Olympus: A New Series

Haven't seen a Greek epic since Xena!

                SyFy channel has been hitting marks with me lately. First angels now gods! Olympus follows 3 unlikely allies who search for a way to open the gates of Olympus where the gods were banished. The Lexicon is the key, which is locked inside our Hero who's name is cursed so everyone just calls him Mercenary. It has many traits that make it a classic Greek tale, which appeals to me: powerful women, court intrigue, magic, war, and enigmatic prophecy coming true.

"So... what's your safe word?"

      1. The Female is far more dangerous than the Male

               No truer statement could be made to describe women in the myths of Ancient Greece. Of course the stories were all anti-feminist. With the exception of the cyclops about every monster you encounter in a Greek story is female. Hera blinded Tiresias because he agreed with Zeus that women enjoy sex more than men (yeah that's twisted). But in most cases the women prove more intelligent than the men if not all the time. We have the Oracle who's very observant  She doesn't have to have visions to know something's up with you. Then we have some classical characters like Queen Medea and Princess Ariadne. 

Have a headache? I have something for that...

        We all know Medea from the Golden Fleece story. She's a sorceress and mess with her you live to regret it as she uses her magic as well as her wits to get the better of you. In her story she chops up her kids and serves them to her cheating husband (mother of the year). Here I don't think she'd serve her son, Lykos in soup, however, I still get nervous when I see her with something sharp. Curious on how they portrayed Ariadne. In the myth she seemed like a weak character used as a pawn by the gods to help Theseus with that whole Minotaur nightmare then she was abandoned on an island (well she got a god out of it anyway, screw Theseus). However, I feel she was completely reinvented in Olympus. She's got this torture/sex fetish. Mostly gross yet she's not all powerful. She has real insecurities, which don't make her weak just a more human character. 

Night time is scheming time, Lykos

      2. The Mythology Behind It All
               
             Other characters used from Greek myth was Daedalus and King Aegeus. Matt Frewer gives a wonderful performance as the eccentric genius Daedalus. I laughed quite a few times. Daedalus was the guy who built the labyrinth that contained the Minotaur (the result of when Pasiphae banged a bull; Don't ask though Daedalus helped her with that too). King Aegeus from myth is depicted more as a loving father. He committed suicide when he thought his son Theseus died (because Theseus couldn't remember that one thing: change the damn sail color!). Here he's depicted as more of a comedic character: he's over the top, likes to be center of attention, in love with glory. He's not typically fond of strategy that requires the shadows though that's where most of the action happens and in politics that's where your best work is done. Aegeus is all charge full speed ahead and don't think about how your guts will spill out when you run into a spear. King Aegeus's blow-hard attitude sort of provides opportunity for Medea, Pallas, and Xerxes to work their own schemes right under his nose which I don't know about you is comical to me.

What did THAT?

     3. It feels very... well Greek

                Mostly green screen but given the money SyFy is spending on Dominion, Defiance, and 12 Monkeys not surprised nor am I miffed. The scenery isn't important. Olympus has a lot of what makes a Greek myth: heroes, oracles, magic, political intrigue (back stabbing included no question), creative ways in committing murder, and some homo-ertocism. Lykos apparently is playing for the other team though in Ancient Greece guy on guy romance wasn't that huge of a deal (oddly they were against girl on girl go figure). Lykos at first seemed bland I'll admit but the guy is hiding a brain under that dark head of hair. He's standing up to Mommy encouraged by Uncle Pallas though last episode Lykos had the clever Pallas guessing. Would like to see Lykos rise above the ranks. Meeting his older brother, the Mercenary should get a rise out of him.

Check his pulse...

          Greek mythology was the first series of stories I've ever read after being given the bible and other religious Precious Moments books that bored me more than half the time. I can read these Greek tales over and over again and not get tired of them. So seeing it all on screen is awesome for me. I'm giving Olympus a shot. I like the story. The part about the Magi and their one God (hello Christianity come to ruin all the pagan fun) is very original. I want to see how this all plays out.