An old proverb explains that in the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king. But who populates the halls of power when the entire world has lost the ability to see? In the Apple TV+ exclusive television series See, this reality is explored. As it turns out, a sightless future creates a unique set of cultural mores, as well as making for incredibly compelling television. Following a global viral outbreak, only two million human beings remained alive.
In the centuries that followed, their descendants lost the ability to see, and the series showcases all the ways in which humanity has adapted to living without vision. The first season of the show was released in 2019. Incidentally, the second season’s release was delayed due to a real-life pandemic (fortunately, the only sense that Covid-19 usually took away was taste, which is inarguably a less important faculty than sight).
The show features a complex web of kingdoms and tribes, along with a well-developed mythological structure that has deemed those born with the ability to see as the product of witchcraft. In the first episode of the series See, Maghra Kane, portrayed by Hera Hilmar (The Oath, Mortal Engines), is seeking asylum with Jason Momoa’s Baba Voss in order to protect her children, who have the gift (or curse) of sight.
Jason Momoa is Always an Intimidating Individual with Depth
It takes only a cursory glance at the Hawaiian actor to understand why Jason Momoa is so often cast as fearsome warriors. He’s a towering 6'4, with an impressive muscle-bound frame to boot, and he has a menacing facial scar over his left eyebrow that he got during a bar fight. As such, he has played many memorable fighters over the years.
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In Game of Thrones, he played the sword-swinging, horse-riding warrior Khal Drogo. In recent years, he joined the DCEU as the trident-wielding sea king Aquaman.
His character in See, Baba Voss, is another addition to the long line of terrifying titans Momoa has portrayed. However, the character definitely has a softer side, and Momoa’s perfect performance manages to showcase Voss’s emotional depth.
Baba Voss Passionately Defends His Adopted Children
Early in the series, Baba Voss finds himself in a rather difficult situation. Renowned theater star Joshua Henry’s Jerlamarel, who has the ability to see, is forced into hiding due to the persecution of sighted individuals. Voss later marries Jerlamarel’s wife and takes on the task of raising her two children, who are both under constant threat due to their inherited vision.
Throughout the show, Baba Voss proves time and again that he will go to any lengths to defend his adopted children. In season one, Archie Madekwe’s (Midsommar, Voyagers) Kofun is kidnapped by slavers. Baba Voss has to grapple with his own history in the slave trade before slaughtering his son’s captors.
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Later, in season two, he is forced to go to the hostile city of Trivantes in order to rescue his daughter, Nesta Cooper’s (Reality High, The Edge of Seventeen) Haniwa.
Epic Engagements on the Blind Battlefield
One of the most fascinating themes in See is how war takes place in a world without sight. The show has even employed a blindness consultant to ensure that the fight choreography accurately portrays sightless combat. Characters need to implement tricks, like Baba Voss using different tools to distract his opponents. When grappling with one’s enemy, a fighter must constantly feel their target’s muscle movement to anticipate their next move.
For example, in season two, when Baba Voss is forced to battle the warriors serving his brother, Dave Bautista’s Edo Voss, the combat is considerably more tactile than the fighting we often see in other television clashes. Everything takes place in very close quarters, with warriors constantly using their weapon-free hands to feel around for danger.
Additionally, hearing has become imperative, and combatants must use their enhanced auditory abilities to avoid incoming sword strikes and thrown spears. Media consumers have seen Jason Momoa strike down legions of men, but watching him adapt to this unusual style of combat has been a delight to watch.
Unfortunately for fans of the series, See will come to an end after its third season concludes. In another bit of unfortunate news, it was revealed that Jason Momoa’s Baba Voss would be a less prominent character in the season, though he is still a part of the show. Though See hasn’t necessarily had the best reviews, it has undoubtedly amassed a passionate fan base. Hopefully, the show’s creators have had the foresight to plan for an epic finale, and the final season will attract a lot of eyeballs.
