Image by way of Netflix / Charly and Vlas Parlapanides
Blood of Zeus season 2 is now on Netflix! We sat down with the creators Charley and Vlas Parlapanides to debate all issues season 2 of the present and the long run. Be pre-warned, although; this can be a beefy interview!
Blood of Zeus is an animated Netflix Authentic sequence created by Charley and Vlas Parlapanides. The story is an unique tackle beloved Greek mythology centered on the unique character of Heron, a mortal man who learns his true heritage because the son of Zeus.
Charley and Vlas beforehand wrote the live-action adaptation of Deathnote and had been the writers of the 2011 fantasy-action film Immortals, which starred Henry Cavill.
Blood of Zeus was a smash hit when it was launched to audiences worldwide, completely on Netflix, in October 2020. The present was watched by tens of millions of subscribers worldwide and swiftly earned itself renewals for a second and third season.
Under, we’ve had a pleasant and detailed dialogue with Charley and Vlas Parlapanides about Blood of Zeus, the second season, what we are able to count on from the third season, the brand-new undertaking Medusa, and extra.
Please Notice: The interview under accommodates spoilers for the second Blood of Zeus season 2. This interview has additionally been edited for brevity and readability.
Why has it taken so lengthy to launch the second season of Blood of Zeus?
Charley:Everybody was doing animation.And so, actually, we completed the script after which waited a yr to discover a studio abroad that might tackle the work.So, you already know, it was actually as a result of everybody and their mom had been doing animation, and all of the pipelines had been full. And so, you already know, that delayed us. After which, you already know, the 2 strikes that adopted, you already know, that additionally form of, you already know, dragged issues out longer than we’d have favored. So it’s simply an unlucky circumstance, you already know. And the reality is that, I don’t know if individuals understand this, Powerhouse continues to be extra like an indie rock label. They’re not like the large studios with hundreds of individuals employed at DreamWorks or Disney. And so it’s all the time about attempting to drag assets collectively to make these exhibits.
Vlas: We wish to apologize to all of the followers as a result of ready that lengthy is irritating. So, you already know, we wish to ask for forgiveness. And we additionally need them to know, God keen, to all tune in.
Charley: Do you know they ordered a season three or not?
Jacob: Yeah! I keep in mind reporting on it once they introduced the renewal for the second season.
Charley: We gained’t must undergo the entire rigmarole. Season three is not going to take that lengthy. It’ll take a few yr, it gained’t take one other three and a half years. We wish everybody to look at and inform their buddies, mother and father, cousins, and everybody else to look at. As a result of if we get a sure viewership quantity, Netflix will green-light our Medusa undertaking. It’s an epic story. For us, one of the vital iconic Greek mythological figures. So, if individuals wish to see that present and in the event that they’re going to see extra seasons of Blood of Zeus, I hope that they end up and watch in full drive.
Jacob: It’s humorous as a result of, having been on this job for so long as I’ve, Blood of Zeus has taken roughly three and a half years for the second season to return out. At the back of my thoughts, and with season three already introduced, it made sense to me that, hey, why don’t they bring about it nearer collectively in order that the wait shouldn’t be as lengthy between seasons?
Charley: Generally, individuals don’t understand when exhibits get made. They’ll often order two seasons from the outset. So once they began season one, they already made season two earlier than season one dropped. Our present was genuinely experimental, the place they did one season, they usually mentioned, let’s see if this works. The manager who purchased our present, John Drudarian, was behind Castlevania, which labored. He informed us that the one drawback was that we wished to do extra animation, however a few of these online game firms struggled with negotiations. And he’s like, I’ll spend two years simply attempting to get the rights offers closed. Do you guys have something within the public area? And that’s once we pitched Blood of Zeus. And they also tried one season, and it’s not like different exhibits the place they produce two seasons, after which straight away they order, it’s not like they renewed it, after which they ordered extra. They ordered two seasons from the get-go.
Jacob: I can’t recall which of you quoted this, however I heard you describe Greek mythology because the IP. With animation, you’ve got the difficulty that if an IP already has a longtime fan base and franchise, it’s laborious to compete with. Take Powerhouse Animation, which has labored with Mattel on the He-Man franchise for the previous few years. So, executives might imagine, “Nicely, that is already a longtime product,” and maybe, or certainly, Netflix might have prioritized that. I’m not attempting to place phrases in anybody’s mouth, however you’ve definitely acquired to face out considerably. I do know Blood of Zeus did exceptionally effectively in all places, however didn’t it do exceptionally effectively in India? This was a shock to Netflix, as they weren’t anticipating Blood of Zeus to pop off in India.
Vlas: Why don’t you inform them the statistics? Charley talked about the IP, which is essential as a result of it’s a must to minimize by means of the muddle. You’ve gotten to have the ability to draw eyeballs, and then you definitely hope to maintain these eyeballs glued to the display.
