Pasiphaê's troops are still looking for Jason. When one of the soldiers stumbles upon a bit of plum pit, Goran figures the fugitives must be close by. And he's right--Jason is right there, hiding in the bushes. Just before Goran can find the wounded Jason, he gets called away by a soldier who has found a freshly put out fire. It seems three days have passed--three days n which Medea has returned to the palace and is awaiting news of Jason's fate as much as Pasiphaê, but for entirely different reasons. Even Pasiphaê is having second doubts at this point: she wishes he were her ally so they can rule Atlantis side by side. She doesn't want to allow that type of weakness, but Medea says she feels Jason thinks of the same things; that the bond they all share becomes stronger by the day. She tells Pasiphaê to have patience. That he will come to them.
Aeson, Ariadne, Pythagoras and even Hercules have been trying to find Jason for days now, too. Hercules is feeling guilty he deserted Jason when he needed him most. Pythagoras tells him not to blame himself, and I'm just confused. Wasn't Hercules semi-legitimately angry at Jason last episode? Pythagoras manages to get Hercules' head back in the game and the group splits up: Hercules and Pythagoras will follow the river west, and Ariadne and Aeson the river east.
Back in Atlantis, Pasiphaê and Medea are watching the games. Gladiators hit the snot out of prisoners while Pasiphaê defends the necessity of the practice to Medea while two prisoners get slaughtered and the crowd goes wild.
Ariadne and her future father-in-law are having a heart-to-heart about Jason and his actions as of late. Ariadne always thought she knew everything there was to know about Jason, but now she isn't so sure. Aeson tries to convince her that Jason's actions 'are not his own' right now. At least Ariadne still loves Jason as much as possible. Just wait until you find out who he swapped spit with... Aeson wishes he had been there for his son from the beginning. Ariadne tells him that hopefully, he will be able to rebuild some of their relationship. then they notice the guards are withdrawing: Jason has been caught.
As soon as Jason is tossed into a cell, Pasiphaê is there, hands around the bars. she gets all emotional and motherly, and Jason feels the bond between them too. He allows her to stroke his face, to kiss him, and says he wants to be with her. He wants to be her son. She promises to let him live. Medea has heard the whole exchange but doesn't let on, not even when Cilix tries to get Pasiphaê to execute Jason for murdering the Oracle--a crime of which he has been found guilty, after all. Pasiphaê makes excuses, but Cilix doesn't buy it. Then Medea speaks up about a completely make-belief sign from the Gods she saw when Jason was captured; a bad omen. They must consult the Oracle about Jason's guilt. Cilix has no choice but to agree.
Cassandra is put to work again, and she huffs away over a bowl of water and rose leaves. The Gods do not want Jason sacrificed (duh!). Cilix is furious: as much as he doesn't think himself above the Gods, he is the one who has to explain the certain turnabout to the people, who have been made terrified by Pasiphaê's reign of terror. He demands Cassandra tells them why Jason must be spared. Reluctantly Pasiphaê agrees, and Melas warns her that Cassandra can only tell the truth. There is no choice, though, so Cassandra speaks: there is no greater shame than a mother killing her child. Cilix is beyond shocked--obviously he hadn't gotten the memo about the family tree yet. Melas either.
Back in the throne room, Cilix has gotten over his shock and tries to reason with Pasiphaê: if the people don't get their culprit, their sacrifice, they with burn the city down once the games are over. So... Pasiphaê has to think quick. She tells Cilix to enter Jason into the games so the Gods can decide his fate right in front of the eyes of the people. If he dies, then so be it (and his blood isn't on her hands), and if he lives, everyone will know the Gods spared him. Cilix agrees and corners Medea, accusing her of meddling. She tells him to fuck off. Politely.
Jason's friends and loved ones have discovered Jason has been captures an are planning to go to the city to free him. Aeson says he should be the only one to take the risk: the oracle was clear, he's his father and only he can 'unlock Jason's heart'. So he returns as the leper that he is--and goes to Ikaros. Seems he hasn't heart the news that Ikaros sold them out to save his father. Ikaros tells Aeson to meet him at midnight.
Meanwhile, Medea goes to visit Jason. Jason is still badly injured--in no shape to fight anyone. she informs him that he is no longer sentenced to death, but that the arena is in his future. She hates to say the words, and he hates to hear them. Aeson hears the news, too, from Ikaros, who also tells Aeson he can't smuggle him in. There may be another way, though: lepers help the corpse bearers who work in the arena...
Jason is thrown in with the other contestants. Well--with prisoners. Right away he sits down and right away Diocles (Henry Garrett) tells him to move. Not keen on getting into a fight, Jason moves. Picking order established.
Vincent Haquin, who plays the gladiator who took out two prisoners before, is a stunt actor with enough muscle mass to wrestle a bull and come out on top. His character Xanthos cuts through prisoners as if they're blades of grass and he tends to taunt them mercilessly before he does. Of course, the fight isn't exactly fair when the poor farmer he's up against is blindfolded... The audience loves it.
