Finally, a Netflix series for the greatest hero of all time
The Boy King has been crowned. In the east, the Persian empire stands guard. Alexander rallies all of ancient Greece to defeat their mortal enemy. As the son of a god, he shall fulfill his destiny: to be the ruler of the world.
Geek Rate: Sky god Worthy (5 out of 5 stars). This Netflix series for the greatest hero of all time provides a snapshot of Alexander the Great’s awesome campaign across Asia while leaving fans hungry for more. It is thrilling to watch Alexander be portrayed on screen for we have few shows dedicated to him. The series is limited only to the rivalry between Darius III and Alexander. Are we supposed to wait for a second season for this? Still, “Alexander: the Making of a God” is a noted contribution to making our hero’s story accessible to the general viewers.
Philip Freeman’s book about “Alexander the Great” is one of the few that transforms the hero’s biography into a story, a narrative. Fast forward more than a decade later and here we have Netflix finally making a TV series about this larger-than-life historical character.
British actor Buck Braithwaite brings Alexander the Great to life and he is way hotter blonde, just saying. He is perfect for the role and I can’t un-see him now as Alexander (previously, I always imagined him as a head-only statue). Hephaestion should have been taller and more handsome than Alexander. That is not to say that I’m not cool with Will Stevens as the general/lover of Alexander. I’m just stating a historical fact. But the chemistry between the two actors is palpable. Also, that Dino Kelly who played Ptolemy? Gods of Egypt, make it a party of three.
Of course, there’s a lot of noise from the right wing about the sexual relationship between Alexander and Hephaestion which revealed their naiveté or they are just really feigning ignorance (the former is more likely). Alexander’s sexual relationships with men were very well documented by ancient and modern historians. We have that eunuch named Bagoas (a sex slave of Darius III) and many other men.
Robin Lane Fox said in his 2013 book: “Hephaestion was the man whom Alexander loved. He was only defeated once, the Cynic philosophers said long after his death, and that was by Hephaestion’s thighs.” Shocking for right-wing people but in ancient Greece, there are no labels, “they are just being sexual” as one of the experts in the show said.
When Hephaestion died, Arrian of Nicomedia said that Alexander “flung himself on the body of his friend and lay there nearly all day long in tears, and refused to be parted from him until he was dragged away by force by his companions.”
He died soon afterward due to overwhelming grief. If that’s not enough, there’s this whole naked horseback riding thing in Troy. In any case, the series did not even show them having sex, Fellow Travelers-style, so what’s the fuss?
“Alexander: The Making of a God” has a limited scope focusing only on the rivalry between Darius III and Alexander. The battles are explained in detail by experts, including Alexander’s brilliant military maneuvers. One of them was the strategy developed by his father Philip II of attacking in angled formation and forcing the cavalry into a gap to break into the rear. But compared to “Rise of the Empires: Ottoman,” the discussions here lack thrill. The consolidation of Greece was not shown in detail. Also, the series did not even highlight the great cultural diffusion and syncretism from Alexander’s campaigns.
One of the standout aspects of the series is its portrayal of Alexander’s ambition and vision. It delves deep into his psyche, exploring the driving forces behind his insatiable thirst for conquest and glory. Through powerful performances and compelling dialogue, the audience is transported into the mind of a man destined for greatness.
Beyond the epic battles and grandeur, the series also delves into the personal struggles and complexities of Alexander’s character. It also highlighted his skills in diplomacy and his mastery of intrigue alongside his revolutionary innovations in warfare. Together with the series’ exploration of his relationships with his friends, lovers, and rivals, it painted a nuanced portrait of a man focused on his divine destiny.
There were several deviations taken by the series including Philip II’s death (during the games, not a wedding) and the Egyptian campaign has been made dramatic, just to make a ceratin character relevant. I have to point out that Alexander has read enough of Egypt to know its current status without the help of any Persians, queen or not. There are funny moments, too like the writers making Ptolemy ignorant of Greek stories while Hephaestion explains it to him with Alexander watching. The general Parmenion has been tamed in this version, almost friendly even.
I’m not so sure about inserting the Oracle and a National Geographic-like documentary into the series. The voiceover of the Oracle sure adds to the mystique of Alexander’s story. The ongoing search for Alexander’s tomb courtesy of Greek archaeologist Pepi Papakosta brings his story into the modern world but maybe do a separate show for that.
Reignell Francisco
I’m a content creator who likes traveling, history, football, and anything good on TV. Visit my YouTube channel onelostgeek for my travel stories. Business inquiry: geekgodreview@yahoo.com
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