"A Powerhouse Work Of Science-Fiction": Hideo Kojima's Glowing Review Of Netflix's New Post-Apocalyptic Show Gives The Last Of Us A Worthy Rival

Published May 10, 2025

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Legendary game designer The Last of Us might finally have a worthy rival. Riffing on many familiar tropes from the post-apocalyptic genre, The Last of Us, on the surface, unfolds like a typical end-of-the-world thriller. However, what makes it a unique addition to the genre is its brilliantly written character beats, memorable performances, and commendable VFX. Even with its second season, The Last of Us seems to be going strong, making it one of the best post-apocalyptic shows of modern times.

All major streaming platforms seem to have their set of acclaimed and commercially valuable post-apocalyptic shows. While Netflix sci-fi show will rise in the ranks to become a worthy rival for the best series in the genre, Hideo Kojima's glowing review of its visuals and storytelling highlights how it holds immense potential.

Hideo Kojima's Praise For The Eternaut's Art Design & CGI Is A Big Deal

It Proves The Eternaut Could Rank Among Some Of The Best Post-Apocalyptic Shows

After becoming a global streaming hit and getting renewed for season 2 soon after its Netflix release, The Eternaut garnered the attention of Hideo Kojima. Best known for directing, deg, and writing the first mainstream stealth game, Metal Gear, Kojima is considered a legend in the world of gaming and storytelling. Owing to this, his high praise for Netflix's The Eternaut is a big deal. Kojima shared a detailed review of the series on his official Twitter handle by highlighting how its "art design (especially the depiction of snow and the wall of cars), and VFX were all outstanding." Here's his full review:

As seen in the Tweet above, Kojima commended the show's themes of “an invisible enemy” and “a vast, lurking force behind it all," which seem reminiscent of some of the greatest 20th-century sci-fi flicks that emerged from Cold War-era anxieties. Kojima also compared it with Jack Finney's novel The Body Snatchers before calling attention to the original The Eternaut comics and the immense cultural and political significance they hold even to this day.

The auteur also expressed his anticipation for the Netflix sci-fi show's season 2, which is a testament to its compelling storytelling, stunning visuals, and unique world-building.

Calling it "a powerhouse work of science fiction from Argentina," Kojima ended his review by comparing The Eternaut with several modern post-apocalyptic shows that feature "the usual zombie/plague-driven apocalypses." He said that viewers tired of the usual fare of apocalyptic sci-fi series must check out The Eternaut as it brings something novel to the table. The auteur also expressed his anticipation for the Netflix sci-fi show's season 2, which is a testament to its compelling storytelling, stunning visuals, and unique world-building.

Kojima Is Right - The Eternaut Is A Worthy Replacement For Apocalyptic Shows Like Last Of Us

If All Goes Well, The Eternaut Could Match The Last Of Us' Acclaim & Popularity

Joel sits on his porch playing his guitar in The Last of Us

Owing to the massive scale of its source material's story and the complexity of the sci-fi ideas presented in it, The Eternaut struggles to resolve most of its story beats in season 1. However, with a limited budget of just $15 million, the show manages to present visuals that even several high-budget movies fail to deliver. In season 1, it effectively immerses viewers in its harrowing alien-invaded world by walking through abandoned, snow-clad cityscapes and featuring eerie, never-seen-before extraterrestrial beings.

Ricardo Darín as Juan Salvo in The Eternaut

The Eternaut's Aliens Explained

While adopting some existing tropes surrounding aliens in sci-fi, The Eternaut manages to give its alien characters a unique and abstract identity.

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While it may be a little too soon to call The Eternaut a worthy The Last of Us replacement, the Netflix show's season 1 highlights the potential of what it could eventually become if its creators carefully capture the depth of ideas presented in its source material. Owing to its slow story developments and unresolved story beats, some viewers might find it hard to stick with it throughout its runtime. However, as Hideo Koijma's review highlights, one must watch The Eternaut "without rushing" because the show's pacing is intentionally "slow and deliberate."