Generally Atlantis starts with a 'previously on' segment showing you what we'll be tackling today, but not so this week so you are getting the general recap: Jason came to Atlantis from our time, found Pythagoras and Hercules, managed to save himself and the city a few times over the last few weeks, and love is in the air. Hercules is head over heals for Medusa, whom they rescued from the Maenads, and Jason is acting all cute around Ariadne, daughter of King Minos and stepdaughter of Queen Pasiphaê--who is living up to her evil stepmom persona quite well, mostly by trying to hex Jason to death. So far no luck, though. Oh, and there is an Oracle who predicted Jason is in a lot of danger while simultaniously being the best thing to ever happen to Atlantis.
In the relative 'now' of Atlantis, a dark skinned man is climbing the walls of Minos' palace. He manages to get in and goes by fairly unnoticed until he reaches out to a passing Ariadne, clamps a hand over her mouth, puts her in a chokehold and tells her he is not going to hurt her. Ariadne--to say the least--is mildly sceptical. It seems the man has a message for her and releases her. Then, guards spot her and the man and Ariadne tells him to run--which he does, straight into Queen Pasiphaê serfs and rooms. Lets just say, the window sounds like the best option and he takes it. This earns him a couple of very sore legs, an arrow in the back and a whack with the blunt of a sword. I feel sorry for him.
Queen Pasiphaê is not amused. She and Heptarian go to Ariadne for more information on the now-unconcious man. Ariadne lies through her teeth and says that the man demanded her jewelery and would have hurt her if she hadn't. The queen looks uncertain but she can't do anything about it. Ariadne gets an excort to her chambers and Queen Pasiphaê hatches another evil plot to get the man (or Ariadne) to talk.
Meanwhile in an inn, Jason, Hercules, Pythagoras and Medusa are out to bet the last of their money on a beetle Hercules trained to race. The boys (all but Hercules) are sceptical, but Medusa trusts Hercules' skills in beetle training. The beetle actually manages to win and instead of flying into Hercules' arms in relief and joy, Medusa flies into those of Pythagoras. Needless to say, Hercules is not amused.
Also not amused is the intruder, who is chained up in some dungeon and who is now awake. Queen Pasiphaê is about to put the (magical) thumbscrews on him. He says he did came here to rob Ariadne but she won't believe it. She offers him jewels or pain--his choice--for the truth. The man sticks to the story. The pain begins right away at the hands of the guards. Meanwhile, Ariadne asks her loyal servant girl Korinna (Hannah Arterton) for a favor.
Hercules scoops up some dung from the street for his beetle Astrabakos, named pretentiously after a minor Spartan hero. Jason does not exactly feel like the beetle deserves such high praise, but Hercules says--rightly so--that Astrabakos is the most valuable possession they have. This depresses Jason, obviously.
Korinna finds Jason in the marketsquare and asks to speak to him. She tells him that the man she loves will meet her at a bridge outside of the city tonight; he can't come into the city because he was charged with a crime he did not commit. She asks Jason to accompany her into the mountains and he--as any hero who sees a damsel in distress would--agrees.
Ariadne, in the palace, gets painted with bull's horns on her forehead so she can make an offering to the Gods; 'for all she cares for' she tells a prying Pasiphaê and there are so many layers to those few words. Pasiphaê tries to trip Ariane up by saying she knows the true intentions of the man were not to rob Ariadne but the princess doesn't fall for it. Pasiphaê is convinced she will know soon enough.
The next day, Jason, Korinna, Hercules, Pythagoras and Astrabakos (in a pot) go out into the woods. Korinna teases Hercules about his love for Medusa, but does so kindly. Hercules is still not amused.
Back in the palace, two other someones are not amused at all either: both the intruder and Queen Pasiphaê are having a particularly crummy time. The intruder because he is being tortured, Queen Pasiphaê because she is not getting any results. Time to end the stalemate: Pasiphaê wipes the brow of the intruder, gathering blood and sweat, and mutters a spell while holding the cloth over an open flame. The intruder--whom I'm not sure they are ever going to name so I'm just going to tell you--whose name is Stolos (Daniel Adegboyega) writhes in pain. Eventually he gives in: he delivered a massage to Ariadne... from her brother. That spooks Pasiphaê enough to stop her torture. It seems the prince was supposed to be dead. He isn't however, and is waiting for Ariadne. He gives Pasiphaê the location.