So, I’ll let him [Charley] provide the peanut butter and jelly analogy, which I all the time love, however to maintain happening with that thought, it was quantity two right here within the States, and it might have been primary, however we had the juggernaut of The Queen’s Gambit. I’m proud that within the first 30 days, we had nearly 18 million views.
Within the first 30 days, I’m proud that it was not solely one of many best-animated exhibits but in addition one of many animated exhibits that acquired probably the most views. It was among the best exhibits on Netflix for getting views. While you evaluate it towards motion pictures, the live-action area, and the exhibits within the live-action area, it does rather well. It was primary in over 40 nations, India being one. So, we had been actually comfortable that it turned out that effectively, however for us, it’s a testomony to the recognition of Greek mythology. Individuals worldwide love Greek mythology, and thank God they embrace the present.
Charley: On the time, in 2020, they [Netflix] had been simply beginning in India, and there have been just a few territories that they informed us that that they had hoped for or believed in. They walked us by means of that there have been 32 completely different buckets that they thought of for his or her content material. There’s romantic comedy, historic, and fantasy, and, you already know, every present falls into completely different buckets that assist push it towards individuals of their algorithm who get pleasure from these kinds of content material. And so, they informed us which buckets they thought we fell into and which nations that they had hoped we’d carry out effectively in. At the moment, India was not one which they thought we’d carry out effectively in, however they had been simply beginning there and hoping to realize viewership. We had been primary there, and we killed it there.
I feel it speaks to the facility of Greek mythology in our tradition. I don’t know if we now have Alexander the Nice to thank, and that they’ve some semblance of like Greek tradition from these instances, or as a result of they’re a multi-theistic, you already know, nation as effectively. However for no matter cause, the thought of Greek mythology and an animated present went collectively. It was like lightning in a bottle. It was like peanut butter and jelly coming collectively. Once we had been primary in India, our executives had been so comfortable as a result of that was not one thing that they had anticipated.
We’re simply very grateful for everybody in India who watched it as a result of that went into the calculus of them ordering extra. And perhaps this can be a little an excessive amount of inside baseball, however the numbers we did exceeded their wildest expectations.
We requested Brad Graeber, the CEO of Powerhouse and an govt producer on Blood of Zeus, “The place do we have to land relating to viewership to get renewed?” And he mentioned, “Hear, should you get 6 million viewers within the first 30 days, you’re in consideration, 8 million, they’ll order extra for positive.” And we ended up at 17.8 million. So, within the first 30 days, we greater than doubled what was like an automated inexperienced gentle.
That’s why they ordered two extra seasons. So even till Arcane, no different present carried out like that within the animated area. To start with, the one factor I’ll say is that we love Castlevania. Not solely can we love that present as a result of it’s superior, the OG Castlevania, but in addition, our present wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for the success of Castlevania. However we surpassed even these numbers. I do know there was a small discord group of Castlevania followers that had been, like, vote-bombing our present as a result of they didn’t need our scores to be increased than Castlevania. It’s like, “Guys! We love Castlevania! No powerhouse on powerhouse crime, please.”
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 18: Author and director Kevin Smith and Brad Graeber, Powerhouse Animation’s CEO delighted He-Man followers at 2019 Energy-Con together with his announcement of a brand new anime present coming to Netflix: Masters is the Universe: Revelation. Smith will function author and present runner and Smith and David will each function Government Producers. (Photograph by Wealthy Polk/Getty Pictures for Mattel)
Jacob: We’re all on the identical facet right here. The tide rises all boats.
Charley: Precisely!
Vlas: We’re all a part of the identical household! And Charley was proper. They had been actually hitting it to try to deliver the scores down as a result of they wished the Castlevania scores to be higher on IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes.
Charley: Somebody contacted me about it, and I used to be like, “What are we going to do?” However sadly, it’s what it’s, and that’s the world we stay in immediately. Nevertheless, what’s nice is that I feel we modified individuals’s notion of what can work within the animated area. As you talked about, although, Jacob, we got here out throughout this period of peak TV, and there’s a lot content material on the market. Executives get nervous and ask themselves, what is going to minimize by means of the muddle? What’s going to get eyeballs? So usually, you want pre-existing IP, or on this case, Greek mythology, which we name public IP. It’s a public-domain IP. The world is aware of it, however no person will sue you for utilizing it, you already know? And so we’ve been very lucky.
Vlas: Only one final thing. Netflix has a coverage of ready at the very least a month earlier than deciding whether or not to resume a present. With our present, we had been introduced in after ten days, they usually mentioned, not solely are we going to resume season 2, we’re going to resume seasons 2 and three. And so Brad, once more, from Powerhouse was like, in all my years of doing this, I’ve by no means seen them do this. In order that was a extremely beautiful day. It speaks to the numbers and the views that we talked about.
Charley:However now the priority is, to be trustworthy, Jacob, you already know, after a 3 and a half wait, will the viewers return? That’s the place we’re slightly nervous.You realize, we are able to’t be the Olympics. We will’t present up each 4 years and count on individuals to leap again in.
