emotional depth.
- The alien machines, while not tripods, are unsettling and effectively convey otherness.
Weaknesses:
- The series abandons many iconic elements of the original, such as the tripods, tentacled Martians, and black smoke.
- By focusing on human resistance and experimentation, it deviates from the core theme of humanity’s powerlessness.
Creative Deviations:
- The aliens’ motivations and their experimentation on humans are given more focus, creating a unique twist.
- The post-apocalyptic tone emphasizes survival and human dynamics rather than the invasion itself.
Faithfulness Rating
Inspired By
This series takes significant liberties with H.G. Wells’ story, using the premise of an alien invasion as a backdrop for a modern survival drama.
Verdict
The MGM series (The War of the Worlds, 2019-2021) offers a reimagined take on the classic story, focusing more on human struggles and post-apocalyptic survival than the iconic elements of the original. Fans of Wells’ novel may find the lack of fidelity disappointing, but the series stands as an intriguing reinterpretation for viewers seeking character-driven sci-fi.