Jason and Diocles are chained together by the wrist, with about six feet of chain between them, and given a sword. Then they are put up against Xanthos while Aeson and another leper enter the arena to pick up the remains of the poor farmer. Jason doesn't even see him, but Aeson barely manages not to run to Jason for a hug.
As soon as the fight starts, Jason tosses the sword at Xanthos' feet and refuses to move while Diocles fights for his life. Pasiphaê and Medea are very concerned, especially when Diocles gets knocked down. But just before Xanthos can finish him off, Jason pull Diocles to safety, wraps the chain around his hand, and gives Xanthos a bloody nose. They manage to trip him up with the chain and he goes down like a log. Now the brute is angry--which makes him dangerous, but also stupid. In his anger, he cuts the chain between Jason and Diocles with his sword, freeing them. Now Jason is free to fight--and so is Diocles. Not that Jason needs help: he is still in 'dark Jason'-mode and he overpowers Xanthos easily.
Pasiphaê already gives him the signal to finish Xanthos off when Xanthos pulls out a hidden knife and Jason only survives because Diocles warns him. After another messy fight, Xanthos is dead and Jason has a nasty chest wound for his collection. For a moment, the crowd is shocked their favourite has been defeated by the Oracle slayer, then they cheer. Pasiphaê and Medea are infinitely relieved.
Jason sinks down to the ground and Aeson and another leper carry him out of the arena. when they finally have a moment alone, Jason recognises Aeson as the man who saved his life in the silver mines. Aeson tells him to look beyond the scars, to search his own heart for the truth. then he tells Jason that he is his father. Jason doesn't believe him, and they aren't granted more time, but at least the seed has been planted.
Back in the forest, Ariadne tries to cheer Hercules up with a hand full of sees and gets chewed out for it. Deflated, she heads for the fire where Hercules find her to make an apology. He tells her he's just going stir crazy and she tells him that she thinks she's lost Jason. She doesn't think she can go on if that is the case. Hercules understands the feeling all too well. He promises her that he will do everything he can to bring Jason back alive.
When Aeson gets to bring back another corpse, he goes right over to Jason again and tries to convince him he was telling the truth. He tells him about the necklace around his neck, and that he gave it to Jason for protection. Jason says he does believe him but that he simply does not care. Aeson is dead to him. Of course, Aeson doesn't lighten up. he warns him against giving in to Pasiphaê lure. Jason calls the guards on his ass, so he has to go. Before he does, he begs Jason to remember the people who love him.
Hercules abandons the group in the night to head to Atlantis and make good on his promise.
The morning comes early for Jason, who gets another fight. Diocles helps him up, and they obviously respect each other. Diocles tries to psyche Jason up for the fight, but he is wounded and tired, and his two opponents have better armour, better weapons, and more energy. Jason loses. Then Medea breaks one of the guards' legs with magic and Jason manages to overpower them. He collapses as for dead on the floor.
Aeson tries to get Jason to wake up. He tells Jason about how, when Jason was born, he finally saw Pasiphaê for who she really was. And that beyond her beauty, beyond her power, she was dark. And he saw how alike mother and son were. Pasiphaê gave in to power and magic, and she was lost to him. He tells Jason je couldn't bare to see Jason go down the same road. Again, he reminds him of all the people who love him. Including him. And Jason lets the words in. He cries a little and Aeson gives him a potion that will slow down his heart until he doesn't appear to have one. Aeson tells him to take the potion at midnight.
Ikaros visits his father in jail. Daidalos wonders why he is not dead and he knows Ikaros did something to safe him. He tells Ikaros to leave the city now. Of course, he can't, because Ikaros has made another deal with Goran.
Jason takes the potion and Diocles watches in horror as he collapses. Aeson carries him out on a cart with other corpses and murders a guard when he gets stopped. Jason wakes up again within view of Ikaros, which does not bode well. Once out of the city, guards await them, and Jason has to fight for their lives. In the fight, Aeson gets stabbed in the gut, but Heracles finds them on time to at least take out the remaining guards and help Jason and Aeson get to safety. Hercules wonders how the guards managed to find them, but Aeson blames it on his own actions: he killed a guard.
Hercules and Jason make up, both taking blame for their own parts in the affair. Then they carry Aeson to the camp. Ariadne is happy to see him but Jason has to deal with his dying father for a whie first. Aeson says he failed Jason, that he never should have left him alone. But Jason realizes that all the good in him comes from Aeson. Aeson says how proud he is of Jason--Pasiphaê's beauty but his heart. He makes Jason promise to stick to the light, and then he dies. Jason is beyond devastated.
Meanwhile, Goran has to break the news of Jason's escape to Pasiphaê, who snidely remarks to Medea that Jason chose his father over her. Where is that bond Medea promised now? Medea tries to convince Pasiphaê things will work out, but Pasiphaê sends her away. She will burn her with Jason if she doesn't leave. Shocked, Medea flees the room and a heartbroken Pasiphaê collapses in tears. Meanwhile, Jason and the group make a memorial for Aeson and prepare for the battle to come.
Next on Atlantis: Pasiphaê hardens her heart and sends out the guards to kill Jason. Pasiphaê and Medea's bond worsens, and the true battle for Atlantis begins. Saturday on BBC One, recap on Monday.
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