Vlas: Though the Greeks invented the Olympics!
Charley: So we’ll see. That’s the factor, to be trustworthy, we’re most anxious about seeing whether or not the viewers will come again as a result of it’s a very long time to attend.
Jacob: This isn’t to blow smoke up anybody’s bottom or something, however after watching the second season, I actually do assume the followers are gonna find it irresistible.
Vlas: Oh, thanks. Actually respect that.
Jacob: I used to be actually impressed.
So, what was it like working with Powerhouse Animation?
Vlas: It was nice. We particularly love working with Katie Silva. She did the designs for season one. She was improbable. Working along with her was an actual pleasure. And Jesse Piles…
Charley: He did all of the designs and backgrounds.
Vlas: He’s wonderful. Somebody who’s tremendous gifted and we beloved working with him.
They had been cool as a result of they form of allow us to do what we do. Charley talked about Castlevania as a result of A, we’re grateful as followers trigger we love the present. And as Charley mentioned, B, as a result of it confirmed that, it principally allowed us to deliver Blood of Zeus into fruition. It confirmed the world that, hey, animation is a factor. Individuals will watch it. And if it wasn’t for that present, we really feel that we wouldn’t have been in a position to deliver Blood of Zeus to life. So yeah. So we’re very grateful, you already know, with Powerhouse and dealing with them.
Charley: This season was slightly bit completely different than season one. Season one, Powerhouse did all of the pre-production. They did the boards. We had all of the designers engaged on our present. However for season two, they weren’t obtainable. They had been engaged on different exhibits. So, they oversaw all of what was being performed abroad. So it was a barely completely different situation, however the individuals they’ve there are so gifted. It’s like an abundance of riches that they’ve. It’s simply, all these exhibits that they produce, we’re all attempting to drag these individuals in and be like, hey, can we get Katie to work on this? Or can Jesse check out this scene? You realize, all the time attempting to wrangle them in and get them to work. And, trigger they’re simply nice. That’s why they’re in such demand.
Jacob: Between yourselves and Blood of Zeus, they’ve He-Man, Castlevania, Castlevania Nocturne, Seis Manos, which sadly didn’t get a second season, and Tomb Raider, which is coming later this yr, so busy, busy.
Charley: And the King Kong present they did.
Vlas: They’re actually simply good individuals. They work laborious, they usually’re so inventive.
Charley: Nobody cares extra or works tougher than Brad Graeber. He wears it on his sleeve. He’s in there within the trenches, the CEO. Brad’s not only a man who’s exhibiting up, sipping his latte, and cracking the whip like he’s in there doing the work, preventing for initiatives.
We love Brad. And apart from trying so much like Josh Brolin, he’s an excellent man. In case you ever see a photograph of him, he might be within the Goonies sequel if Brolin doesn’t need it. However he’s simply A plus. And we now have nothing however the utmost respect for Brad and a few of his lieutenants, together with our producer, Mike Hughes.
Vlas: You realize, he additionally takes his job very significantly, and he feels liable for the individuals who work for him. He’s all the time trying to procure work. In order that’s another excuse to look at Blood of Zeus; we wish to give them extra work.
If the final title wasn’t apparent, you’re each Greek, aren’t you?
Vlas: It’s Irish!
Jacob: Your heritage impressed you to jot down a narrative primarily based on the Greek pantheon, proper?
Vlas: Nicely, you already know what? We keep in mind being informed the Greek mythological tales once we had been youngsters. Our Yaya [Grandmother] used to inform them, and we actually keep in mind being enthralled and engaged by these tales and brought by these tales. It created a sure feeling deep inside the place you had been simply entertained. I didn’t comprehend it then, or we didn’t comprehend it then, but it surely was escapist fare in some ways. It was actually imaginative, and also you had been taken on a journey. The great thing about it’s that a variety of the characters had been flawed. So that they had been relatable in some ways, however there have been heroes, and there have been monsters, and there was good, and there was evil. So, when it got here time, Charley had the thought for the Blood of Zeus. However I feel what we additionally tried to do if in any respect attainable, was recreate the sensation that we had once we first heard these tales. We wished the viewers members to have that once they watch the present.
We wished them to be entertained. We wished them to really feel, to create an escapist fare the place you’re introduced right into a world, you’re introduced onto a journey, and also you nearly overlook in regards to the world round you for slightly bit. You’re targeted on that story, and there’s good, and there’s evil. There are themes in there that we love, easy methods to cope with anger, redemption, betrayal, forgiveness, which is one thing that Charley wrote, and it’s certainly one of my favorites items on the very finish of season two the place Gaia needs to introduce the gods to this idea of forgiveness. That’s one thing I feel the world can use extra of proper now. In order that’s what we got down to do: inform a compelling, partaking story and attempt to evoke the feelings that had been evoked in us once we had been youngsters and once we first heard these mythological tales from our grandmother and mom.
