Season Review: Blood Of Zeus Season Two

Overview:

Heron, Zeus’ demigod son, finds himself in a nebulous place in Blood of Zeus’ second season as he tries to figure out his purpose in a post-Zeus world. Heron’s soul-searching leads him on a mission for an awe-inspiring sword that empowers him through this season and may be the key to saving not just his brother, Seraphim, but all of Olympus. Meanwhile, Zeus’ death and his corresponding absence from Olympus’ throne triggers a fascinating power vacuum that reinvigorates Hades and makes him hungrier than ever for greater strength and his family’s redemption. Naturally, Hades isn’t the only with their eyes on the throne and it sets Olympus ablaze with newfound conflict and chaos.

Our Take:

Blood of Zeus’ first season was a fascinating dissection of not just Greek mythology, but demystifying the larger-than-life figures who are the basis from so much of modern culture’s mythology and storytelling. This season would have been a masterpiece in and of itself with the places that it visits and where it’s willing to push its characters. That being said, Blood of Zeus’ second season pushes all this to such greater heights and makes its freshman season feel like a warm-up and schoolyard fable in comparison to what’s on display this year. 

Blood of Zeus’ builds upon this narrative in such ambitious, brave, and rewarding ways that enriches what came before it and makes it even better, yet is also able to stand on its own as a fresh story about corruption, culpability, and personal and societal identity crises. Season two of Blood of Zeus is a gift from the Gods and with any luck Charley and Vlas Parlapanides will get to continue this story and finish the five-season plan that they’ve teased. If each season of Blood of Zeus continues to remain this consistent then it’s destined to be one of this decade’s all-time great television series–animated or otherwise. Rome and Game of Thrones have nothing on Blood of Zeus.

Blood of Zeus’ second season kicks off with the question, “What greater wound is there than betrayal?” and the following eight episodes set out to prove that there’s nothing that trumps such a violating indignity. It wouldn’t have been difficult for Blood of Zeus to comfortably coast off of its first season and enter a period of complacency. One of this season’s most exciting elements is how excited it is to mix up its status quo and push so many of its characters out of their comfort zones. This is rewarding for any type of character, but even more so when it’s literal Gods who are being forced to change. Seraphim, in particular, becomes an infinitely more interesting character this season who’s arguably even more fun to follow than Heron. His story and motivations are so much more pronounced this season. Seraphim becomes a worthy equal to his brother who often feels like the series’ protagonist, despite how he’s technically the antagonist. He gets to eviscerate a goddamn dragon this season.

These new episodes continue to subvert and re-contextualize the standard expectations that surround Greek mythologies and fantasy. Blood of Zeus comments on the corruptive nature of power and how easy it is to abuse the overwhelming abilities that Gods and demons may take for granted. It’s also doing so much more than that and it’s betrayal that becomes this season’s rogue element and an accelerant for the grandiose drama that tears Olympus – and Heron’s family – apart.

“When two souls are meant to be together, nothing can tear them apart,” is a reassuring mantra that’s echoed through Blood of Zeus’ second season that applies to many of the series’ characters. Blood of Zeus does excellent work when it comes to creating so many doubles within its cast and the number of characters who struggle to find confidence and importance when they’re not with their counterpart. Blood of Zeus juxtaposes its Gods with its demons to great effect in order to emphasize the threadbare line that separates these deities. Blood of Zeus’ second season is heavily interested in the concept of fate and its accompanying domino effect, whether it’s an oppressive force that holds individuals back or an arbitrary principle that’s there to be broken.

Blood of Zeus has never felt like a tiny series that’s small in scale, but its second season expands its boundaries to an even greater degree. This new season is full of new, detailed environments that add deeper context to Blood of Zeus’ universe. The Underworld is especially prominent and really gets a satisfying spotlight this time around so that it’s more than just a frightening demon realm. Blood of Zeus also fleshes itself out through restrained world-building that pulls from real-life traditions, such as the Funeral Games of ancient Greece. This gladiatorial combat results in one of the season’s best episodes. It’s viscerally brutal and it works as well as it does because it’s quite grounded in nature, even if it still features godly powers. The Funeral Games also operate as an important precursor to the season’s tense climax where a new ruler for Olympus will conceivably be crowned.

Blood of Zeus continues to astound with its sumptuous animation. Powerhouse Animation Studios really goes above and beyond with the series’ visuals and every frame – even more basic ones  where two characters are locked in debate, rather than combat – are sights to behold. Light, shadow, and color are elegantly utilized so that audiences will never want to take their eyes off of the screen. There are some stunning flashbacks that are cast in a mix of muted grayscale and sepia that reflect such a considerate level of art design. Another inspired sequence features a battle that plays out, mostly in the dark, where only the glowing eyes of the attacking demons are visible. This season is easily the most attractive and impressive animation that Powerhouse has produced, which is saying something when they’re also responsible for Castlevania and Skull Island. There are sequences from this Blood of Zeus season that feel like they’re ripped from out of Heavy Metal, Ralph Bakshi’s ‘70s filmography like Wizards, the works of Moebius, or even Attack on Titan: The Final Season.

The Gods trigger a number of creative and gorgeous sequences, but this season’s incorporation of the Giants helps Blood of Zeus show off even more. They add a neon-soaked Old Ones aesthetic to Blood of Zeus’ rich, vibrant visuals that helps the series mix a classical look with a post-modern flair. Not enough can be said about how much the Giants and The Fates bring to the table, both in a visual and narrative sense. It’s really special to watch these apocalyptic forces engage in all-out war on such a massive scale. This is the type of spectacle that most shows of this nature would wait until their final season to pull the trigger on. It’s the perfect type of heightening for a show like Blood of Zeus that’s necessary for it to get better. It makes the mind reel at what might be in store for Blood of Zeus’ future seasons and how it could possibly trump these otherworldly threats. 

The voice acting in Blood of Zeus remains exceptional and is often the show’s secret weapon. Blood of Zeus features remarkable visuals and suspenseful storytelling, but these elements are able to truly soar through the committed performances that elevate the show’s cast. There’s occasionally an argument that celebrities shouldn’t take roles away from professional voice actors, but everyone brings so much to these roles and truly act here. Derek Phillips and Elias Toufexis really push Heron and Seraphim past their limits and they both bring such power and pathos to their performances. Jason O’Mara’s Zeus and Fred Tatasciore’s Hades are equally nuanced, but the whole cast feels even more comfortable as these characters. They get to explore them on a deeper level this time around.

Blood of Zeus is bigger, bolder, and more brutal in its second season. It’s a sublime follow-up to the series’ first act that demonstrates how it still has plenty to say and is only getting started. These new episodes will elate fans of the first season and draw in any curious newcomers who initially missed Blood of Zeus. Netflix continues to make a name for themselves as the place to go for hard-hitting, sophisticated adult animation. Blood of Zeus’ second season stands tall as one of the streaming service’s animated crown jewels that’s worth going to the Underworld and back for.