Blood of Zeus

Guess who didn't sleep last night. I watched the entire thing in one sitting and I think it was a horrible idea.

It was bombastic, stupid, and over the top. Reminded me of a Michael Bay movie but with a coherent vision. Motivations were blown our of proportion, oodles of unnecessarily gore, and little to no character development. I can't recommend Blood of Zeus and I found it okay at best. Regardless, I had good time and I'm glad I gave this a chance despite the people behind this show being the helms of Netflix's Death Note. Let's hope they continue to improve.

As for the "anime" label Netflix gives it, it's not a Japanese show originally aimed towards a Japanese audience. I still think Blood of Zeus should wear it and with pride, there is much more adult animation can do outside of all adult animation is South Park. If it requires a false moniker then so be it; we need more cartoons that prove there is more to animation than just crude humour or appealing to a family demographic. We're slowly getting there and I find Blood of Zeus is another example of this.

Edited by ChicoTheParakeet on Oct 28th 2020 at 9:43:13 AM

The two giants in history sequence seemed to be cyclops and hekatonkheires yeah. Kinda like how it kinda seems like the giant with two snakes was probably based on Typhon? Probably?

It’s my personal theory still that Americans don’t trust American cartoons for adults outside of the usual “Fat Dad” sitcom types. And American viewers can tell the difference, which is why something like Seis Manos flopped but Baki is a bonafide international hit to the point Netflix bragged about during their reveal of new anime on Monday. So they, being Netflix, probably feel like they have to call their adult, non-comedy cartoons anime lest the American audience be turned off, only now it’s causing Americans to look at who’s creating the shows Netflix is labeling anime. “That’s not anime, it’s made by some guy in Texas” is a major turnoff not even Powerhouse has found themselves immune to. This isn't a new phenomenon either, commercials have been pointing out cartoons are for kids and just for kids for decades now.

(That chain filed for bankruptcy less than a year later).

Keep in mind this is all just a personal theory, but it explains why certain shows despite favorable reviews are viewed the way they are, and why Blood of Zeus went back to the pseudo-Ayami Kojima art style Castlevania used.

Edited by Beatman1 on Oct 28th 2020 at 11:20:19 AM

Interesting I thought that one of them looked like a cyclops, didn't know their was a name for the other.

Edited by Wispy on Oct 28th 2020 at 8:17:26 AM

Huh well according to Netflix this show is #4 in the top 10 of the US today.

So hopefully that means it’s doing good.

I enjoyed these eight episodes and I think they wrap up nice enough to where if a second season never comes then this is still a satisfying ending.

Also this is probably one of the nicest portrayals of Zeus in a long while. Has he ever been shown as the Obi-wan before?

A lot of adaptations downplay or remove Zeus's most negative qualities. The Disney Hercules and Clash of the Titans movies are the most notable examples.

This Zeus was probably a good mix between Big Bad Zeus and Big Good Zeus, which are the two roles he's always given. He's trying to do the right thing throughout the events of the series but openly admits they're ultimately his fault.

Also it had a Chimaera-riding Demon Tarzan.

I spent the entirety of one episode hoping they didn't kill the muscular axe-wielding lady. Or, at least, not to kill her too violently.

But damn is there some grotesque horror. What the flying giant does to people...

Was that fucking Bubo.

Loved Seraphim getting indirectly bitten in the ass for being a Bad Boss.

Edited by ShirowShirow on Oct 28th 2020 at 2:17:38 PM

Hera made herself look far worse than Zeus though. She got so many innocent people killed in the crossfire with her jealously.

This isn't to mention the sheer stupidity of bringing the giants back and expecting them to not betray her considering she is one of the ones that killed one of their siblings and locked them up.

Honestly Hera being more villainous is on brand for her.

Also fucking losing it at "Demon Tarzan riding a chimera." That made me smile.

That’s the funny thing about Hera.

Yeah Zeus cheating on her is bad but she’s so horribly spiteful & violent about it that she winds up in the wrong too.

Edited by slimcoder on Oct 29th 2020 at 12:03:36 PM

Tbf that is pretty in line with how shes portrayed in the myths. She isn't wrong to be angry at Zeus about all the cheating but she takes it so far she makes herself not look good either.