Charley: And, you already know, we heard these tales rising up. We learn the Odyssey and the Iliad, and I’ve all the time thought they had been wonderful. Then, we went to Greece and frolicked there. We tried to get again to Greece as typically as we may. I even keep in mind being with my spouse in 2005; we’re each married to Greek American women who had been, you already know, of Greek descent however raised right here in America like us. And we had been in my spouse’s father’s village, and there on the monastery, there was an area protruding of the wall. It was for Dionysus as a result of this was a temple to Dionysus, and now it was an Orthodox monastery. However to know that individuals who used to return right here had been a part of the cult of Dionysus who would carry out rituals, and also you see these historic locations and these temples that also stand, that these individuals lived and breathed it.
How cool would it not be to inform tales the place the Gods are amongst the individuals? We’ve all the time beloved Norse mythology. We’ve additionally learn Catholic mythology, however Greek mythology tales are all the time tragic. Every part in Greek literature should be a comedy or tragedy, and the Greeks like to lean into tragedy. There’s one thing about that that simply actually impressed us. And to be trustworthy, I all the time beloved the story of Hercules. So, if you already know the story of Hercules, a variety of what we do in Blood of Zeus is a deconstruction of that. With our tradition, Greeks, we overdo it. Like My Huge Fats Greek Wedding ceremony, we take credit score for every part. However we’re very pleased with our tradition, and we’ve all the time been steeped in it.
It was enjoyable to play within the sandbox. Whether or not we had been Greek or not, I nonetheless love the concept these gods had been the primary superheroes, how they interacted with the world, and the way heroes emerged and fell. That was all the time fascinating.
Vlas: I do assume, although, that being Greek American, it does lend authenticity to the present simply because we all know these tales, we’ve heard these tales, and we’ve learn something and every part on Greek mythology. So I feel it helps result in that genuine form of nature to the present, for lack of a greater phrase. We took liberties, in fact, inventive liberties, and that’s why we opened up season one the way in which we did. Hey, this can be a story you’ve by no means heard about, which supplies us creative liberty to take the story the place we wish it to go. And the enjoyable of the present, or what we realized, was that we listened to our followers and critics, too. We do learn stuff, so it does get by means of. One of many issues that individuals loved was that individuals who knew Greek mythology acknowledged the little suggestions of the hat that we’d have within the present, the place, oh yeah, that’s this story or that story.
Then there are different issues that we performed with the place we mentioned, effectively, that is identified within the pantheon, that is identified in mythology, however how about we are saying it was created and believed due to this cause, a special cause? Take a look at the normal story by means of a special lens, which is what we did with the Persephone in Haiti story as a result of there are numerous accounts of that story should you’re aware of the mythological story. Nevertheless, we took a barely completely different method to their story and relationships. So it’s enjoyable for those who are aware of Greek mythology, and it’s additionally enjoyable for individuals that aren’t aware of Greek mythology. They will simply benefit from the story.
Charley: I’d add one factor, although, and I feel that is vital for individuals to grasp the viewers. There are particular mythological tales that I feel you can adapt one-to-one, and that will nonetheless work. However it’s a must to perceive as a result of typically persons are like, effectively, “They modified this” or “They modified that.” A part of it’s that we’re attempting to pitch and win over executives, they usually hear pitches on a regular basis. And should you inform them simply the story that they learn again in highschool or center faculty, effectively, what’s new about that? Why would individuals watch? So a part of the hook that we had is that, oh, this was an oral custom. Some tales had been misplaced. Right here’s this new story. That helps. You see individuals sit up. Individuals don’t perceive that it’s a must to win them over, the executives. They must agree to purchase it and produce it. So, typically, it’s a must to put a spin on it. Do I feel that’s obligatory? No, I feel there are various of those tales you can remake now with trendy expertise, and they’d be wonderful. You can give them the Lord of the Rings therapy, and they’d work superbly. However typically, you will need to change issues to get previous the gatekeepers, to make it really feel recent and new. That’s what we’re up towards as writers. You must pitch individuals and pitch your boss. Oh, that is the angle for the story. That’s what we now have to do, too, as writers.
Vlas: He’s completely 100% appropriate. So, even for the Medusa present that we now have, it’s our model of Depraved.
Charley: She’s not a villain! She makes use of her energy to get revenge and get justice. She’s in a position to rework, and it’s extra just like the Hulk. She will turn out to be the Medusa Gorgon when she wants that energy for revenge, not as a result of she’s been cursed however as a result of, should you’re aware of that story, Athena punishes her as a result of the temple acquired desecrated and she or he acquired attacked. That’s not cool. Actually, Athena ought to be on her facet. So, as an alternative, she [Athena] offers her [Medusa] this means as a weapon and never as a punishment.
Might we inform the unique story of Medusa? Yeah, in fact. However nobody needs to purchase that, and nobody is keen to pay for that! So, you will need to put spins on issues to interact individuals.
Image: Caravaggio’s Medusa
Vlas: I introduced it up. It’s due to what Charley mentioned: it’s a must to create one thing new to excite individuals. That very a lot utilized to Medusa and what we’ve utilized to Blood of Zeus.
