Previously
on Atlantis, the palladium was returned and the battle for the city of Atlantis won at the cost of Ariadne's innocence. Pasiphaê is now a hunted criminal and Ariadne was forced to once more say goodbye to Jason in order to rule Atlantis as it's supposed to be ruled by a woman who lost her father to something only the Gods and the writers know. Welcome back to Atlantis.Just so everyone is clear: Jason is at least part royalty through his mother Pasiphaê but he doesn't know this. He mustn't know this, because the Oracle has predicted that if he ever learns about this, his heart will blacken and the city of Atlantis will be doomed. As with all good secrets, though, more and more people are now aware: Pasiphaê and Jason's father Tychon, the aforementioned Oracle, and now Hercules, who realized something was up when Pasiphaê wouldn't kill let Jason be killed during the war for Atlantis. If Jason would know this, however, any point why Ariadne and he couldn't get married would be moot, so now everyone just suffers--and it's about to get a lot worse.
In the temple of Poseidon, Ariadne is finally being crowned queen for realzies. Dion announces it to the people who go wild; they really like their new Queen! Our heroes watch on; Hercules happily, Pythagoras with pride at seeing his little girl all grown up, and Jason as if he's just swallowed a bug. Ariadne looks at him, raises her chin high, and leaves him to his temper tantrum.
In her chambers, Ariadne and Dion talk about Pasiphaê; she still hasn't been caught and Ariadne is worried. Dion says it's only a matter of time. There is more bad news: not only does no one want to be allies with the city who just barely scraped through a war, but the coronation games are coming up. Ariadne wonders if now is really the time for such trivialities, but Dion reminds her that the city needs a hero to represent it, and the custom is that the title is won through the games. To not do so would worry the rabble. Ariadne agrees and Dion suggests Jason for the job. She refuses flat out, but he says that Jason is the logical choice and the people would rally behind him. Apparently she gives in, because at their oikos, Jason gears up for battle while Hercules and Pythagoras warn him to guard his frail heart. This is not a flirtation method, these are games that could very well cost him his life. Jason doesn't care, he is 'doing it for Atlantis'.
At the oikos, that little circle around the secret we just discussed up top gets a little bigger: Hercules tells Pythagoras that Pasiphaê is Jason's mother. For a moment there, I thought Hercules was conflicted because of a certain snake-haired woman in a cave somewhere but ey, absence makes the heart grow fonder and all that jazz. Pythagoras takes the news the logical way: tell the boy! But Hercules explains what I explained up top and Pythagoras agrees to keep his mouth shut.
In the woods, three friends practice Jason's battle techniques when Jason hears something off into the woods. they rush to see if their aid is needed and it looks like it is: one man is singlehandedly taking on a group of bandits. With help, the men get dispatched quickly and our hunky new addition Telemon (Clive Standen) thanks the three for their help. It seems he was on his ay to Atlantis to compete in the games. Jason, meet your competition.
Hercules seems a bit smitten with Telemon, especially when Hercules offers him a room in the oikos in exchange for expensive whine. Pythagoras doesn't trust him and I am confused why Hercules does. Maybe he's just looking for an ally for Jason during the games--Catching Fire-style. Whatever the case, the deal is done.
Fast forward to the games: loads of hunky men and a deliciously hunky lady are introduced to Ariadne. The warrior woman is Areto (Lashana Lynch). The only other two who need mentioning are Corian and Leonidas (Philip Correia), the rest are obvious canon fodder. Oh--it seems that Telemon is a prince, by the way. Even Ariadne is shocked by the revelation.