Pasiphaê, now on the war path, races to the temple where the Oracle is praying over her bowl of blood; a bowl of blood the queen angrily tips over. It seems the Oracle didn't actually say the words 'he's dead' to the queen, but hinted at it enough to make the queen believe so. The Oracle warns Pasiphaê that her hunger for power will lead to bloodshed and suffering. Pasiphaê just snarls and laughs. The Oracle than says that she is not the one who will bring Pasiphaê down, and Pasiphaê replies in kind: deceive her again and the Oracle won't have a future to divine.
Heptarian gets charged with the ungrateful task of murdering Ariadne's brother Therus (Darwin Shaw) and burning his body. He, however, is hesitant: the boy is of royal blood, after all. The queen makes him by saying Ariadne will never marry him if she learns the truth about her brother. Funnily enough I also don't think she will marry him when she finds out he actually killed the brother she already thought dead. Might just be me, though.
Back in the forest, the group happens upon a group of men who were killed by robbers. Heptarian, meanwhile, has assembled a large group of soldiers to hunt down Therus, and Ariadne looks on with worry and fear for her brother. Heptarian lies to his second in command about the mission and says that there will be no prisoners. Pasiphaê materializes next to Ariadne and tells her that she has learned the truth: that the man was sent by Ariadne's brother. Ariadne, obviously, doesn't believe Therus is a traitor. Pasiphaê tries to console Ariadne by saying her brother will soon be dead. Somehow, I don't think that'll work to cheer Ariadne up.
Back in the forest, the group reaches a ruined temple. Korinna goes on ahead and promptly gets a knife to the throat by Therus. Pythagoras is worried and goes after her. Korinna is fine, though, and ready to go home. As night is falling, Pythagoras this is impossible. Awkward.
Back in Atlanta, Minos seeks out his troubled daughter. she brings up Therus and Minos recounts his pain over his son's betrayal. It seems there was a plot and those who stood with Therus confessed. Ariadne sill doesn't buy it. Minos has a bonding moment with his daughter--which is really very sweet--but Pasiphaê who overhears is not too happy.
Back at Therus' camp, it's become painfully obvious Korinna and Therus are not lovers. They sit apart, barely speaking, and the group is worried. They should be, but for a whole different reason: the soldiers have caught up with them. They don't have the element of surprise, however; Jason saw them coming and warns the others. They flee--including Hercules who went back for his beetle and almost got himself killed and Therus who had the perfect opportunity to shoot Heptarian's right hand man but didn't take it. Instead, he helps Korinna onto his horse while everyone else figures out why the soldiers are here: they are after Therus. Therus comes clean and with a heavy heart the group follows him: they are now traitors as well, after all.
Pasiphaê hears the king's son got away and is livid... until se realizes that Ariadne will take them to him. Jason, meanwhile, offers to go ad collect Ariadne--much to Hercules and Pythagoras' dismay. Jason has a plan. She will smuggle Ariadne out of the palace, and Jason will escort her further. The girl is as stealthy as an elephant, though, and Hepterian is on her like white on rice within seconds. Ariadne is excited to see her brother and shows she is perfectly capable of derailing Heptarian's plans: she manages to sneak out. Now it's up to Jason to do the rest.
Jason intimately manhandles the princess to get her to safety and sparks fly. Jason tells her to trust him next time she needs his help and she says it's hard for her to know who to trust. He takes her home and gives her clothes to borrow. She changes in a bedroom while Jason cleans up like a madman and is otherwise adorable. Unfortunately, the bowl of horse dung (without beetle) is in the bedroom ad Ariadne is not very amuse, although impressed. Ariadne looks younger in her peasant clothes, but equally beautiful, and Jason stumbles over every other word. It's positively adorable, and Ariadne thinks so too.
