"Atlantis" recap (1.13): Touched By The Gods: Part 2

It's been quite a ride this season of Atlantis, hasn't it. Going into it, I truly did not know what to expect. Is it the best show on television? No, definitely not. are there worse shows out there? Certainly! The history is a little flawed, and the writing even more so, but heck, beggars can't be choosers and in the vacuum that is ancient Greece on my TV set, Atlantis is king. So buckle up everyone, for the last episode of season one of Atlantis: Ariadne is about to be put to death, and Jason feels responsible because he loves her, but also because he's the one who broke into the palace to kill Pasiphaê as the only way to save his friends. So, basically, in the end it's all Hercules' fault, but he won't admit to that, so we're going to let Jason feel responsible in his stead.


Last episode, Pasiphaê foreshadowed that Ariadne would be put to death in 'the brazen bull', and we are now looking at it. It's huge, shaped like a standing bull with proud horns, and it's standing in the middle of a pyre. Ariadne will be locked in and the fire will be lighted. At that point, the metal will heat until the person inside roasts to death. It sounds like one of the worst ways possible to die... and it's 100 percent authentic: the brazen, or Sicilian, bull was a torture device created by Perillos of Athens. In the head was a complex mechanism that converted the screams of the dying person into the bellowing of an infuriated bull, and released incense smoke from the nostrils. Phalaris, tyrant of Akragas, Sicily, ordered the bull and made Perillos the first to test it out on. Before he could die, however, he was taken from the device and tossed off of a cliff where he died anyway. Phalaris himself was killed with the brazen bull after being overthrown.

Pythagoras is a little impressed with the device, but you know, his best friend's girl is about to be executed in it, so he restrains himself. Jason can't carry the burden of the guilt anymore and goes to confess what he did, hoping Pasiphaê will spare Ariadne's life if he does. Pythagoras rightly ays that that will never happen: with Ariadne out of the way, Pasiphaê will have the throne once Minos dies. All handing himself in will do is have him be executed alongside Ariadne. Jason says he's willing to do that. Hercules says it's not going to happen that way; they will free Ariadne.

Ariadne, all the while, is stuck in a dungeon and then what I hoped would happen, happens: Melas, the priest of Poseidon, is back and he comforts a terrified Ariadne. Ariadne is aware she is responsible for handing Pasiphaê all the ammunition she needs, and she fears for the people of Atlantis far more than she fears for herself. Melas tries to get her to pray to Poseidon, but she is afraid The Gods have abandoned her. Melas hates to hear that from a priestess of Poseidon, but eventually lets it rest. Ariadne asks Melas to take care of her father after she is gone, and he promises he will. Ariadne looks so small in her jail cell, it's breaking my heart.

In the temple of Poseidon, Pasiphaê is praying to the Gods when the Oracle comes up to her. She is pissed, and says the Gods will never forgive Pasiphaê for what she is doing: as a member of the royal house, Ariadne is like a Goddess on earth and her fate is not to be decided upon by mortals. Pasiphaê will hear none of it, but the Oracle says it's a breach of the most sacred of laws and--while we're on the subject of awful things--that the king's rapid run towards death has left some people... wondering about the nature of his condition. It seems the Oracle is well aware of Pasiphaê schemes... and she also informs Pasiphaê that 'her nemesis' draws near. Pasiphaê insists the Oracle's riddles don't care her, but she looks shell-shocked at least. He's touched by the Gods, after all, and he won't be easy to kill.  At this, Pasiphaê finally gives into her fear. she asks the Oracle who she is speaking of, but in true badass form, the Oracle will only say 'you will find out. Soon enough'. Pasiphaê is not happy.

At the oikos, swords are being sharpened when there is a knock on the door. It's the captain of the guard, Ramos, and he is willing to help. He serves the king, after all, and what the queen is doing is certainly not what the king would want.

In this hour of need, Jason goes to visit the Oracle. She is praying for Ariadne, and Jason seems relieved by that. He tells her of the rescue plan and she smiles, throwing Jason. She is proud he has gotten to the point where he doesn't ask for her advice but informs her of his decision. Jason thanks her for everything she has done, and she takes his hand, saying she is the one who is grateful. They say goodbye a bit tearily and she informs him of old silver mines where he can hide with Ariadne if he does manage to rescue her. It seems it's a place of the dead, but it should offer refuge.

It's time. The drums sound and Ariadne quivers in her cell, dressed in a white robe. She manages to pull herself together as she is escorted down the halls and onto the square in front of the palace. Jason has managed to sneak into the castle, and Hercules is wandering around with an amphorae filled with some liquid he keeps sloshing about while pretending to be drunk. Pasiphaê looks ready to do a little dance at her shot at the throne being so close by, but Ariadne gives her nothing extra to gloat about; she absolutely refuses to show weakness. You go girl!

