After a lengthy four-year wait, the second season of Blood of Zeus, Netflix’s gory anime serie following Greek mythology is here. It continues the story of half-god, half-human son of Zeus, Heron (Derek Phillips), and his crusade to save Mount Olympus from the onslaught of those who would seek to annihilate it and the pantheon of gods. This second season has a lot to live up to with the exciting first set of episodes, and it does a great job of extending the story as well as building on the solid foundation from the first season.
Opening Shot: We see a panning shot across Olympus to deep down in the underworld as Hades (Fred Tatasciore) discusses how to best the gods he’s at war with alongside Persephone (Lara Pulver) – and how to right the wrongs perpetrated against him.
The Gist: Picking up where the first season left off, Blood of Zeus Season 2 follows Heron’s discovery that he isn’t just a humble farmer and is in fact Zeus’s secret offspring, as well as a demigod. With that revelation comes life-changing secrets, though. When a demon named Seraphim (Elias Toufexis) sets his sights on Heron, he and his friends must work to protect Olympus from the onslaught of threats – as well as his hateful stepmother Hera. Now with Season 2 picking up after the death of Zeus, Heron is facing an even bigger challenge.
What Shows Will It Remind You Of? If you’ve watched any of Netflix’s stable of anime-like original series, you’ll no doubt be familiar with their ilk: Castlevania comes to mind, especially since it shares an animation studio and both are quite gory adventures that don’t shy away from adult situations and topics without dumbing themselves down.
Our Take: Blood of Zeus Season 2 feels just like settling in with the same that we left off with in the past season, as if nothing has changed, as if four years haven’t passed. But this time, the focus isn’t always squarely on Heron, which is a welcome difference. The scope has widened to include the plight of Hades and Persephone, a married couple with a mind for revenge on all the wrongs they have endured. It’s a fascinating dynamic that they have, and watching them strive to make the perfect life for themselves.
Beyond their plight, Heron has come into his own as the hero of Olympus, and watching him grow into much more of a hero than a confused lead who doesn’t know what he’s capable of. That makes for a much more exciting narrative overall, and now that we know more about Heron’s lineage, there’s so much more that can be done with the story’s direction from here. Without spoiling where things will lead, there’s a big chance for a Season 3, which is clear from the very beginning – and we can’t wait to see where it all winds up.
Sex and Skin: There’s nothing risqué in the first episode, but much like the first season, that’s expected to be a bit different as the show stretches on, as well as more violence and gore, both a staple of this series.
Parting Shot: Persephone convinces Hades that when they find the stone they’re searching for, all will be made well, they can exact their revenge, and they’ll get what they deserve. They share a kiss and Hades gives Persephone a bouquet of flowers from a vase. She gets an idea about Seraphim’s half-giant heritage with passage to the Underworld as she studies the vase. Before the episode ends, we get a glimpse at Seraphim – the lovers might have just found an answer to their problems.
Sleeper Star: Persephone, portrayed by Lara Pulver, is still as enchanting and as eerie as ever, just as she was in the first season. Pulver is known for her work in the BBC adaptation of Sherlock, among other things, and her voice makes Persephone so much more believable as she plays the part (or genuinely believes she is) Hades’ star-crossed lover. Pulver does a fantastic job of giving her a much larger part than you’d think for the first episode.
Most Pilot-y Line: “What greater wound is there than betrayal?” Hades asks at the beginning of the episode, setting the tone as he plans to steal a powerful artifact from Zeus’s temple to take his revenge. Betrayal, familial rights, and blood lust color this first episode nicely, and Hades’ first words make so much more sense as more is revealed throughout the show’s initial runtime.
Our Call: STREAM IT. Blood of Zeus Season 2 is every bit as captivating, mature, and exciting as the first season, with even more reasons to become invested this time around. With Zeus out of the picture, there’s so much at stake that you’ll be gripped as soon as you complete the first episode, and you’ll be left wondering exactly what will become of the gods now that Olympus has devolved into complete turmoil.
Brittany Vincent (@MolotovCupcake) has been covering video games and tech for over a decade for publications like G4, Popular Science, Playboy, Variety, IGN, GamesRadar, Polygon, Kotaku, Maxim, GameSpot, and more. When she’s not writing or gaming, she’s collecting retro consoles and tech.