I also feel like Seraphim's whole backstory wasn't really quite Zeus's fault even though he does lay the blame on himself for it. The King and his brother are braindead levels of dumb for not immediately turning and running once they realized that Zeus was involved with the Queen. Yeah sure Seraphim wasn't Zeus's son too but he was the Queen's son and it isn't too farfetched Zeus would be watching him because he was her son too.

I honestly think Seraphim had the best showing in this show, he had character development and did try to kill Hera for screwing around with him a couple times. I wish their was a bit more to highlight the tragedy of him and Heron being ultimately forced to fight eachother in the end. You do see Heron hug him after he dies but some kind words would of made that scene better.

I don't understand why any of the gods went with Hera once she revived the giants, they should of all abandoned her like Poseidon did when she did that.

Edited by Wispy on Oct 29th 2020 at 12:43:09 PM

Ares makes sense for a couple of reasons. As mentioned on the show's trope page Ares, in myth, is kind of a momma's boy so of course he'd favor Hera. Second Ares loves him a good war. Siding with the giants, and Hera, just gives him an excuse to fight his fellow gods for keeps.

As for Aphrodite? Ares' dick is good and she's all about that.

Those are the two main ones on Hera's side I can give good excuses for.

The trailer caught my interest, and discussion has seemed to suggest that this might be enjoyable. However, I do have an anxiety, that I'm hoping might be addressed by those here who have seen it:

Between the use of the name "Seraphim" and a line in the trailer to the effect of "convert or die", I'm a little concerned that the show might be going for some sort of allegorical denigration of either religion in general or Christianity in specific.

After the Castlevania adaptation seeming to present pretty much all religious people as either evil or ignorant, I'm a little hesitant. (I've heard that there's something like one non-objectionable religious character introduced later, but nevertheless...)

So, to those who have seen it, if I may ask: is this the case?

Man, fans are really going wild for this series' depiction of Apollo. You search "Blood Of Zeus" into Twitter or Tumblr and half the posts are people simping over him.

I mean, hard to blame them.

Personally Hermes was probably my standout; he got a lot of screentime, we got to see him do stuff from the myths it's usually forgotten he does, and he had just enough of a dash of The Flash in him to make for some awesome visuals.

Nope? I mean, you could argue there are allusions but they don't go beyond what you've already mentioned.

It's just a fun, gory romp really. I can't see it trying to be anything else.

Edited by ShirowShirow on Oct 29th 2020 at 12:09:51 PM

Man, some of thee character designs look a little....Roman.

I'm more than half way through the season now and this show is getting hard to watch. To say that the plot isn't anything to write home about is an understatement- I called Seraphim being Heron's brother literally the instant I saw him.

So I literally just started the episode and something is already bugging me. Does anyone else feel like this series is missing sound effects or something? Like when those monsters jumped off the tree I expected some kind of branch rustling sound but it was relatively silent. Is this an issue throughout or is my player just acting up?

Ah, that is a relief to read! (I feel like I've been seeing a lot of "religious people are bad/hypocrites/ineffectual" these days, and it's been wearing on me a little.) Thank you for the reassurance! ^_^

I've added the series to my "watch later" list, and may well start it soon! ^_^

Edited by ArsThaumaturgis on Oct 30th 2020 at 7:39:05 PM

Just started this and the opening text about lost tales of greek myths have me paraphrasing Jack Sparrow

"So if no one remembers the tale or wrote it, how'd you get this one?"

Magic.

Lol, it's no based on any of the pre-existing myths so I thought that was a nice way to open the story.

And there are a ton of myths we know existed but have no idea what are about...

Into episode 2. This is savagely Meh so far. Reminds me of the remake of Clash of the Titan. Of that film Immortals. It feels very cookie cutter "Generic Greek Myth Story" 101.

I have to admire people who see their king try to kill a baby, only for Zeus to appear and attack the king, and then one of them attacks Zeus, and gets fucking exploded. And the rest of these assholes are like "Nah, I'm doing this. I'm going to keep attacking Zeus and his baby. This is a good decision that is conductive to my continued living." And they keep doing it after their king is dead on top of that. I want a movie about the genius intellect and upbringing of these guys.

I mean, loyalty is probably rewarded with a trip to Elysium. Traitors and cowards wind up in Tartarus. Probably.

I dunno. Good luck carrying your money for Charon in your mouth when Zeus fucking exploded you and there's no body to bury

Edited by Ghilz on Oct 30th 2020 at 7:04:51 AM