DUBAI: Although “Kaos” is steeped in the world of ancient Greek myth, its story of an aging, vain, thin-skinned despot desperate to be worshipped and prone to lash out indiscriminately in rage if he feels slighted is, sadly, very of-the-moment.

In this case, that despot is Zeus (played beautifully by Jeff Goldblum), king of the deities, who lives on Mount Olympus with his wife (who’s also his sister — that’s the ancient Greeks for you) Hera (a regal and weary-of-cleaning-up-Zeus’-messes Janet McTeer).

“Kaos” is set in an alternative modern world where pantheism is still the prominent religion, and where the deities — and other figures from Greek mythology — move among humans. We jump into the action on the holy day of Olympia, when humans celebrate Zeus (via, among other ways, human sacrifice of a willing volunteer). A new monument to him is due to be unveiled, but when it is, it has been vandalized by a gang of Trojans. Coupled with the discovery of a new wrinkle on his forehead, this is enough to send Zeus spiraling, and he decides that an old prophecy about the end of his reign must be coming true — leading to ever-increasing paranoia and bad choices.

The catch is, at least according to the narrator, Prometheus (whom Zeus considers his closest friend, despite condemning him to an eternity chained to a rock while an eagle pecks at his liver), the prophecy is coming true. Or, at least, a series of events that will have the same effect is in motion.

Ostensibly, “Kaos” is a comedy. And there are certainly some very funny moments. But it’s also much deeper than that. In the first two episodes alone there are ruminations about the loneliness of falling out of love with your partner, gender politics, and the potential damage of parental expectations; (off-camera) infanticide; a magnificent scene of a young couple wordlessly pleading with The Fates to be allowed to enter the Underworld and try to recover their deceased son; and many takes on the danger of power. In other words, there’s a lot to sink your teeth into. And that’s without mentioning all the great portrayals of other figures from Greek myth (including Orpheus, Dionysus, Hades, Medusa, and Cassandra).

Show creator Charlie Covell has crafted something very special with “Kaos.” It’s an intelligent, compelling, very funny, and deeply moving show that richly rewards — and deserves — your attention.

LOS ANGELES: Alana Hadid, often only recognized as the sister of supermodels Gigi and Bella Hadid, is amplifying her own voice for the Palestinian cause.

Deeply passionate about her heritage, Hadid has been using her platform to bring attention to the struggles of the Palestinian people, particularly in the light of the ongoing events in Gaza.

Her activism is not restricted to just the online space; it is a deeply personal commitment to highlighting the stories that matter, she said.

“I was always hearing stories, stories about the cities and the towns that their ancestors helped build. The lives that they had and their lives as refugees and then eventually in the United States.

“But I was very proud, always proud of being a Palestinian. That was what I learned as a child,” Hadid told Arab News.

Shifting her focus to filmmaking, Hadid — along with brothers Badie Ali and Hamza Ali — co-founded Watermelon Pictures, a production company with a mission to create compelling, impactful stories that resonate with global audiences.

Through her work in film, she aims to bridge the gap between mainstream media and the often-overlooked narratives of the Palestinian people.

“I was honored to be asked to be the creative director of Watermelon Pictures. I think it’s not only a passion project for Hamza and Badie, but it is an opportunity for Palestinians to have a place to go to tell their stories.

“I get emotional about it. I think it’s just one of the most beautiful things that people have a place where they can put their stories. And we know that we have a safe place for that,” said Hadid.

The production company’s debut project, the 2024 documentary “Walled Off,” delves into the realities of life under occupation, offering a poignant and raw look at the experiences of Palestinians.

“The Waldorf Hotel’s design is by the graffiti artist Banksy. It contains a secret museum. And essentially the hotel has a view of what we call the worst view in the world, the apartheid wall.

“So really, this hotel provides the framework for the film and just demonstrates the difficulty of living under military occupation,” said Hadid.

Through this film and her future projects, Hadid seeks to amplify marginalized voices and bring a human face to the political issues that often dominate headlines.

“Watch our social media and our website to see what’s coming next. But we have a lot of stories. We haven’t heard these stories and these stories have been censored for so long.

“So, we’ve been flooded with not only movies that have already been made that really need to be seen, but also with filmmakers, actors, editors. And we’re really excited to just be a hub for that for Palestinians,” she said.