Pantheon Season 1 Episode 4 Review: The Gods Will Not Be Chained

We’ve reached the halfway point of Season 1, and there are some big developments on Pantheon Season 1 Episdoe 4, “The Gods Will Not Be Chained.”

The episode beings with Chanda violently taking his revenge against his former boss and his family. It is the most dramatic moment of the episode until the end when Caspian overhears Renee and Hannah discussing the simulation that is his life. 

He doesn’t learn the whole truth, but he learns enough to know that his mother and his sort of girlfriend are part of the conspiracy he is uncovering. 

We don’t get any other scenes with, or references to Chanda on “The Gods will Not Be Chained.” It’s a shame that we don’t, too. That opening sequence is intense and sets expectations for an episode that would follow suit. 

Unfortunately, the rest of the episodes lack the same excitement and by comparison drags a bit at times. This is despite the introduction of a major character and other revelations will be vital for the rest of the season.

By the end of the episode, the series finds that edge-of-your-seat storytelling that the episode starts with again. Still, the middle of the episode is more of a mixed bag and doesn’t live up to the promise of its opening sequence.

The best part — and most significant part — of the middle of the episode is the introduction of Lori. Her deteriorating state foreshadows an until now unknown threat that David — and maybe Chanda — will face.

Perhaps even more concerning is her volatility. She is going to be a problem for everyone very soon. 

On “The Gods will Not Be Chained,” she is not quite an ally, at least one that can be trusted yet. She is however an important catalyst for David, helping him break free of his own mental limitations and fully access his power. 

Interestingly, it seems that Lori accesses her power through creativity while David’s trigger is his family. More specifically, the love he has for his family. 

In discussing Pantheon Season 1 Episdoe 3, “Reign of Winter,” I said that David’s ability to love would be important. But, it would seem, it’s not only important as the thing that potentially keeps him grounded.

It might also be the key to him fully reaching his potential in terms of his power as well. Looking ahead, it raises the question of whether that starting point might be the thing that makes his fate different from Lori’s. 

Does David’s foundation of love make him better able to handle what is happening to him than Lori’s more intellectual foundation in creativity?

“The Gods Will Not Be Chained” is more of an important episode than it is an engaging one.  It moves the plot and characters forward in significant ways, and there are some excellent moments. Still, it lacks consistency, and my attention tended to wander while watching it. 

As part of the larger season, this feels a bit like a bridge episode that sets up exciting things to come. It is a serviceable episode, and I am eager to see the things it sets up play out. It just isn’t as sharp as what we’ve gotten from past episodes.

Stray Thoughts

• I had a feeling Hannah was part of the Caspian simulation. I wanted her to be what she seemed for Caspian’s sake, but she was just a little too good to be true.
• Chanda goes from zero to 100 fast. His takedown of his former boss and his family is brutal. I’m curious what he will do now that he’s taken such complete revenge. The sandwich technician guy from Pantheon Season 1 Episode 3, “Reign of Winter” better watch his back.
• Between Chanda, Lori, and David, there are a lot of unpredictable uploaded intelligences out there with understandable grievances to resolve. Logorhythms doesn’t seem sufficiently worried.

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New Episodes of Pantheon stream Thursdays on AMC+ and HIDIVE.

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