Draft:Subterranea (series)
| Subterranea | |
|---|---|
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| Genre | Science Fiction Drama |
| Created by | Brian Munene |
| Written by | Brian Munene, Likarion Wainaina, Martin Kigondu and Arnold Mwanjila |
| Directed by | |
| Starring |
|
| Country of origin | Kenya |
| Original languages | English Swahili |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 8 |
| Production | |
| Producer | Brian Munene |
| Running time | 40-60 minutes |
| Production companies | Showmax Kibanda Pictures |
| Original release | |
| Network | Showmax |
| Release | 26 September – 14 November 2024 |
Subterranea is a 2024 Kenyan Showmax Original science fiction and drama series produced by Showmax featuring an ensemble cast including Foi Wambui, Nice Githinji Peter Kawa and more. [1]
Plot
[edit]Subterranea follows eight participants of a psychological experiment who are placed in an underground bunker to test the effects of close-quarter secluded relationships on humans. In a twist of irony, the world ends and the eight are now trapped in the bunker with nowhere to go.
Cast
[edit]- Sarah Hassan as Detective Makena
- Alfred Munyua as Detective Silas
- Maqbul Mohammed as DCI Boss Kebo
- Paul Ogola as Prosecutor Sokoro
- Brian Ogola as Clive
- Foi Wambui as Pink
- Nice Githinji as Grey
- Peter Kawa as Black
- Melvin Alusa as Red
- Biko Nyongesa as Brown
- Pauline Komu as Yellow
- Dadson Gakenga as Arnold
- Makena Kahuha as Orange
- Bhavness Chudasama as Green
- Melissa Kiplagat as Erica
- Philipa Herman-Ndisi as Anna
Episode
[edit]| Season | Episodes | Originally released | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First released | Last released | |||
| 1 | 8 | September 26, 2024 | November 14, 2024 | |
Season 1 (2024)
[edit]| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Rapture" | Likarion Wainaina | Various | 26 September 2024 | |
|
The bunker team loses power, panics, and breaks protocol to restore it. Sick guards arrive via elevator, triggering an AI purge sequence. Trapped, they learn via radio that World War Three has started. They are Trapped. | |||||
| 2 | "Genesis" | Likarion Wainaina | Various | 3 October 2024 | |
|
The team struggles to understand their situation, with Black determined to escape. The AI system reboots but doesn’t recognize them, requiring verbal reentry of their data, revealing hidden secrets. | |||||
| 3 | "Pestilence" | Likarion Wainaina | Various | 10 October 2024 | |
|
Disease starts spreading, the bunker members start weighing their options of what to do Orange is hell bent on killing the infected so as not to infect the rest but black is reluctant One by one each member of the bunker gets sick with the exception of one. | |||||
| 4 | "Famine" | Likarion Wainaina | Various | 17 October 2024 | |
|
A fire breaks out in the bunker's food store, diminishing their supplies. Amidst chaos, someone steals the remaining food, causing tensions to rise until Pink makes a surprising discovery, potentially resolving the situation. | |||||
| 5 | "Pale Horse" | Likarion Wainaina | Various | 24 October 2024 | |
|
The power and life support systems to Subterranea mysteriously shut down. The bunker members try to restart systems at the bunker but nothing works. They slowly lose themselves to hallucinations caused by oxygen deprivation. Bunker members are haunted by their past. Unfortunately, one member dies before the team can restore basic bunker functions. | |||||
| 6 | "Toharani" | Likarion Wainaina | Various | 31 October 2024 | |
|
The bunker members mourn the loss of one of their own and hold a ceremony to honour the departed. As they go through the motions, they discover an unauthorized device in the bunker that seems to be connected to the outside world. | |||||
| 7 | "Revelations" | Likarion Wainaina | Various | 7 November 2024 | |
|
Chaos descends in the bunker, signs of a mole who has been communicating with the outside world surface and an all-out hunt erupts. Ass seems to be going south when the bunker member makes an unexplainable discovery. | |||||
| 8 | "Memento Mori" | Likarion Wainaina | Various | 14 November 2024 | |
|
A purge sequence is initiated in the bunker. The bunker members, with the help of an unlikely source, fight tooth and nail to stop it, but they are cornered and under-equipped to combat the sequence. Four members die in the process. | |||||
Production
[edit]Development
[edit]Series creator Brian Munene described that the concept of Subterranea "started as a space odyssey", inspired by Star Wars and Star Trek." [2]
In an interview with OkayAfrica, show co-producer and director Likarion Wainaina added: “Sci-fi, at its core, is about how imagined and real science affects human behavior. It doesn’t have to be futuristic. We wanted to show that there’s more to sci-fi than the usual tropes,.” [3]
Casting
[edit]The cast was revealed in an announcement in early September 2024 which highlighted the ensemble cast. [4]
Release
[edit]The first episode of the show debuted on Showmax on 26 September 2024.
Reception
[edit]Critical and audience response
[edit]The show received positive feedback.
In his review, Business Daily Africa's Stanlaus Manthi described the show as an 'ambitious yet contained concept that is a step forward in Kenya's TV landscape.' [5]
Kelvin Kariuki from Sinema Focus added:"Rough Around the Edges, Kenya’s First Sci-Fi Series Breaks New Ground." [6]
Awards and nominations
[edit]| Year | Award | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards | Best Indigenous M-Net Original | Subterranea | Nominated | [7] |
References
[edit]- ^ "DIRECTOR: Likarion Wainaina, Kenya". Variety. 2 September 2024. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
- ^ Milimo, Dennis (30 October 2024). "Brian Munene narrates how idea for sci-fi series 'Subterranea' was born". Mpasho. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
- ^ Adhis, Paula (26 September 2024). "For Likarion Wainaina, Creating Kenya's First Sci-Fi Series is About Pushing Boundaries in African Filmmaking". OkayAfrica. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
- ^ Ngigi, Elizabeth (2 September 2024). "Foi Wamboi, Melvin Alusa star in Kenyan sci-fi series 'Subterranea'". NairobiNews. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
- ^ Manthi, Stanlaus (30 September 2024). "Subterranea Season 1: Ambitious sci-fi drama features Kenyan talent". Business Daily Africa. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
- ^ Kariuki, Kelvin (9 September 2024). "'Subterranea' Review: Rough Around the Edges, Kenya's First Sci-Fi Series Breaks New Ground". Sinema Focus. Retrieved 26 March 2025.
- ^ Ukoh, Jennifer (24 March 2025). "Showmax Originals secure nominations at 11th AMVCAs". Showmax Stories. Retrieved 26 March 2025.
External links
[edit]- Subterranea at IMDb
- Subterranea at Showmax