Jacob:God of Battle is a franchise marinated in Greek mythology. Would that story have labored if it had adopted Ares as an alternative of Kratos?
Charley: Yeah, precisely.
Jacob: Much more just lately, there’s Dragon’s Dogma 2, which I’ve not performed but, however from what I’ve seen, the world is impressed by tons of Greek Mythology.
Charley: I beloved Hades. I really like the gameplay, and I really like the story components. And I don’t know should you’ve performed that, however the Ghost of Sparta story and the primary three God of Wars had been like a dream come true taking part in these video games. However we additionally assume there’s been slightly little bit of a Greek mythology renaissance, and a part of it, equivalent to Percy Jackson, for instance, we get informed on social media, “Oh, I grew up watching Percy Jackson, and now I’m in my twenties.” That is good; that is scratching the Greek mythology itch I nonetheless have, however now they’re slightly bit older.
So I feel Percy Jackson and God of Battle set the desk for us, which introduced all these things again to the forefront after slightly hiatus.After Conflict of the Titans, there wasn’t a Greek mythology film for a while- Oh! No, there was additionally Hercules and Xena. These had been Greek mythology, too, but it surely actually appears like a Renaissance now.
Image: Kratos in God of Battle 3 remastered – Sony Pc Leisure
Vlas: You’ve gotten God of Battle being made right into a live-action present at Amazon, they usually’re additionally going to do an animated present. You’ve acquired Percy Jackson, us with Blood of Zeus, after which the entire video video games you talked about.
Charley: Hades 2 goes to return out! My daughter and I performed the heck out of Hades. Oh! And there was an excellent recreation, Immortals Fenyx Rising. It’s a lesser-known title, however my daughter and I accomplished that. It was cool that they did a Blood of Zeus downloadable content material pack. That was one of many highlights of our profession for me. I couldn’t consider it.
Vlas: Jacob, how do you do it? As a result of now you’re a gamer, and also you write and should watch these motion pictures. Do you’ve got sufficient time in the course of the day to do every part you should do?
Jacob: It’s a kind of issues I understand as I grow old and the way surprisingly good I will be at multitasking. There are moments when I’ve to cease what I’m doing and give attention to the second, however different instances, my pal jokes about this and calls me lore-o-divergent. In relation to fictional franchises, even when I’ve by no means learn books or comics, performed video video games, or watched sequence or motion pictures, I take in that type of data like a sponge. I find it irresistible.
Charley: Yeah, it’s fascinating, Jacob, as a result of these are all poems. Perhaps it’s in your genetic code that a few thousand years in the past, you’d be the one that will recite the complete lengthy poem and take in all of it sitting across the campfire as a result of there was no script, they usually weren’t writing it down.
Jacob: I really like fictional stories- however it’s fascinating whenever you consider Europe and the affect of the Romans, because the Roman Pantheon is mirrored to the Greek Pantheon, however the names of the Greek gods stay with everybody.
Charley: Yeah! That’s true as a result of no person says Mars; they are saying Aries.
Jacob: Nobody says Jupiter; they are saying Zeus.
Charley: You realize, I by no means actually considered it like that. We’re Greek, so in fact, that’s fascinating.
Vlas: It goes again to the story itself and the characters themselves. And even should you take a look at Zeus, he’s flawed. I imply, on the one hand, he’s very courageous, and he leads the gods into battle, and he’s in a position to win, he’s in a position to take down opponents that you simply really feel are not possible to beat like Cronos, or whoever it might be.
Charley: When Typhon attacked everyone else, they mentioned all the opposite gods reworked into animals, they usually fled to Egypt. Solely Zeus stood and fought, after which, as a result of he fought for 3 days, everybody got here again.
Vlas: And but he cheats on his spouse, left and proper, he’s like Tony Soprano. So I suppose that simply makes him a extra fascinating character than, say, Jupiter. Straight away, there’s one thing relatable about him.
So the character of Heron relies on Hercules?
Charley: Nicely, the inspiration was the story of Hercules. He [Hercules] was born to a royal household. He and his brother had been sons of the King, and we all the time thought that it was fascinating that Hera was attempting to kill him. She despatched snakes to kill him, however what we thought was fascinating was that Epicles and Hercules find yourself turning into heroes collectively. They be part of Jason on the Argo, turn out to be Argonauts, and what we thought was, oh, the Hercules story is all the time form of cool, however is there a approach of as an alternative of them being allies, the 2 brothers, that will we make them adversaries as an alternative.
In order that’s the place the thought got here from for Heron and Seraphim to be adversaries. Then, there’s additionally slightly of Oedipus Rex,, the place as an alternative of sleeping together with his mom, Seraphim kills his mom as an alternative of his father.
