Blood of Zeus Season 3 is a Visually Stunning, But Unsatisfying Conclusion

Blood of Zeus returned for its third and final season, wrapping up the Greek-mythology inspired epic animated series with stunning animation, but struggles to reach a satisfying conclusion for its expansive cast. 

Blood of Zeus has been consistent in raising the stakes enough to make each seasonal arc rife with tension and major world-altering battles. This season’s big bad(s) was Cronos, leader of the Titans and father of Zeus, Hades, and Poseidon. The Titans tower over the gods of Olympus, and for the first time, we see the gods truly afraid. 

This makes for a particularly compelling arc, as the gods have to come to face with their mortality, something they never contemplated. One of the most interesting aspects of Blood of Zeus is its inventive adaptation of even the most well-worn stories of Greek mythology, and this is especially true for Hades and Persephone, who have some of the most heartbreaking scenes in the show.

Their arc also comes to a satisfying, albeit tragic, conclusion this season. 

The writers wisely choose to tighten their focus on the strained relationship of brothers Heron (voiced by Derek Phillips) and Seraphim (Elias Toufexis), as they both grapple with being allies and also saving the gods who have ruined both their lives. This tension bleeds into every one of their interactions, especially while they work to save the soul of Seraphim’s lost love, the priestess Gorgo.

Blood of Zeus‘ animators have always been ambitious, and this is especially apparent in the truly wonderful designs of the gods and the Titans alike. The final showdown is truly a sight to behold, as the Titans and the Olympian pantheon face off in a literally earth-shaking battle.

But in this pursuit of greatness in the animation, some of the character development takes a backseat.

While Heron and Seraphim get a good amount of time to shine, Heron’s mortal friend (and perhaps something more?) Alexia, and fellow mortals Kofi and Evios barely get screen time in the first half of the season.

This is mostly rectified for Kofi, who gets an emotional goodbye, but Alexia spends most of her time on screen worrying about Heron as they reach the peak of will-they-won’t-they status. 

At its crux, Blood of Zeus has always focused on how far its protagonist(s) will go to save and protect the people they love. It’s why Heron sought vengeance for his mother, and why Seraphim went to such lengths to exact revenge on the gods.

They have loved and lost, and it makes them and their motivations all the more interesting. But when this much more grounded theme is fighting with grand battles between gods and Titans for screen time, Blood of Zeus falters in effectively communicating the emotional stake of these battles to its viewers.

The finale is a poignant end for Heron, who comes to terms with his own thread being cut by the Fates, holding the memory and love of his mother and father in his heart as he sacrifices himself to save the gods and the world. Heron’s arc has remained the most compelling, as he learns to forgive and move on for the greater good. 

Overall, Blood of Zeus Season 3 is a final showdown for the ages, delivering closure for its protagonists, but not so much for its secondary characters, whose stories are unevenly addressed throughout the season.

What is occasionally lost in the beautifully animated battles is what made the series initially compelling: the story of how far one is willing to go to protect the people they love, even in the face of the most terrifying foes.

 

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Blood of Zeus is available to stream on Netflix. 

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