Recap / Atlantis S 2 E 8 The Madness Of Hercules

It is a dark night.Hercules secretly sneaks out of Atlantis to visit Medusa. Medusa hates herself for killing the Oracle, despairing that she is now cursed forever. Despite his efforts, Hercules is unable to comfort her.

In Atlantis, a brazen bull is assembled for Jason’s execution. Pythagoras informs Jason that his execution is set to happen in two days, on the full moon. Jason assures him that Ariadne won’t let that happen.

Melas visits Goran, who allows him to briefly see the person Pasiphae is keeping as hostage: a young woman with a bald head and markings on her face. She is Cassandra, and Melas believes her to be the next Oracle. Melas had sworn an oath to protect Cassandra above all else.

Melas tells Pasiphae what is going on in Atlantis. He tries to suggest that Jason could be shown clemency, but Pasiphae dismisses this idea. Pasiphae is surprised when she hears that Ariadne has not made any special plea for Jason.

Pasiphae: Hmm. She is learning what it means to be a queen. Perhaps I underestimated her.

Hercules returns and Pythagoras tells him they have an audience with the queen in the morning.

Ariadne prays at the temple of Poseidon. She asks Melas to grant clemency to Jason. She reminds Melas how long she has known him to be a good man, and yet here he is condemning an innocent man to death. Melas nervously states that he cannot contradict the will of the gods. Ariadne suggests several ways Melas could fix the problem, but Melas refuses. Ariadne challenges Melas to swear an oath on the golden bull, but Melas refuses, saying that his word as a priest is enough. As Ariadne leaves, Melas tells her that no mortal can challenge the gods without bringing down their wrath.

The next morning, Pythagoras and Hercules come before the court of Atlantis and beg Ariadne to spare Jason, as he is innocent. To their surprise, Ariadne stoically says that she can do nothing to contradict the gods, who have proclaimed Jason’s guilt. Pythagoras says that the Oracle was actually killed by Medusa, but Ariadne says that without Medusa’s testimony they can’t prove Jason’s innocence. When Pythagoras asks that clemency be granted, Ariadne states that justice must be carried out according to the will of the gods.

When Jason is told by his friends what Ariadne said, he is brokenhearted and bewildered, wondering if Ariadne never really cared for him at all. Hercules suggests that Jason needs to have a personal audience with Ariadne, and Jason shows a little hope at this idea.As they walk through the streets of Atlantis, Hercules tearfully tells Pythagoras that he saw Medusa. Pythagoras says the only way they can save Jason is if Medusa comes to Atlantis, but Hercules can’t bear the thought of her being executed. Seeing little choice, he resolves to go tell Medusa of the situation.

Medusa is slightly less depressed then she was before. She tells Hercules that she hopes she can one day redeem herself and be worthy of his love again. Hercules says he always loved her and she deserves so much more than what life has given her.

Medusa: After all that I have done, I never thought the gods would smile on me again. And yet, you have no idea how wonderful it is to be able to look at you once more.

Hercules is unable to tell Medusa the terrible news from Atlantis.

Jason asks Delmos to speak to Ariadne and request an audience.

Melas and Ariadne pour libations to Poseidon at the brazen bull. Cilix compliments Ariadne on not granting clemency to Jason, saying that to do so would have brought the wrath of Poseidon.

Back at the hunting lodge, Medusa sees that Hercules is about to return to Atlantis and she asks him if the people blame her for killing the Oracle. Hercules lies and says they blame Pasiphae for it.

In the dungeon, Delmos tells Jason that Ariadne has refused his request for an audience.

Hercules goes to the tavern and starts a fight with Critias, the man who cheated him at dice. They both get arrested and taken to the dungeons. Once they arrive, it is revealed that this is part of a plan to rescue Jason. Hercules and Critias escape from their cell. Hercules uses pitch to create a smokescreen and breaks Jason out of his cell. Unfortunately, the guards catch them before they can sneak out of the palace.

Delmos informs Pythagoras that Hercules has been arrested will be executed along with Jason. Pythagoras asks if he can at least see them, but Delmos tells him that Hercules and Jason are to be purified to Poseidon tonight and can see no one.

Delmos speaks privately to Ariadne. They note that Hercules’ rescue attempt has only made things more difficult.In the dungeon, Hercules apologizes to Jason for not telling him about Medusa. Jason doesn’t blame Hercules and tells him that he has been a good and loyal friend.

Jason and Hercules are taken to the temple of Poseidon. Pythagoras sits at home and tries reading through his scrolls, but he dejectedly throws everything off the table and bursts into tears as he thinks about his inability to save his friends. Suddenly there is a knock at the door. When Pythagoras opens it, he sees a note lying on the ground. After reading the note, Pythagoras gathers several weapons and heads out into the streets.

