Season 2, Episode 4 of the Netflix series Blood of Zeus, titled “Funeral Games,” is directed by Jae H. Kim and Jae Woo Kim and penned by the show’s creators, Charles Parlapanides and Vlas Parlapanides. The story primarily focuses on Zeus’ (Jason O’Mara) funeral and Hades sending Seraphim to retrieve the Eleusinian Stone.
Hades and Seraphim
Hades (Fred Tatasciore) gives Seraphim (Elias Toufexis) a vial that allows him to switch between his human and demon forms, along with a bident to travel unnoticed. Seraphim has a head start on his journey to the Hidden Realm to retrieve the Eleusinian Stone.
The Fates
Heron (Derek Phillips) meets the Fates, who warn him that his thread was cut, indicating that the son of Zeus will die one day. This frustrates Heron and is noticed by the gods and goddesses who support his future ascension to the Olympian throne: Athena (Sarah Elmaleh), Artemis (Jennifer Hale), Hermes (Matthew Mercer), and Hestia (Vanessa Marshall). Hestia warns that Ares (Matt Lowe) is another contender for the Olympian throne, and Athena assures that she will deal with the God of War. However, first, they must attend Zeus’ funeral.
The Funeral Games
Athena explains to Heron how the Olympians honor their dead and bury them by playing funeral games akin to the Olympics. The winner of the games will receive Zeus’ ring, making them the closest contender to the throne. However, the prophecy indicates that Heron should be the next ruler, making any winner aside from Heron undeserving of the throne. However, Heron does not wish to play nor rule Olympus.
Soon, Ares arrives with Aphrodite (Julie Nathanson) and begins aggravating Heron, leading the latter to join as one of the competitors. However, Hades intervenes and stops the fight, reminding Ares that no weapons are allowed in the funeral games. Despite this, Ares plans to fight Heron in the pygmachia arena to make a mockery of him. Heron obliges and is almost suicidal since he is destined to die one way or another.
The fight is brutal as Ares mercilessly pummels Heron, but before he can continue, Hera (Claudia Christian) appears and stops her son. She feels regret for all the crimes she had committed, and Zeus’ sacrifice inspired her to be better, transforming the once ruthless goddess into a pacifist who desires peace and reconciliation for all of Olympus. Despite this, Hera plans to go into a self-imposed exile for a thousand years as punishment for being indirectly responsible for Zeus’ death.
Ares Despise the “Bastards” of Zeus
Ares respects his mother’s decision but is angry that she has to make it even after rightfully betraying Zeus, who betrayed Hera in marriage and fathered bastards in front of her. Apollo, Artemis, Hermes, Athena, and some of the gods are bastards and represent Zeus’ infidelity to Hera. For this reason, Ares hates Zeus’ infidelity and does not want Olympus to fall to the bastards like Heron
Gaia arrives to Olympus
A conflict is about to break out between Ares and Zeus’ bastard children until Gaia (Vanessa Marshall) intervenes. Gaia explains that Hera is in Olympus under the banner of truce to pay her respects but will adhere to her self-imposed exile once the funeral is over. She also states that a competition following the funeral will begin for those vying for the crown. The prize is the Eleusinian Stone, and the only way to win it is through one’s own merit, courage, and selflessness. Gaia ends her message by asking all of the Olympians to stop fighting and be respectful to each other as they mourn Zeus and his passing for three days.
Zeus’ Final Words
The funeral proceeds with each god paying their respects to Zeus’ shrine. It ends with Zeus appearing as a blue phantom. Zeus addresses his children, yet favors Heron above all others as he is the chosen one prophesied to succeed Zeus. Zeus then has Poseidon give Heron his ring, which angers Ares, who remains respectful throughout the funeral. The speech ends with Zeus asking every god to be better than him. The speech motivates Heron to begin his mission to be the next ruler of Olympus by finding the sword, retrieving the Eleusinian Stone, and saving Seraphim.
The show is proceeding well so far. However, despite Zeus’ speech that he and the gods are flawed, this is no excuse for the terrible atrocities Zeus committed during his reign. He was unfaithful to his wife, murdered many innocents, and installed his demigod children as monarchs who became tyrants. Zeus’ flaw is not a normal human flaw; it is an abomination, proving why he was unworthy to be King of Olympus from day one.
Rating: 9/10