KAOS is us: why Netflix’s new series feels like a reflection of our modern reality

Exposing the manipulation behind society's 'rules' and the success we're told to chase.

Anyone else already binged their way through the new ‘KAOS’ series on Netflix too? If you enjoyed Greek mythology as a kid or still love it today, I think it’s very much going to be a ‘bit of you.’

Apart from the entertainment value though, I couldn’t help but notice how close to home it actually hit. I say ‘notice’ but it was more like a huge slap and realisation of … OMFG… it’s us!

Without trying to give away any spoilers, ultimately, the Gods have fed beliefs to the humans that only ever benefit THEM. Season 1 slowly starts to unearth this ‘truth’ but let’s hope season 2 is on the way to see how much chaos actually ensues once everyone is told.  

I say close to home because of the way modern governments and multinational corporations make decisions that impact MILLIONS! But much like the gods, are detached from the struggles of everyday humans and who primarily prioritise their own needs.

How the people in power in our modern day, rely on the fear and ignorance of the masses and to just keep following the rules.

The more and more I look at the path we’re told to aspire to and follow, the more questions I find to ask and the less I care about calling it out. I feel like I’m the ‘Riddy’ of our own world. Who’s prophecy and purpose it is to shout and tell the world what I see. Hence ‘The Other Way’ publication here on Substack and showing up on social media in the way that I do.

The ‘truth’ is already being revealed -

Especially when it comes to the belief and ignorance that working hard, or sacrificing yourself for the grind and chasing as much money as possible is worth it. For the top 5% of the world, sure it is! But what about the rest of us?

Capitalism is an economic system in which private individuals or businesses own capital goods. At the same time, business owners employ workers who receive only wages; labor doesn't own the means of production but instead uses them on behalf of the owners of capital.

This is the literal definition from Investopedia! So no matter how hard you work or how fast you climb that corporate ladder, it’s all for the benefit of the business ‘owner’.

I recently listened to an episode of ‘The diary of the CEO’ where the billionaire guest speaker was sharing how he was joking with his employee about working extra hard, as it would mean he could then afford another Ferrari for himself. In jest yes … but at the same time, the very brutal truth.

You might not agree. Certain industries pay you a decent wage and you can afford a pretty nice life if you just work hard enough and ‘earn’ it. You’re just bitter and bit lazy Lindsey. But as someone that’s been on the other side of that well-paying wall, you can end up unconsciously creating a life for yourself that you then lock yourself into. More commitments and responsibilities and less choice. Wearing those infamous golden handcuffs. Locked in. Less freedom. At the mercy of your employer to keep you employed.

As David Cain recently wrote; the 8 hour work day was only invented to keep us busy and buying for convenience. Working hard to buy things that the business owners and corporations want you to buy from them.

So I’m not the first one calling bullsh*t! I also look at Gen Z and how they’re giving 2 fingers to doing more than the bare minimum. We now have the coined term ‘Lazy girl’ jobs and the age of ‘anti-work’. I’m really intrigued to see what happens in the next decade or two, when the workplace is being operated by employees who prioritise THEMSELVES over their employers needs and profits.

Without all the worker bees will there be as much honey?

It's also not just ‘theory’. In the UK, only 35% of under 35’s are home owners per 2024 data. It’s a similar story across the pond for Americans too at 38%. The younger generation are seeing hard evidence that the ‘American dream’ isn’t achievable for all anymore. We’re starting to SEE the cracks appear in the ‘truth’ we’ve been told. Hard work does not pay off for all.

I also personally question why we’re still prioritising the home owner dream in today’s world. For those that CAN afford a mortgage, they’re just filling the bank’s pockets with insane levels of interest payments anyway. They can’t actually call themselves home owners either by the way. Simply tenants to the bank until they pay the loan off 30-40 years later. For those that can’t and are forced to rent, once again, are creating wealth for the property ‘owner’.

Who’s created this scarcity of shelter? Who made it so difficult so that you have no choice but to work every hour of the day to just keep a roof over your head?!

But what’s the alternative?

Much like my anticipation for the unknown of ‘KAOS’ season 2, I don’t know what will happen if everyone steps off the hamster wheel either. To say enough is enough. To reject the rules and system we’ve been told is the way that works. To demand more fairness and to feel less exploited.

Will we all be homeless and starve? Mass anarchy and horrendous crime? If we keep following the ‘rules’ though, is this something that’s going to happen anyway? And hasn’t it already started? Watching war and mass suffering in other countries on our screens. On edge and in fear we’re on the brink of WW3 ourselves.