The guards at the dungeon have been drugged. Delmos opens the door of the cell and gives cloaks to Jason and Hercules, telling them to head to the north parapet to escape. At the parapet, Nestor, another guard, helps Hercules and Jason climb down a rope leading outside the palace, where they meet Pythagoras. Pythagoras tells them to get out of the city and meet him at the grove of Artemis. Pythagoras distracts the guards and leads them on a chase through the streets.

Delmos tells Ariadne that her plan worked, and Jason and Hercules have gotten out of the city. By having the guards search the streets, the people of Atlantis won’t suspect that Ariadne was involved in the escape.

Jason and Hercules walk through the forest, hoping that Pythagoras is safe. Jason is sure that Ariadne arranged their escape.

Hercules: If you’re right, she’s playing a dangerous game.

Pasiphae is furious when she hears about Jason’s escape and tells Cilix that every Atlantean citizen must be ordered to help capture the fugitives. Cilix informs her that Ariadne has already given that order so that none of the people blame her for the escape.

Pasiphae: Then they need to be enlightened. They need to be told the Queen is behind these crimes towards the gods.

Medea worries about the threat Jason poses, but Pasiphae tells her that this has worked out for the best: Jason is a weakness for Ariadne that Pasiphae can now exploit.

At the temple of Poseidon, Cilix tells Melas to provoke unrest by telling the people of Atlantis that Poseidon is offended by Jason and has sent more bad omens.Jason and Hercules awake as Atlantean guards search the forest for them. Hercules starts to wonder if Delmos or Pythagoras could have told the guards where they were hiding, but Jason insists on staying where they are until Pythagoras arrives. The two hide but stay put for the moment.After examining some animal entrails, Melas tells the court that the gods are upset that their will has been defied. Cilix makes a motion for the council of nobles to be assembled.

At the council, Cilix makes an impassioned speech about the danger Atlantis will be in if the gods punish them for not executing the blasphemers, Jason and Hercules. Ariadne says that every soldier in Atlantis is looking for them, but Cilix says that there are rumors that she knew about the escape. Ariadne insists she knew no more than anyone else. Cilix challenges her to swear an oath on the golden bull that she had nothing to do with Jason’s escape. Right on cue, the guards bring the golden bull into the council. Ariadne refuses to swear. Losing her temper, she states that Jason was innocent, and she will not sanction an injustice. Cilix says that by contradicting the will of the gods Ariadne has blasphemed and must be placed under arrest.

Delmos: Stand down! You have no authority to issue such an order. The council cannot pass judgment on a queen.

Cilix: It is not the council that accuses her! Melas?

Melas: You have defied the will of the gods. Such hubris cannot go unpunished.

Ariadne is arrested.Pythagoras finds Jason and Hercules and tells them Ariadne has been arrested. Jason wants to go back to Atlantis to save her, but Pythagoras says he would be killed on sight before he could get to her. He realizes that the only person who can save all of them is Medusa.Hercules goes into the hunting lodge to talk to Medusa, asking Jason and Pythagoras to wait outside.Battered and bruised, Delmos is thrown into the same cell as Ariadne. He informs her that the army is no longer loyal to her, as he was arrested on Cilix’s orders.Medusa accepts that her only choice is to return to Atlantis, even though doing so will certainly mean her death. As they look down at Atlantis from the mountains, Hercules speaks to her again.

Hercules: I want you to know my life only made sense when I met you.

Medusa: I know because it was the same for me.

By morning, the heroes sneak into Atlantis. To their horror, they see the army of Atlantis kneel before the Queen of Atlantis: Pasiphae.

Tropes

• Corrupt Church: Melas shows just how much power a corrupt priest can wield. Despite being Queen, Ariadne is easily overthrown by Melas’ lies when combined with Cilix’s manipulations.
• From Bad to Worse: All the heroes are able to accomplish is staying alive. Everything else goes wrong for them.
• Heroic BSoD: Jason goes through this throughout much of the episode, but particularly when he is purified at the temple of Poseidon.
• I Have Your Wife: Pasiphae is keeping Cassandra hostage in order to force Melas to work for her.
• Irony: Right after Ariadne is told by Melas (Poseidon’s Priest) that no one can challenge the will of the gods, the episode cuts to Pythagoras addressing Ariadne as Poseidon’s servant, and saying that her power is unlimited.
• It Has Been an Honor: Jason says this to Hercules in the dungeons.
• Manipulative Bastard: Pasiphae and Cilix are masters of manipulation. With Melas saying whatever they want the people of Atlantis to hear, Ariadne has no power at all.