As the bull looks in front of her, though, she does falter. Confronted with eminent and excruciating death, she tries to wrestle free but fails. Meanwhile, Jason readies a burning arrow and shoots, setting ablaze the flammable liquid Hercules has been spilling. People scream as the entire square becomes a blazing inferno. Ramos takes command over Ariadne in the chaos and pushes her in Jasn's arms, telling her to trust her friends. Ariadne is completely overcome but wraps herself up in a cloak and lets herself be dragged away while Ramos fights the guards.

Heptarian is quickly in pursuit, but the rescue party is on their way out of the city already. A tearful Ariadne hugs Jason close a hurried moment before rushing on. They are not safe yet. Everyone catches up and Ramos is hurt. Not too hurt to lead them through the sewers of Atlantis. He's hurting, though, and Ariadne wishes to stop to tend to his wounds. He refuses. By joining forces, everyone gets out of the sewers, but the guards are onto them. Ramos will hold them off once more, and he will die. Everyone is aware of that, and they thank him for his sacrifice before hurrying on. Ramos fights bravely and takes out a good few of the guards. He buys the others time to get out. He is, however, hurt badly, and Heptarian kills him.

In the morning, Ariadne changes into the traveling clothes brought to her by the three men as they turn around and promise not to peek while peeking (except for Pythagoras). Ariadne does look lovely in her tunic, pants, and cloak. While happy to be out of the city, Ariadne also feels very guilty for leaving; although she has her life, she has still left the fate of Atlantis--and her father--in the hands of Pasiphaê. Jason reminds her she once wished to have a simpler life; this could be her chance.

Herc and Pythagoras have a bonding moment over Medusa, and it only serves to make me sadder. While traveling, Jason shares the bit the Oracle told him about the mines and the dead. No one is very happy about the current course. In the mean time, Pasiphaê--wearing a breastplate!--and her men have found the campsite and some tracks leading west. She wants our heroes captured before sundown.

In the palace, our untrustworthy chambermaid gives the king his daily dose of poison while Melas looks on. Once Ione is gone, Melas goes into the room and checks the chalice. He soon discovers the poison and tells the Oracle. It seems the oracle wasn't really a fan of Minos taking the throne, but she is a lot more fearful of Pasiphaê, and so they intend to save the King. Melas questions the Oracles decision to send Jason to the silver mines, but the Oracle doesn't share his doubt. 'who better to keep him safe than his father?' she says and suddenly I get very excited.

Jason and the gang reach the mines and it doesn't really look inviting. For one, it's dark as night inside, and they keep seeing things... and hearing things. Lets not spend the rest of your lives here, guys. At that point, a bunch of men in white robes show up form every crevice. It seems they are sick; they have leprosy, and so they hide. Jason explains why they are here and who sent them, and the man who speaks for the group steps forward upon spotting his bull horns necklace. Something flickers in his eyes and he asks for Jason's name. He gives it and asks for help. the male gives it, and while I feel a daddy-vibe, he doesn't say anything.

A bit later, dinner is served and until that moment, Hercules is moaning about his current situation like it wasn't his fault. Dinner is pleasing, though, so all is good. The leader of the lepers--whose name is Tychon, and who is played by John Hannah (they will only tell you his name about ten minutes later, but I'm already tired of finding descriptions for him) is speaking quietly with Jason. He has recognised Ariadne, and Jason tells him about her current predicament, and the health of Minos. Tychon is worried. Jason asks about the man's disease and he says he's had it many years and that it brought him the best friends he has ever had. The man questions Jason on his love for Ariadne, and Jason says he loves her more than he can express.

Back in the palace, Melas interrupts Ione's next dose of force fed poison feeding, and she's not too happy about it. the Queen left instructions, after all. Melas is not impressed and Ione rushes off. Good riddance. Melas gives Minos a potion to drink, and I hope it's a miracle cure, because Minos looks about to keel over.

At the silver mines, Pasiphaê's army has caught up with our heroes. She sends them in with clear instructions: kill anyone but Ariadne; she will be executed in front of her people. Tychon tells them there is another way out, and he takes them a large portion of the way before returning to his people, who are doing a damn good job at killing soldiers and delaying them with smoke bombs. Heptarian takes a knife in the gut and he doesn't look too well.

Jason, Ariadne, Hercules, and Pythagoras reach the other side of the mountain and emerge into blinding daylight. Jason wants to go back for Tychon and his men, but Ariadne pulls him along; the lepers know the caves like the back of their hands and they will be just fine, she assures him. Then, the choice is taken from them as an archer on horseback spots them Everyone runs, but Jason and Ariadne, and Hercules and Pythagoras get separated while the soldiers search for them in the woods. Pasiphaê is still looking damn good in her breastplate. Unfortunately, she still wants her men to kill Ariadne and Jason whom she spots through the trees.

