"Atlantis" Recap (1.06): The Song of the Sirens

Doing a weekly series sure makes you realize how fast the week goes by. With the latest recap just done, we are already back for a new one. Again, there was no 'previously on', so for those needing a reminder: Jason dove from our world/time into Atlantis, made friends with Pythagoras and Hercules, saved the city or at least those in it a couple of time, and helped out a bunch of girls they have promptly fallen for. Hercules is up to his eyeballs in love with Medusa, and Jason carried a torch for Ariadne. Also, the Oracle of Poseidon has made many predictions thus far and all were ominous. On to the fun!

In today's episode, the fun starts with a shot of a half naked Hercules being scrubbed down and oiled up by Pythagoras. Is anyone shipping these two? Because I still have minor Jason/Pythagoras feels. Anyway, there is not enough oil to fully cover Hercules' impressive body, but Hercules doesn't care: he is about to fight Lysis, who looks like he'd make an awesome WBA fighter (the actor who plays him, David Garrick, has been an amateur boxer for most of his life and was in the Special Forces) and he is not the least bit worried. Not even because the guy's nickname is 'The Destroyer'. Medusa is plenty worried for him, though, and when they try to figure out a nickname for Hercules, she volunteers 'The Hero'. Cough.

Anyway, the 'Horrid Smelling' one eventually fights The Destroyer and while he makes it through the first few rounds of wrestling quite nicely, eventually gets destroyed. Medusa is shouting wonderful encouragements along the way like 'rip his head off', but it's no good. Hercules looses and has a nasty shoulder injury to boot. The friends rush to his side and Medusa tells him it was noble to let the other guy win. Hercules' heart soars for a minute, but then The Destroyer swoops Medusa up like she weighs nothing (and as if the loser's girlfriend automatically becomes yours when you beat him, which I am assuming is not the case) and Medusa laughs while Hercules asks his buddies to take him home. Enough stabs to the ego for the day.

Once at the oikos, Jason and Pythagoras wonder if there isn't an easier way for Hercules to get Medusa's attention; ones that do not involve the risk of bodily harm. Hercules says that was not at all why he did it, but no one believes him. While Hercules rests, the boys quietly discuss the situation: they had hoped Hercules' infatuation would pass, but Hercules is like a bull; he's not giving up so easily. They both feel Medusa is out of his league, and they hate it. Hercules, unfortunately, overhears.

 

In the morning, Jason is out on the town when the Oracle's right hand man finds him. He asks Jason to come with him to visit the Oracle, and he does. There is more chicken blood in water divining and the Oracle is annoyed because the dreams and visions she has been having for the last couple of days aren't clear enough for her to tell Jason more than that a powerful woman will come into his life, and it won't be a good thing. Jason wonders if the woman is Queen Pasiphaê, but while the Oracle warns him about her as well, that is not the woman from her visions. Jason is worried.

Back at the oikos, Hercules wakes up in a suspiciously good mood and indicates to Pythagoras he overheard last night's discussion. Pythagoras tried to apologize but Hercules will have none of it. He's far too chipper to listen. Instead he heads out to the temple, making a small offering, but not before eating all of Pythagoras' breakfast except for a single black olive. Those he doesn't like apparently. Once he comes out, a vendor who seems to know Hercules pretty well warns him that with his lack of appealing offerings to women, Aphrodite may never answer his prayers. Unless, of course, he is willing to try something different... One moment here to say that ancient Hellas had arranged marriages, so that while Medusa may not have been in the cards for Hercules, a wife surely would have been.

The salesman, named Elias (Jeffery Kissoon) tells him about the witches of Colchis, who create enchantments for the right price: the person's most prized possession. And one of their numbers can currently be found in the nearby mountains, living in a cave. I am fairly certain this is the woman Jason was just warned about, but who knows.

