Throughout its first season, the series 1899 has shown that it is a remarkably sophisticated and thematically rich series. It takes elements from various other genres–including mystery, science fiction, and horror–and puts them together in new and fascinating ways.
Of course, like all such series, it succeeds largely because of the strength of its various characters. Given just how sprawling the cast is, it’s rather remarkable the extent to which 1899 manages to give all of them enough depth and complexity that they seem to almost leap off of the screen. What’s more, they can be explored and analyzed in more depth using the lens provided by the signs of the zodiac.
12 Aries - Iben
Iben is one of the Danish passengers, and she has a very fierce sort of personality, very much in keeping with the Aries. In particular, she is driven by a fierce and powerful religious devotion, one that gives her a sense of inviolable authority.
Like many other Aries, she is a natural-born leader. When she decides that the mysterious boy is the source of the deaths on board the ship, she is very effective at getting the rest of the mutineers to follow her direction, even if they don’t entirely agree with her beliefs or methods.
11 Taurus - Eyk Larsen
Eyk Larsen is one of the most important members of the crew, as he is the captain of the ship known as the Kerberos. He has many of the traits associated with the Taurus, particularly since he, unlike so many of the other passengers and crew-members, remains driven by logic and reason rather than by emotion.
At the same time, he also shows the Taurus’ stubbornness. Once he decides that he wants to get to the heart of what is going on, both aboard the Kerberos and the Prometheus, he lets nothing stand in his way, even if it means alienating the other members of his crew.
10 Gemini - Lucien
Like so many other passengers, the character of Lucien is a man of many hidden depths. There is more to him than meets the eye, and he actually leads a double life, as he is not who he pretends to be, since he took another man’s identity as his own.
In this respect, he is very much in keeping with the Gemini. More than any other sign in the zodiac, the Gemini is marked by a powerful duality. They are more than capable of showing two very different sides of themselves, depending on the needs of a given moment.
9 Cancer - Olek
The Cancer is one of the most empathetic of the zodiac signs. If one is in need of comfort, Cancers are always willing to provide it, and they will often ignore their own needs for others.
Olek definitely fits within this particular personality type. He is one of the few people in the series who seems to genuinely care for other people, and he will usually go out of his way to assist others even if, as is very often the case, he doesn’t speak their language.
8 Leo - Ángel
Ángel is, like so many other characters, a bit of an enigma, even if he is also one of the series' notable LGBTQ+ characters. Nevertheless, he is also one of those people who moves through the world as if he owns it. Whether it’s telling Ramiro off or engaging in a flirtation with Kraster, he exudes a formidable charisma.
In that sense, he is very much a Leo. He is the type of person that others will feel drawn to, even if they also find them rather frustrating. And, like all Leos, all of his bravado and confidence tend to obscure a more sensitive side to his personality, one that only periodically emerges.
7 Virgo - Maura Franklin
There’s no question that Maura Franklin is one of 1899’s most intelligent characters. She has a practical side to her personality that aligns her with the Virgo, and she also has that zodiac sign’s stubborn streak.
Once Maura sees something that she thinks needs to be corrected, she will let nothing stand in the way of her doing so. This is most clearly seen when she decides to defend the mysterious boy who was rescued from the Prometheus, in the face of stiff and violent resistance from the other passengers and crew.
6 Libra - Jérôme
Part of what makes 1899 such a great Netflix show is its ability to dive into each of its characters. One of the most heroic of these is Jérôme, whose own backstory is firmly intertwined with that of Lucien.
Unlike his former fellow soldier, however, Jérôme has a sense of honor and justice, which firmly aligns him with the Libra. Libras are often known for their sense of balance and justice and Jérôme, unlike many of the other passengers and crew, is one who thinks that the boy should be spared from the wrath of the deranged mutineers.
5 Scorpio - Ramiro
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Brooding and sinister, Ramiro is another of those characters who help to make 1899 such a great mystery show. Though he appears to be a priest, he is secretly someone else, and his romance with Ángel is particularly charged.
Among other things, he shows Scorpio's tendency toward jealousy, particularly when it comes to Ángel’s dynamic with Krester. However difficult and fraught their relationship might be, he clearly can’t stand the thought that anyone else would share an intimate moment–whether physical or emotional–with his beloved.
4 Sagittarius - Ling Yi
From the moment she appears, it is clear that there is more to Ling Yi than appears to be the case on the surface. As it turns out, she has quite a mysterious past, and some of her actions come back to haunt her.
However, as a Sagittarius, she has a desire for freedom which means that she will never be bound by the expectations that others have of her. Even before she came aboard the Kerberus, she showed that she was willing to go to extraordinary lengths to make a life for herself, and that is even more true in the present.
3 Capricorn - Tove
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Capricorns are typically characterized by an iron will and a dogged determination. These are traits that the character of Tove has in abundance. Even though she is pregnant when the season starts, she doesn’t let this stand in her way when it comes to asserting what she believes is right.
Particularly notable is the fact that she is even willing to stand up to her mother, even though the latter is armed to the teeth and driven by religious zealousness. Tove has her principles, and she will not be cowed.
2 Aquarius - Daniel Solace
The Aquarius is one of the most enigmatic signs in the zodiac. It is often hard to tell what they are thinking, and they seem to take delight in keeping themselves aloof from others.
These are all traits that Daniel Solace has in abundance. From the moment that he steps aboard the Prometheus, there is something both sinister and enigmatic about him. At the same time he also has that unique Aquarian ability to adapt to almost any circumstance that comes his way, which means that he is able to know what is going on even when others don’t.
1 Pisces - Krester
With his soulful eyes and his deep well of emotion, it’s easy to see why the character of Krester would fit so easily into the role of the Pisces. He seems to have a natural affinity for others and, like most Pisces, he is deeply sensitive and responds to the needs of others (notably Angel).
However, he is also very malleable and prone to being influenced by others. When his mother starts to lead the movement to throw the mysterious boy overboard, he goes along with her, hoping that by doing so he will gain her love.