Since premiering on SBS last week, Australian TV viewers have been talking non-stop about the new series adaptation of War of the Worlds, the classic H.G. Wells story, set in present-day Europe.
The iconic sci-fi tale of alien invasion, which screens weekly at 9.30pm on Thursdays, offers up "ethical dilemmas and human frailty" in spades - oh, "and blood".
Given the upheaval of everyday life brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, it's little wonder the story is resonating.
The central premise of BAFTA-winning writer Howard Overman's adaptation is: If aliens attacked tomorrow and life as we know it was destroyed, how would we cope? What would it tell us about each other, and more importantly, about ourselves?
And, well, people aren't certain - but they're enjoying the dilemmas presented by the series regardless.
"Just watched first 2 eps of War of the Worlds on SBS," one Twitter user wrote.
"Love it so far!!"
Another added: "War of the Worlds, on SBS, is exactly the sort of dystopian sci-fi that we need in this dystopian reality."
Others, however, were less sure of the show's timing.
"I'm watching War of the Worlds on SBS and I'm not sure it's the best thing to be watching during a worldwide pandemic (even though it's very good so far)," tweeted one viewer
War of the Worlds continues weekly at 9:30pm from Thursday 16 July. Episodes will be available on SBS On Demand each week on the same day as broadcast. The series will also be subtitled in Simplified Chinese and Arabic for SBS On Demand. Start watching at SBS On Demand now:
