Released: 19th February 2021
Number of Episodes: 6
Created by: Philip Koch and Florian Baxmeyer
Where to Watch: Netflix
Starring: Henriette Confurius, Emilio Sakraya, David Ali Rashed, Oliver Masucci, Melika Foroutan and Oliver Masucci
Sci-fi can have a tricky time translating to the small-screen; on lowered budgets the task of getting across a palpable world grows more complicated. Tribes of Europa, a release from Germany, stakes its claim as a worthy outing in the genre thanks to its committed story and characters.
In the year 2072, the world has been fractured by a devastating disaster. The survivors have been splintered into tribes and across Europe several factions battle for control. As the series begins the most powerful batch are the Crows, who launch an attack on the Originees, the characters we follow. Killing and capturing most of them, the story breaks off into three main stories. First is Liv (Henriette Confurius) who teams up with a military contingent to rescue her family. Her older brother Kiano (Emilio Sakraya) is taken straight into the lion’s den and he experiences the more sinister elements of the Crows. Finally, Elja (David Ali Rashed) finds himself in possession of future technology and partners up with smuggler Moses (Oliver Masucci) to unravel its mysteries. The series is constantly cutting between these three threads across its six episodes and by doing so, we get a solid glimpse of how the setting operates. In short, the narrative is well told, with enough mystery and intrigue to keep some questions about the wider world lingering.
Based heavily on hierarchies and groups, Tribes of Europa does a great job of differentiating its characters. By focusing on its three leading characters, the cast is able to get across their mannerisms. For example, Kiano suffers both physically and mentally at the hands of the Crows and Sakraya conveys this very well. Some of the side characters are also well done, especially Moses, whose wily and unpredictable ways make for an entertaining individual. Be that as it may, some sections of the narrative can feel half-baked, most notably a bond established between Liv and her commanding officer David (Robert Finster). You shouldn’t go in expecting deep and dynamic characters either as they all fit into simple archetypes. While their respective tribes have their own beliefs, this doesn’t translate into the character’s inner thoughts. Instead, it places a heavier push towards action to keep the plot moving forward. The finer details of the tribes are mostly conveyed through the show’s presentation.
Despite its mostly grounded nature, the series also works well at establishing its future setting. When the action kicks in, Tribes of Europa takes inspiration from capable genre contemporaries; the camera makes great use of mid to long shots, keeping the combat on full display. The biggest star of the show here is the costume work and make-up; much like the characterisation it sets the factions apart and ties in closely with their own individual lifestyles in the world. The special effects are mostly kept to a minimum, being used mainly for the rare future tech used by the characters. Sometimes this can be hit and miss, most notably a cube carried by Elja suddenly turning into a weapon towards the end of the season. While the series doesn’t become too bogged down in computer-generated imagery, it can sometimes become unimaginative with its presentation. The same is also true of the soundtrack which features many a modern pop track; while intended to convey the weight of the proceedings, they instead ring hollow whenever they show up. By swerving around its occasionally problematic technology, the series is able to maintain its illusion.
As far as straightforward sci-fi action goes, Tribes of Europa does a reasonable job for its first season. The camerawork is strong, the themes and characters well established and it consistently pushes its stories forward without getting weighed down by baggage. Outside of some character moments that don’t go anywhere and some lacking technical details, you’ll get a fair amount of enjoyment out of it.
Rating: 3.5/5 Stars (Good)
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