Back at the oikos, everyone broods about the fact that Telemon is a prince. Hercules feels he should have charged for the room and Pythagoras is just really confused why Telemon didn't have an entourage, nor proper bedding, nor spare clothes. He repeats he doesn't trust Telemon and in the palace, the sentiment is shared by Dion who introduces Telemon to Ariadne as if he's introducing her to the gallows. Dion ships Jason and Ariadne pretty exclusively and this little hiccup is threatening to mess up his OTP. Ariadne invites him to stay at the palace and she inquires why he's alone--but subtly so. Telemon's father doesn't agree with his decision to enter the games, but Telemon didn't just do it to become the hero of Atlantis; he wants to wed Ariadne and he is not afraid to lay it on thick. Ariadne isn't exactly happy with that but if she got married, that would at least close the door with Jason forever... and it would secure a powerful ally for Atlantis. Ariadne turns on the charm and flirts back.
It's game day! Jason beats Corian with relative ease and Dion is very happy for the male half of his OTP. Ariadne is a little worried. Not as worried as Telemon, though; Areto comes up to him with the one question everyone who has something to hide dreads: 'don't I know you from somewhere?'. Nope, he says. Never seen you, and you are black and beautiful and very muscular and I would have remembered that, I am sure. Well, he just says 'no', but the rest was obvious. Anyway, she's able to name a date, place, and time, and it was a prison. He smiles and says she was wrong but I am thinking she is very right--as does Pythagoras who overhears.
Back in the arena, Areto deliciously dispatches of Leonidas and it's glorious. Can she please win this thing and not die a horrible, horrible death? I'm even going to ignore that women were not allowed to compete in any games in ancient Hellas, just for the sake of this:
Dion is delighted, by the way. Have I mentioned yet that I really, really like Dion? Because I do. A lot.
Pyhtagoras comes to find Areto in the catacombs. She is stitching a wound she sustained in the fight and asks Pythagoras for help. He asks if she knows prince Telemon and she says that apparently she doesn't. she then proceeds to show him a mark on her wrist; a brand from the salt mines of Hydra. All prisoners got one. She says she is sure she saw him there, even if he denies it. Pythagoras has a new mission in life, but unfortunately Telemon has overheard the entire conversation. Watch your back, my friend.
Telemon fights... someone. I don't think he got a name during the name game. Telemon fights like a peacock, emphasis on the latter part of the word. He keeps showing off for the audience. He also fights rough and without mercy. It's not pleasant to watch but he gets the job done quick.
Back in the catacombs, Telemon tells Jason he's vying for Ariadne's hand and that he has hope. He thanks Jason for his life so that he may marry the queen eventually, and it's a dagger to the heart. That evening, Jason is wallowing in his sorrow. He won't eat, just stares dead ahead. Pythagoras and Hercules are worried but when Hercules says he wants to try to do something to cheer her up, Pythagoras reminds Hercules of how he was when Medusa rejected him and I nearly fall off of the couch. They do remember her! Good! Come on, guys! Get your act together and fix that mess!
Pythagoras tells Hercules about his conversation with Areto and the mark on her right wrist. Hercules tells Pythagoras that Telemon wears an archer's brace on his right wrist for no good reason at all; he is not an archer and the cuff doesn't go there anyway.
Back in the palace, Ariadne is laying it on thick: the two of them are laying leisurously near a fountain, drinking wine and complimenting each other about how wonderful they are and expressing how much Telemon wants to make her happy. It makes me want to throw up in my mouth a little.
Dion, too, when Ariadne tells him that Telemon has asked for her hand in marriage. He tells her that it would be wise from a business point of view but that, if she is in love with Telemon, she most likely would not be seeking out his counsel. She says he is a wise man, and that he is right about the business side of things. Yet, she does not want to do this. Dion swallows his OTP heart and tells her he must accept the proposal--for Atlantis.
Oh--hey, remember what I said about not killing Arato? No? Well, the writers obviously didn't either. she is found conveniently murdered in the catacombs. Convenient for Telemon, of course. Hey, people who make this show, would you be so kind as to stop killing of people of colour? And more specifically women of colour? Especially by white men? Thanks!