Minos worries about his daughter and blames himself for everything that has happened to his children. He weavers he is right for the throne, but Pasiphaê will hear nothing of it. While Minos worries about his kingdom, Hercules worries about his beetle, who won't live too long but is still the fastest beetle out there.
Jason is having trouble getting out of the city but the guard who Therus did not shoot finds them and helps them get out, saying he serves the king; emphasis on king. Ariadne understands and smiles. back in the camp, Pythagoras unfortunately drops the jar with Astrabakos and they have a scare as Pythagoras steps on something that crunches. It's only a spider, however. The beetle is fine. The two cradle Astrabakos in their hands as Therus comes back from fetching water and the scene looks so romantic, Therus decided to fully ignore it. Smart man.
Jason and Ariadne make it to the cabin where Therus doesn't run to them with joy but spikes a drink with something instead. Maybe he is a traitor after all. Ariadne is overjoyed to see her brother again and hugs him tight. He then thanks Jason who is dismissed by the man. The two siblings share a drink ad I'm sure you can guess who gets the spiked one. Ariadne questions Therus about what happened. It seems Pasiphaê made plans to kill Therus after he becae of age and so Therus was forced to flee. Pasiphaê then spun the tale of his betrayal and desire to kill his father and there was no way Therus could come back to explain himself; Pasiphaê would have had his head before he was two steps into the city. Therus warns Ariadne that as she is coming to age soon and that Pasiphaê will want her dead too. He tells her to run away with him but she refuses. That is the point the drugs kick in.
Jason finds Hercules and Pythagoras who were gathering wood and when they return, Ariadne and Therus are gone. Pythagoras identifies the poison added to Ariadne's drink as Belladonna and Hercules questions why Therus would so such a thing. Jason spots Therus and Ariadne on horseback and goes after them. The horse spooks by a bird and the two fall off. Jason catches up and sword fights Therus, saying Ariadne should have a choice in the matter and that he won't let Therus take her because she means too much to him. Ariadne wakes up just in time to stop Therus from killing Jason.
Ariadne again refuses to leave, saying it is her duty to keep Pasiphaê from ruling, and that if she has to be away from the people she cares for, she would rather be dead. Therus finally relents. Jason steps away to allow them privacy and brother and sister hug it out before Therus goes off, leaving a distraught Ariadne. Jason comes to her side and they make it back to Atlantis and the palace safely. They almost kiss and Ariadne fibs that she didn't hear Jason's declaration of affection in the forest when Jason asks if she heard.
Barely three steps into the palace, Pasiphaê stumbles upon her and confronts her about being gone. Ariadne again pulls out the white lies and says she was in the temple consulting with the Oracle. The queen asks her what the Oracle told her. Ariadne says that the Oracle told her to be careful as there are those who plot against her. Pasiphaê growls that she does not believe Ariadne went to visit the Oracle but Ariadne blows her off. I really, really, like the strength Ariadne is showing.
Minos interrupts the scene and tells her he was worried sick about her and that he loves her more than anything in this world. Pasiphaê looks like she swallowed a bug. Speaking of which, Hercules is sweet talking his beetle in the inn as they prepare for another race. He recounts their adventures the last few days and then puts him in the box. This time he looses, though, spectacularly. Pythagoras muses that perhaps this was not Astrabakos at all but an entirely different beetle. Meanwhile, Hercules takes off his shirt and hands it over to the winner. Medusa (hi Medusa! I missed you!) looks slightly shell shocked. Also, there is elastic in both the waistband of Hercules' pants and his shirts and it's distracting me to no end. Hercules renounces any clain to the beetle that just lost the race, saying he is slow and useless. Pythagoras knows exactly what to name this little fellow if that is the case: Hercules. It seems like the others agree.
Next time on Atlantis: Hercules talks to a witch about love and fights a burly man, and Jason and Pythagoras end up having to fight another monster in the woods. Saturday on BBC One, recap on Monday.
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