What we additionally like in regards to the Hercules story is that there was a prophecy that one demigod would save each the heavens and earth, which is then filtered into the Blood of Zeus. No one would care should you had been to pitch Hercules; they might roll their eyes. There’s already a lot of the Hercules story, particularly younger Hercules. After he kills his trainer, and he’s attempting to regain his honor, that will be an incredible present, however you’ll be able to’t pitch the simple model that individuals would simply roll their eyes at what they really feel has already been performed to dying or perhaps they assume that nobody will ever do it higher than Ryan Gosling, who performed Younger Hercules. However the bones of that story play an integral half in Blood of Zeus.
Image: Heron in Blood of Zeus – Netflix
Vlas: To piggyback on that, it was additionally very private to us. Our mom was born and raised in Greece; our first language is Greek, so despite the fact that we lived in New Jersey, we seemed the way in which we seemed, and we nonetheless typically felt like we had been outsiders slightly bit. I’d deliver meals from dwelling, like Spanikopita, that will scent, and folks would take a look at us like, “What the hell is that?”
Charley: Yeah, it’s greasy, and the brown paper bag is all oily-
Vlas: Not peanut butter and jelly!
Charley: And our mother didn’t know any higher. She grew up in Greece, she went to varsity there, she was a teacher-
Vlas: She had an accent when she got here right here. Our grandmother was persecuted only for being Greek-
Charley: The burning of Smyrna.
Vlas: She escaped the burning of Smyrna when the Turks burned the entire metropolis.
Charley: It was the one hundredth anniversary two years in the past, however she informed us these tales, and I keep in mind you requested Sofia, bro, and mentioned how they marched the Armenians by means of, and she or he mentioned she felt so dangerous for them as a result of there have been these Armenians and she or he supplied to provide them meals and water after which the man informed them like no I’d slightly simply die. I wish to die. I used to be all the time amazed, like why didn’t they go away, since you see what’s doing the Armenians.
Image: The burning of Smyrna in September 1922
Vlas: Yeah, our Grandmother needed to cover within the basement in order that she wouldn’t get raped. She noticed a few of her neighbors and shut friends- a few of them had been simply killed and murdered. Her father led the resistance and mentioned, “Hear, we’re not going to make it out of right here, however we’re going to purchase time in order that the ladies and kids can go away,” and that’s what they did. Certain sufficient, they made an instance out of him, and on our mom’s side-
Charley: They hung him. Our grandmother, afterward, discovered from another person afterward Kyos, the island the place the refugees fled, that they hung him from the tree by their home. That was meant to be an indication, a message of “That is what occurs.” However, he mentioned that that they had to purchase time to get the ladies and kids to the harbor and on the boats.
Vlas: Our different great-grandfather was additionally killed by the Turks as a result of he was an informed Greek. He’d gone to varsity, which was uncommon again then, so that they tortured him after which killed him.–It isn’t variety, however the level is that we now have an excessive amount of empathy for any group that’s made to really feel persecuted by some means. We gravitate in direction of outsiders, and Heron is the quintessential outsider.
He’s a bastard. He’s seemed down upon and made to really feel much less. Now, we didn’t have that have, however as a author, you’re taking the kernel of an thought, broaden upon it, and dramatize it. It began with that, relating to his journey and the themes, we wished to discover anger. So Heron has a variety of anger, and rightfully so. His journey is one the place he lastly lets go of his anger. That’s what he has to study to do, and he lastly can do this. In doing that, he’s in a position to faucet into his divine energy.
Seraphim additionally has anger points, and he isn’t to let go of his anger, and ultimately, that brings about his downfall. So we thought that will be an thrilling option to discover anger by means of these two brothers, and Charley talked about we wished them to begin as adversaries, however all through their journey, the private arc between two brothers, and I hope you get a way of it in season two, we’re going to bridge the divide and hopefully get to a spot that’s very cool in season three, but it surely’s all by design.
Charley: The very last thing I’d say is that we group round tales of warfare, mayhem, homicide, and dying, and so I feel that’s why these are all the time in our tales as a result of despite the fact that we grew up in a really suburban working-class city, we had been all the time surrounded by these tales from the burning of Smyrna, World Battle 2, after which the civil warfare in Greece. Our mum informed me the story of when the king needed to flee due to the communist assault, and she or he cried in elementary faculty. Man, to assume our mom had a king blows my thoughts, and effectively, truly, you’re from the UK, so that you guys are used to that.
Vlas: But it surely’s true; we’re fascinated by how rural individuals will be to one another and the way loving, courageous, and heroic individuals will be in that dichotomy. You’ve gotten the 2 extremes that we discover fascinating.
Charley: It all the time repeats itself all through human historical past. Regardless of how superior we turn out to be. This stuff preserve taking place again and again.
Vlas: That’s why we love ending with forgiveness. In case you can’t forgive, then you’ll be able to’t transfer on. Generally, it’s a must to forgive and put the previous behind you. We don’t nonetheless harbor animosity in direction of the individuals who did what they did to our grandmother. We now have to maneuver on, we now have to heal, we now have to develop, we now have to maneuver ahead, and that’s essential.