Areto was killed by a very thin blade, by the way, but Telemon blames her weak, female heart. Pyhtagoras is sure Telemon killed her, though. Hercules doesn't. Speaking of murder by a very thin blade: Telemon goes on and on about the upcoming marriage and Ariadne's beauty to Jason who is completely rattled. So much so that he has a lot of trouble getting through his next fight. He makes it, but barely. His skill is enough to pull him through. Telemon doesn't watch the fight, he watches Ariadne and when Ariadne nods at Jason, he knows what's up. He wins his next fight with ease and when his brace slips a moment, he hurries to correct it.
In the catacombs, Pythagoras goes in for the kill. He congratulates Telemon on a good fight, then asks if he would be so kind as to remove his brace. Telemon doesn't see the need so Pythagoras calls him out on the brand he suspects to be there. Everyone in attendance looks confused and suspicious and Telemon removes his brace; there is a brand; he has been in prison. He ran away from home at eighteen, fell in with pirates, and his father made an example of him by sending him to prison. Pythagoras says that this doesn't prove he is actually a prince, or back in his father's good graces, but Leonidas steps up and says he fought at the royal court a year ago and saw Telemon there, at his father's side. Pythagoras is shell-shocked. Telemon 'forgives' him and Hercules gets Pythagoras out there before he can end up murdered by a thin blade as well.
That evening Pythagoras still can't let it go. He and Hercules talk and Hercules admits that he doesn't trust Telemon either, but that there is nothing they can do. The story could be true, after all; unlikely but true.
At the palace, Ariadne shows Telemon her favourite view but Telemon is more interested in talking about Jason. She explains that they can never marry so Telemon should not be worried. He hopes one day, she will feel for him as she feels about Jason. She says 'perhaps' and he is not entirely happy.
Back in the arena, Jason takes out another opponent, but it takes some doing. He also gets poked in the side by a spear. Ouch. Pythagoras patches him up in the catacombs when Ariadne comes to visit him. she says he did the Gods proud and the makes it clear once more they can never be together, even though she still loves him. She tells him in no uncertain terms that she hopes he wins. Telemon looks on and is jealous as heck.
In the arena, Telemon and Leonidas fight; it's tense and there is obvious history there. Leonidas has a reputation of never loosing, even though he does now. I suspect he didn't actually loose in so much that he threw the match.
Hercules and Pythagoras warn Jason, who doesn't believe it. None of the evidence they present can convince him. He will fight Telemon, end of discussion.
Telemon requests an audience with Ariadne, who is reserved. He asks if she has an answer for him yet, concerning the marriage. She holds off--again--even when he brings up Jason and their impossible love. Ariadne promises that she will give him her answer tomorrow and dismisses him, not in the mood to hear him go on and on about the will of the Gods and some such nonsense.
The day of the big fight, Jason is still adamant and Telemon slips a long, thin blade into his greave--the kind that could easily have killed Arato. Wine is spilled to the Gods and the match begins. They dance about each other carefully, but they go full force once they connect. Jason lands the first blow, Telemon the second, Jason the third, and then Telemon throws sand into Jason's eyes and nearly stabs him in the armpit with the thin blade. Jason manages to catch his wrist before he connects and subdues him. He says it was an unworthy move of Telemon, who says that the objective was to win. He was lucky this time, but he won't always be. As Telemon looks on, Jason is crowned as hero of Atlantis and Telemons sure is jealous. You have gained an enemy today, Jason. Watch your back.
Back in the catacombs, Jason realizes he was an idiot for not believing Pythagoras. The boys aren't mad, though, just worried.
Telemon seeks out Ariadne while she is pouring libations to the Gods/Poseidon and requests his answer. She buys herself all the time she can, but then she finally accepts his proposal of marriage. Well ugh...
Next time on Atlantis: everyone hears of the coming wedding, Jason tries to warn Ariadne, and when they leave the city together on a mission, they get ambushed by soldiers, leading to cuddles, Jason getting injured and Ariadne shooting a bow. Next Saturday on BBC One, recap on Monday.
No comments:
Post a Comment