We’re in another recession in the west too. Corporations are tightening budgets and ensuring their own fridges are full with food. Hiring freezes and layoffs and as someone struggling to even get a part time gig right now, it’s a pretty sad puddle of employment opportunities. AI is only getting better and better and removing the requirement for human labor.

Technology was believed to make everyone’s lives easier. In 1930, the economist John Maynard Keynes predicted that technological improvements would eventually lead to a 15-hour workweek:

“Meanwhile there will be no harm in making mild preparations for our destiny, in encouraging, and experimenting in, the arts of life as well as the activities of purpose.”

It’s a fairly short read that I would highly recommend. Although it’s slightly sad to read how 100 years on, we only seem to be walking further and further away from these aspirations.

“Of course there will still be many people with intense, unsatisfied purposiveness who will blindly pursue wealth-unless they can find some plausible substitute. But the rest of us will no longer be under any obligation to applaud and encourage them. For we shall inquire more curiously than is safe to-day into the true character of this “purposiveness” with which in varying degrees Nature has endowed almost all of us.”

My local supermarket has reported an increase of people leaving with filled trollies without paying. Because they know the security can’t stop them and in the same week that England are throwing people out of jail early because there’s no more room. The only consequence is higher prices of groceries for the rest of us, to save the hole in the pockets of the huge corporations. The tax payer being the one footing the bill for the prison service anyway. A timely reminder that as a business/asset ‘owner’, you have the privilege of becoming the most fantastic tax avoider too.  

So what’s the answer?

I reaslise I’ve made it sound pretty hopeless and like we don’t have much of a choice. And being totally honest I don’t think there really is a clear answer.

But there’s obviously the option of - ‘if you can’t beat them then join them!” Despite my wobbles and fears about working for myself full time. I believe self employment really is the only imminent answer to regaining control and more prosperity for yourself.

Gary Econmics shares how a tax on the super rich would help solve a lot of our problems and still leave them with billions. But something no government is willing to take a chance on in fear of them leaving and taking their wealth with them. More interestingly though, he shares how we have the power in our numbers. How by uniting, it’s basically the only strength we have in a world where we have anything else.

Funny how our attention is being diverted towards each other. Blaming our hardships and struggles on our neighbors rather than looking upwards. The world feels separated and more divided than ever right now.

As the wealth gap continues to grow, the numbers sitting in the top 5% are only shrinking. Much like the Greek Gods feared, they’d be pretty helpless in case of any revolt.

If we were ever brave enough to.

I’m not saying we grab our pitchforks at dawn and ride! And I have to admit that I don’t think imminent change is happening anytime soon either. Although, saying that, the astrology in the last quarter of this year is supposed to be aligning in a way that hasn’t been seen since the American and French Revolutions. And after the circus of the last 4 years I think anything is possible!

And no, I don’t think socialism or communism is the answer either! As I’ve already said, I’m not sure what the chaos looks like on the other side of this ‘truth’ we’ve been told.

But I think it’s time to be more curious. To challenge the norms and what’s expected of you. To push back on expectations and pressure to do something just because you ‘should’. To question who it benefits. For you or someone else?

A prime example for me right now is living with my parents. Living together under one roof makes far more sense for us. We’re both better off financially, whereas it’s only the banks or a private landlord and the council that are losing out. But societal rules still label ME the ‘loser’ for not moving out at 37.

Is this just conspiracy theory?

Trust me, I know how much easier it would be to just stick my head in the sand and play ignorant. Stay quiet and switch off my thoughts. Not open myself up to criticism and stick out. Safer to struggle rather than speak up or look different. To not sound like a conspiracy theorist or completely crazy or even chronically depressed!

But I refuse to believe or settle for the unfairness of it all . To just accept that this is the way life is and that there’s not a lot I can do about it.

And there might not be much me or you can do. Alone at least.

That’s why I’m here though. Not to convert anyone but just to share that I question things like this. To help anyone else who has these same frustrating thoughts feel SEEN. To feel less alone and to keep following their own hearts and desires and what makes sense FOR THEM!

And maybe if more of us start to share our doubts like this, then maybe we can unite, become stronger and eventually create more fairness and change for more of us.

It’s not about never working or ever aspiring for success. It’s about getting more curious about what success and fulfillment looks like for you, rather than what the ‘rules’ tell us.