Jacob: Nicely, that’s fascinating as a result of whenever you take a look at how the gods act all through Blood of Zeus, it’s extremely human of them. Particularly within the Hades and Persephone storyline and full disclosure, Hades was my favourite character in season 2.
Vlas: You’re the third particular person we’ve spoken to about his, they usually love Hades too, in order that’s nice.
Jacob: All of the characters had been nice, however there was one thing in regards to the Hades storyline. It is a man in ache, and he couldn’t let go of that ache ultimately, which can have led to his downfall.
Vlas:That’s precisely it. One of many themes we wished to discover was how everybody needs to guard their household. I’ve a daughter, a son, and a spouse, and I’d do something to guard them and forestall them from being damage and enduring ache yr in and yr out. The query then turns into, how far would you go, and how far is just too far? Hades encapsulated that together with his relationship together with his household and Persephone. So, thanks for sharing that.
Image: Persephone (left) and Hades (proper) – Netflix
Charley: And you already know what, Jacob, typically you learn, you do analysis, you take in all of it, and then you definitely form of simply let it percolate like we had been studying, and thru all the traditional texts, they all the time say that he was very rich and that he had all these treasures within the underworld and that he had all these realms that he was very lonely and a part of it’s we requested effectively, why is he lonely? We expect in case you are compelled to be separated from your beloved for half the yr for eternity, each time, yearly over and again and again, he’s described as having youngsters. We all know from ourselves that typically our wives must do one thing, and the youngsters cry slightly and are upset that they don’t need their mother to go away. So, think about being this king however shedding your spouse, seeing your youngsters upset, and feeling like you’ll be able to’t do something about it, after which doing that for 1000’s of years. What does that do to a personality? In order that humanized him, and we mentioned, oh, that is the place the loneliness and unhappiness come, not to mention that he’s additionally a warden of a jail. However, we mentioned, oh, that’s fascinating, and that may drive his actions as a result of Vlas all the time asks what they need. What does the character need? What do they want? Hades wants his spouse.
Zeus and Hera had been probably the most poisonous relationship you can discover, particularly in season one. We wished Hades and Persephone to have the very best form of relationship. They really love one another, work collectively, and help one another, and he’s so deeply head over heels in love along with her. She’s consistently being pulled away from him, however there’s going to be a degree the place he’s had sufficient and going to do one thing in regards to the scenario. That’s what’s driving him all by means of season two.
Vlas: Only one final thing, the gods are anthropomorphic, and they also have human traits. They’re not just like the all-knowing, you already know, Judeo-Christian god, And so I feel Hades is the proper instance once more. He’s simply relatable. Is he good? No. However we perceive what he’s doing, why he’s doing it, and we’re rooting for him, and perhaps he takes issues too far.
Charley: And Jacob, I’m glad you didn’t really feel like he was a villain as a result of the fixed chorus we hear on social media is “don’t make him a villain,” and for us, he isn’t a villain. We perceive why he’s doing what he’s doing, and we hope persons are rooting for him. We’re rooting for him, however that was certainly one of our issues.
Jacob: By the tip of the second season, it felt like there weren’t any typical villains within the present, however that didn’t cease anybody from taking villainous actions. For Instance, Seraphim is slowly coming to phrases together with his previous towards the tip, which is sweet to see, and the animosity between him and Heron is changed by a slow-building sibling bond that’s sadly ripped aside earlier than they get an opportunity to develop. Who is aware of, perhaps we’ll see that in season three? Though Heron is deceased at this level, that doesn’t imply he can’t be judged by the three kings within the underworld.
I’ve already written about what we are able to see in my season three article, and a kind of issues is that Zeus’s dying isn’t precisely everlasting, particularly when you’ve got Seraphim, who walked out of hell. So, with Zeus chained up in Tartarus, there’s an opportunity he may come again.
Image: Zeus going through judgment within the Underworld in Blood of Zeus S2 – Netflix
Vlas: Nicely mentioned.
Charley: You’ve gotten superb instincts.
Jacob: I’ve simply performed a variety of video video games. However when dying isn’t all the time everlasting, there’s all the time an opportunity they will return, they usually’re referred to as immortals for a cause.
Charley: Yeah, a few tales touched on this concept.
Vlas: We don’t wish to spoil something for season three. However what we are going to say, although, along with every part you’re saying, there additionally needs to be stakes, which we introduce in season 3. You’ll be able to’t preserve coming again, and that’s launched in season three.
Jacob: I used to be questioning as a result of if there isn’t any consequence to somebody being pulled out of Tartarus, what’s Tartarus’s level?
Charley: One of many judges has a line in season two the place he says, “We must always solid you into the abyss,” which we get slightly extra into in season three. And that’s full and utter destruction.
Vlas: Recreation over!
Charley: Precisely, recreation over!
Image: Tartarus in Blood of Zeus
Who’s your favourite god from Blood of Zeus?
Charley: That’s a great query.
Jacob: We will additionally go exterior Blood of Zeus for the unique mythology.
