The Sentinels, an eight-part series adapted from a French comic book by Enrique Breccia and Xavier Dorison, offers a fresh take on the alternate history genre. Set during World War I, it imagines the French army creating a secret cabal of super soldiers through a risky serum experiment. The show blends steampunk aesthetics, post-apocalyptic action, and war drama with a distinctly European feel.
A Unique Premise in a Crowded Genre
Alternate history TV shows are common, from For All Mankind to The Man in the High Castle. The Sentinels stands out by focusing on a specific historical conflict—World War I—and introducing a secret program to enhance soldiers with a mysterious drug. The series avoids relying on familiar franchises, offering original storytelling that balances intrigue with resolution.
The protagonist, Gabriel Ferraud (Louis Peres), is a half-dead soldier with daddy issues, plucked from the battlefield in 1915 and injected with a serum in a top-secret lab. The experiment triggers a seizure, but the French scientists face a bigger threat: a German attack aimed at stealing their research, which kills one of the Sentinels program's masterminds.
Multiple Storylines and Emotional Depth
Gabriel's journey is central, but the series weaves in several subplots. His wife, Irène (Olivia Ross), a journalist, investigates his disappearance and the secrecy surrounding soldiers' deaths. Her path crosses with The Baron (Ouassini Embarek), a nightclub owner involved in war-adjacent dealings. Meanwhile, Dr. Marthe (Pauline Étienne) questions her employers' past, hinting at a more secretive precursor project called Project Atlas.
The show explores two wars: the external World War I and the internal conflict within Gabriel as the serum causes his cells to mutate and induces mental distress. According to the BBC's press release, the series offers a "Frankenstein-ian level of depth and empathy," which becomes evident as Gabriel struggles with his transformation. “Loss of control is normal at first,” his army pals tell him, highlighting his forced submission to the drug.
Strengths and Weaknesses
The Sentinels builds a strong sense of intrigue while providing answers to its mysteries, avoiding the frustrating mystery box trope common in sci-fi. However, it has flaws, including numerous sci-fi tropes and shoot-’em-up sequences that sometimes feel like video-game cut scenes. Despite this, the series remains exciting and propulsive, proving that TV can succeed without relying on established IP.
The finale ends with a brutal scene that all but guarantees a second season, swerving a neat happy ending. As the review notes, alternate histories may play with past horrors but don't always outrun reality. The Sentinels is now airing on BBC Four and available on iPlayer.