Jason returns to the oikos to find that Pythagoras has bought and made Hercules a proper I'm-sorry-for-talking-behind-your-back-meal, but Hercules has no intention of coming home: He's out in the hills, looking for a cave. Which he finds. Along with Circe of Colchis (Lucy Cohu) who not only promises not to hurt him, but knows his name. This--rightfully--freaks Hercules out. He's sticking with his quest, though, and declares he wishes to capture the heart of the woman he loves. She says she can't help him with that but he offers her a gift: the last remaining link to his father, a tooth from Cerberus ('or so he said'). Circe accepts the offering but questions why Hercules came here alone. Circe--who lets Hercules see the disfigured right side of her face--offers Hercules a jar that holds 'the song of the Sirens' (which she conveniently has on hand next to her cooking utensils). The sound will make Medusa fall for the first person she sees. She warns him, though; the enchantment is a powerful one.

A short time-out for the mythological Circe--or in the Greek: Kirkê--who was a pharmakeia, a sorceress, on the island of Aiaia. If her name sounds familiar, it's probably because she plays an important role in the Odysseia by Hómēros, where she turned Odysseus' men into pigs and forces Odysseus to stay with her for a year before he can convince her to turn them back. She is most often regarded as the daughter of Helios by the Oceanid Perse, but may have been the daughter of Hyperion as well, or even Hekate. The Argonauts on their way home also encountered her and she prayed to Zeus in their name to get the miasma of murder off of Iásōn and Mēdeia. By Roman times, her actions became a lot more spiteful and she was often depicted as jealous and petty--a view not share by Hellenic predecessors. Just something to keep in mind.

Hercules returns to Atlantis and his home, and digs into his still available meal, still happy. Korinna (who I really like, by the way) allows Hercules to visit Medusa in the palace of king Minos. This sounds like the absolute worst of plans, by the way. Why not visit her at home? Or drag her into some dark alley on the way to it? Chances are, both locations would be a lot more private than the palace kitchens. Anyway... Medusa is making bread in a conveniently abandoned kitchen and Hercules releases the Siren song. He steps into the kitchen and into her field of vision. She doesn't fall instantly into his arms--which throws Hercules quite a bit--so he has to find a way to answer her question of why he came here. He warns her about a storm that is most likely not coming and then asks her out. She agrees and Hercules becomes a rambling idiot, which Medusa seems to find endearing. He lays her hand on Hercules' cheek for a moment, leaving a flour stain, and he rushes out of the kitchen, happy as a clam.

That night, Hercules prepares for his big date while Jason and Pythagoras fuss over him. Hercules blames them for his nerves so it's only right one of them sniffs his armpits. Pythagoras gets drafted for that one, and Jason looks on in horror. Hercules' scent must be quite nice, though, because Pythagoras rattles off a list of herbs and fruits to describe the scent. Huh, good on Hercules. Medusa shows up on the doorstep looking lovely with her hair down and a dark dress on, and Pythagoras and Jason are shocked beyond words at the current turn of events.

Out on the town, Medusa twirls the flower she has gotten from Hercules and asks after his injuries. He assures her he is fine and she is relieved to hear it. They banter back and forth for a while and then visit the (walls of the) palace courtyard, completely deserted at night. In the distance, the sea can be seen. They're bonding and it's cute in a very mind bending a la Willow sort of way. Jemima Rooper delivers some of the strongest acting to date as she relates how lonely she has been in the city and how she almost didn't stay. Her ability to convey Medusa's vulnerability as spurned on by the enchantment is wonderful to watch, and Mark Addy's performance is spot on as the guy whose dreams have just come true while trying to convince himself he did not do something awful to make it so. This is especially true after the two share a kiss in front of Medusa's home.

In the morning, Jason is rudely awoken by Medusa, who is pounding on the door. I have a feeling Helios has barely left the gates at this point. She's carrying the world's largest basket of food and soon the gang is gathered about the table where Hercules eats like a king, Medusa fawns over him in fan girl fashion and the boys are trying to decide if they are actually awake or not. It seems Medusa stole the food from the palace and also has a rash on her hands. Both are not exactly good signs. An even worse sign is when Medusa and Hercules are out on the town and Medusa collapses. The rash has spread to her shoulders and chest and Hercules takes her home so Pythagoras can have a look at her. She's still completely out--never a good sign.

