Season one of AMC’s Nautilus comes to its daring conclusion in its two-part finale. While the penultimate episode served mostly as filler, all the action and intrigue were saved for Nemo’s showdown with Crawley and the Company.

After secretly infiltrating London, Nemo quickly surmises they cannot outfight the Company, so they opt to outsmart them. They sow rumors of financial hardship, causing businessmen to withdraw their shares from the EIMC. Targeting three major shareholders — Jericho Baker, Dr. Ambrose Skin, and their archnemesis, Lord Pitt — Nemo and his crew secure a majority stake in the Company, immediately dissolving all operations.

Next, the Nauitlus crew seeks to free the prisoners under Company rule, burning every record and file. Here, Nemo discovers a horrid truth: Captain Billy Millais murdered his wife and daughter. This revelation destroys any goodwill between the former classmates as they meet in a skillfully choreographed duel. Nemo earns the upperhand and spares Billy’s life.

The crew is to reunite for their escape, but not everyone has returned. Humility is taken hostage by Lord Pitt, with Loti coming to her rescue. When questioned by Kai, Nemo reassures him that they will rendezvous at the bridge. Meanwhile, Crawley is determined to bring these fugitives to justice. Threatening a soldier’s life, he forces Youngblood to pursue the submarine.

In a thrilling chase sequence, Boniface steers the vessel as Kai and Nemo exchange gunfire with Crawley and the soldiers. Above them, Nathaniel and Ranbir have rigged explosives to detonate the bridge, stopping the Dreadnought in its tracks. Realizing Nathaniel is in danger, Captain Youngblood sacrifices himself to guarantee his former errand boy survives. It’s an unexpected but effective emotional touchpoint that cements this character’s arc. The Nautilus successfully escapes the Dreadnought and submerges below the sea. While the Company is no longer a threat, the entire British Empire will seek them for their high crimes.

Overall, episode 10 is a fitting finale to the adventure series. Amidst the fantastical elements of the show, the finale reaffirmed its universal theme of justice and perseverance in the face of systemic oppression. Instead of having Nemo and his crew face off against soldiers, the writers expertly showcased the true enemy: the capitalist establishment funding the Company. This strategy remains true whether it is the Civil Rights Movement in the Jim Crow South or the genocides happening in Gaza, Sudan, and the Congo.

In addition to its real-world messaging, its open-ended conclusion masterfully sets up several narratives to follow in a potential second season. From the truth about Jiacomo’s past to the revelation about Benoit and Atlantis, Nemo and the Nautilus crew could explore several more adventures as they seek to deliver justice across the world.

Rating: 9/10