Forget everything you think you know about the BBC’s upcoming Atlantis fantasy series. The first clip has finally arrived, and it’s definitely not what we expected.

Those early promo pics from the new series definitely looked like a straight-up fantasy project, and after that whiz-bang trailer we thought we finally had this one figured out. Apparently, we were wrong.

The first clip has thrown us for a major loop, showing our protagonist hanging out in the modern day on a boat, talking about his search for his father. No wild FX, no period-style set pieces, and (oddly enough) no obvious fantasy. Hmm.

So what does this mean? Perhaps the show involves some time travel, or a trip to an alternate universe? We have no clue, but this new footage definitely has us chomping at the bit to know more.

Viewers in the U.K. will get to see this one when it debuts next Saturday on BBC One. U.S. fans will have to wait until the 13-part new series shows up on BBC America on Nov. 23, 2013.

What do you think of the clip? Intrigued?

(Via Bleeding Cool)