Pythagoras is worried, but not as worried as Hercules whom Pythagoras sends on an errand for herbs. By the time night falls, Medusa is still sick--perhaps even sicker--and the boys are devastated. Hercules sits by her bedside throughout the night and Pythagoras shares his fears with Jason: she is getting worse and witchcraft is to blame. If this is the case, only an enchantment will be able to heal Medusa. Medusa, meanwhile, has woken up but looks horrible. She says she wouldn't change anything about the past few days--anything--and Hercules finally can't stand the lies anymore. He comes clean to his friends as Medusa rests.

The rash has spread to Medusa's face and Hercules cares for her rapidly wilting body while Jason and Pythagoras go through notes and herbs like madmen, trying to figure out a way to save Medusa. Another night passes with Hercules by Medusa's bedside and when the boys find nothing to cure Medusa, he visits Circe again in the morning. Circe toys with him for a while and then divulges her true plan: get Jason to her. Korinna comes to take care of Medusa while the boys go after Hercules.

En route to the cave, Jason and Pythagoras realize they are being followed... by a pig. Which continues to follow them, despite Pythagoras trying to get the pig to sod off. Jason muses that it almost seems like the pig is trying to tell them something...

At night, in the camp, Jason tells Pythagoras about the Oracle's warning and Pythagoras nearly orders him to go home. Jason, obviously, does not. In the mean time, the pig drinks all the wine and eats all the food. Save for one, black, olive. Realization suddenly dawns on Pythagoras and he tries to convince Jason that that pig is, in fact, Hercules. Jason doesn't buy it until the pig farts. He'd recognize that smell anywhere. Jason is a little amused at the situation, but it is worrying.

The tree of them--pig first--head to Circe's cave. Circe sees them coming, obviously, and awaits them after enchanting the water to reveal a freaking dragon! She sends a dragon after them! A flying one! I'd be into it if a flying dragon was not completely outside of Hellenic lore. Jason makes short work of it though--in a very impressive manner--and I try to scrub the affair from my brain. Pythagoras is injured, forcing Jason to go on alone--exactly what the Oracle warned him against.

 

In the dark of the cave, Circe and Jason converse. She tried to convince Jason that they are allies. She will heal both Medusa and Hercules if Jason fulfills a request. She explains she once had a home and husband, before it all got taken away and she was reduced to living in a cave. She wants Jason to kill her sister--the woman who took everything away from her. She ensures Jason that this is the only way to save Hercules and Medusa. Back in the camp, Pythagoras understands if Jason will not do it.

Circe is not surprised when Jason returns to her. Circe lays an oath on Jason in name of Hekate, ensuring that he will fulfill his end of the bargain, and she will hers. I'm not sure how, exactly, but it looks like it hurts. The kicker comes afterwards, though: Circe's sister? None other than Pasiphaê. Aren't you glad I saved that bit of family history for the big reveal?

Back home, Medusa's illness is going away and Hercules is back to his human self. Even in her weakened state, Medusa is livid at Hercules for what he has done and made her go through, and Hercules is heartbroken. He understands, though; he can hardly blame her. He's eternally hopeful for a happy ending.

Jason, trapped in his oath, visits the Oracle for guidance. She sits with him and gets him to tell the whole story. He shows her a burn on his arm, which the Oracle rightly interprets as an oath, and he tells her what he promised Circe. The Oracle is distraught, knowing full well that this can only end badly. She covers his hand with both of hers in a sign of sympathy and Jason can only look on--spooked.

 

Next week on Atlantis: Minos announces Ariadne's marriage to Heptarian, Jason and Heptarian duel, and Ariadne is stupendously worried about her hero. Saturday on BBC One, recap on Monday.