The tragedy of Orpheus is recounted, from his happy days with Eurydice to his fatal mistake in the Underworld.
This episode provides examples of:
- Downer Ending: With some small bits of Bittersweet Ending. Orpheus loses Eurydice by looking back, then he plays a horrible cacophonous song that gets him murdered. On the brighter side, this means that he and Eurydice are now together again in death. To emphasize this hopeful tone, the Storyteller and dog find Orpheus' lyre and his spirit appears to give them a comforting speech.
- Everyone Hates Hades: Utilized in a way that is actually faithful to the mythology: Hades isn't a monstrous and cruel tyrant, but he is still cold and pitiless. Hades shows his more benign qualities like his sincere love for Persephone and he isn't purposely being evil to Orpheus (keeping people dead is part of his job), but he does remain an arrogant and petty jerk who mocks Orpheus whenever he can, even taking pride in being feared.
- Pet the Dog: In the midst of a fierce monologue to Orpheus, Hades calms down and says in a much more sympathetic tone that he will come for Orpheus one day, then in death he will reunite with Eurydice.