Jason tells Ariadne to run while he holds off the soldiers, and she does so reluctantly. Jason does a good job in fighting the soldiers, but Ariadne still happens upon one. she trips and lays sprawled on the ground in her cute tunic and the guard carefully comes a little to close. Before he knows what's happening, he is on his knees, clutching his stomach in pain. Ariadne took some self-defence classes, it seems. unfortunately, A fleeing Ariadne runs straight in the arms of another guard and this time she is not getting away. She screams for Jason, who gets distracted and is hit in the back of the head, causing him to pass out. He's soon at the mercy of Pasiphaê.

Before Pasiphaê can slid his throat, however, Tychon literally comes out of the woodworks and stops her. It seems it was Pasiphaê who made him the way he is, and after a while, she remembers him. she asks why he cares about Jason, and Tychon says the thing that drops my jaw: 'he is our son'. OUR son. Well, I will freely admit I did not see that one coming. Neither did Pasiphaê, by the way. She turns to Jason, stares at him, engraves his face into her memory. She thought he was dead; it seems she betrayed Tychon with Minos, and in retaliation, Tychon took Jason away, to safety, out of her reach.

She asks if Jason knows who she is, and he says Jason does not. She asks why Tychon did not tell him. Tychon's reasons are simple: he will not let Jason become as corrupted by power as his mother is, and it clearly hurts Pasiphaê. Tychon says that it is better this way, that Jason will not try to take the throne from her if he does not know. Pasiphaê makes him swear Jason will never know his true identity and Tychon agrees. Pasiphaê watches the Tychon wake Jason until the latter stirrs, then turns away with tears in her eyes, once more loosing her son. My heart breaks for her a little, no matter how evil she is.

In a two second intermezzo, we learn Heptarian is still alive, still hurting, and mighty pissed off.

Jason wakes up and the first thing he does is inquire about Ariadne. Tychon has to tell him Pasiphaê took her. Jason tries to get up but can't; he needs to heal first. He passes out while Tychon watches over him. Once he has recovered a little, Tychon tries to get Jason to give up trying to save Ariadne, but fails miserably. the talk is cut short by Heptarian, who swings a miss but still tries to kill Jason. The fight that follows is brutal and desperate, and it hurts to watch. When Jason finally manages to kill Heptarian, it doesn't feel like a victory at all; it feels like these two men who were forced into this situation have finally reached the end and there are no winners here, just losers.

The next morning, Tychon leads them out of the woods. Jason thanks him for his help, and expresses his hope that they will meet again one day. Tychon shares this hope and they hold hands for a bit. Tychon says he should be proud of the man he has become and Jason sighs.

At the palace, Pasiphaê orders the guards to prepare Ariadne for the sacrifice, but Minos will have none of that--Minos who is looking very well, I might add, and walking down the steps into the courtyard absolutely livid. He enforces his rights as King and Ariadne is released. she hugs him for dear life while Pasiphaê trembles in her breastplate. This was not part of the plan--at all.

That night, Jason and the boys rush home to prepare for a desperate gamble to free Ariadne, but Melas is waiting for him with a note from Ariadne herself. Jason can't believe his eyes, but he trusts Melas and reads the note quickly. Apparently it says to meet her in the temple, because he rushes over there. The two lovebirds stare at each other across the large hall and Jason is about to go over to her when Minos appears, flanked by two guards. He is there to express his gratitude, though, not make Jason's life any harder than it's already been these last few days. While Ariadne prays, Minos compliments Jason and wants to give him a reward, which Jason turns down. just knowing she is safe is enough for him, though.

Minos does have ulterior motives: he warns Jason to forget about any possible feeling he may have for Ariadne because she is of royal blood and he isn't (well, as far as he knows, anyway), and because of that, they will never be together. Jason is crestfallen, but not exactly impressed.

It's a busy night in the temple; Pasiphaê is there as well, visiting the Oracle. This time, she is not there to pick a fight. She quietly questions the Oracle; had she known all along who Jason was? To her? The Oracle is vague as always but does predicts that Jason will eventually destroy Pasiphaê.

Hercules is not happy Jason turned down gold for saving Ariadne, but then proceeds to do the cute bonding thing that happens when Jason, Hercules, and Pythagoras are together and no one is trying to kill them. It's a breeze of air in a very emotional episode and very welcome. Pasiphaê watches them from a hiding spot, dressed to disguise. It seems she is having a very hard time letting her boy out of her sight now she knows the son she thought she had lost is, indeed, alive and in Atlantis.

That's it! the first season of Atlantis done and recapped! Now it's just a few months to (what I predict will be) a Spring or Summer start of the second season. Will you be turning in for it? Would you like me to recap it? Let me know in the comments!