Vlas: It’s actually laborious as a result of there are issues that I like about all of the characters. Zeus involves thoughts as a result of he’s courageous, and as Charley talked about, when the gods are in peril and everybody else is afraid, he’s the one which rises to the problem. He saved his brothers and sisters and but seemingly all the time cheats on his spouse. So there are elements of him that I like, however for me, it’s an amalgamation of taking completely different elements of all of the gods.
There’s one thing I really like about Hermes that I feel is cool, and Athena could be very smart, so I don’t assume I’ve a favourite per se. What about you bro?
Charley: For me, it’s all the time the trio, the three brothers Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades. I do know many gods within the Pantheon, however these are the unique Mount Rushmore. As a child, to assume {that a} god may sling lightning was the good factor on the planet, however that was after I had a primary understanding of Greek mythology. I do know Zeus does many horrible issues, however he was the king of the gods. He was on the prime of Olympus, and when the thunder echoed, that was him. He may throw lightning, and I assumed that was wonderful.
Then I keep in mind Dad telling us about Aquaman and discovering out that he was primarily based on Poseidon, a god who dominated the ocean. Then you’ve got Hades, who is sort of this Batman determine within the shadows and all of that. So, these three resonated with me as a younger child earlier than I even learn the tales’ breadth. They all the time have a particular place in my coronary heart. There are such a lot of cool gods and goddesses. However these three are on the forefront for me.
Image: Zeus (left) Poseidon (middle) and Hades (proper)
Vlas: That’s a great reply. I’d say the identical. It’s a tie between the three brothers.
Charley: The story of Artemis is a narrative you can make right into a film simply the way in which it’s written. She is an incredible character, however I didn’t uncover this till later, in order a younger child, these three had been actually the spark.
Now, you see younger youngsters with Marvel shirts, like Captain America, Iron Man, and Spider-Man. These three had been vital to me rising up. I didn’t have the T-shirts or the cool merch, however they captured my creativeness.
Vlas: Yeah, and people three in Blood of Zeus, in the actual world, Hades wouldn’t be for me in that three, and let me be clear, it’s due to how he’s been depicted in popular culture. In mythology, he’s not the satan, so in Blood of Zeus, it’s a tie between the brothers. Exterior of that, it’s between Zeus, Poseidon, and Hermes for me.
Image: Poseidon as seen in numerous franchises: Percy Jackson (left), Blood of Zeus (middle) and Conflict of the Titans (proper)
Jacob: For me, I really like the design of Poseidon, however I must say Hades is my favourite. I’ve all the time been drawn to these extra difficult characters. After which, exterior of Blood of Zeus, it must be Apollo.
Image: Apollo in Blood of Zeus – Netflix
Charley: That’s an excellent selection; individuals love Apollo within the present, too.
Vlas: We love Apollo!
Charley: And Adam’s such a pleasant man. The man who performs him is tremendous gifted and such a great man.
Jacob: I used to be trying by means of the solid record earlier than, and it’s fairly a listing of gifted actors.
Vlas: They had been nice. We had been so blessed to have all of them. All of them did an excellent job. A part of what we did, and that is by design, was deal with this—and I do know this will sound foolish—like a film.
We come from the characteristic world, And by that, I imply we wished it to have a cinematic really feel, so from the directing, from the music right down to the performances that the actors gave, it was all the time by means of the lens of let’s attempt to make this as cinematic as we are able to And for the actors particularly we wished to result in emotional reality.
We actually wished to seize that at any time when we may, they usually embraced that. Plenty of them had theater expertise, They usually introduced that to the desk, and I feel it actually made a distinction. The performances are simply improbable. We’re very pleased with these performances.
Jacob: One of many different issues I used to be additionally impressed with was the rating. It had this sense of grandeur behind it that amplified the story.
Vlas: We now have a really, very gifted British composer. The music and rating had been a fan favourite in season 1. It’s nice in season 2, and Netflix was so pleased with it. They launched an album, they’ve a vinyl album of the rating, they usually’re going to launch an album for season two.
Charley: Our composer is simply an incredible tremendous gifted human being, he’s simply so nice. He’s such a great man. He’s so gifted. It’s all the time a few of our favourite days once we do the recognizing and scoring classes with him as a result of Paul all the time surpasses no matter we had hoped for. We expect he did an unbelievable job and retains knocking it out of the park.
You realize Netflix was actually pleased with the music that he did, so that they made the vinyl. And I do know his dad acquired to listen to it, who was sick earlier than he handed away, so I do know that that was a form of second for Paul for his father to see the vinyl, take heed to it, and see the present. He’s a first-rate composer and an excellent higher human being. Paul is such a tough employee, too, as a result of what he does for the period of time he’s given is wonderful. He creates all of that on his Rig.
Vlas: He would kill it if he had a possibility to work with a symphony. It’s not within the price range, however he’s so inventive and gifted and fabulous at understanding precisely what we wish from second to second.
Jacob: I’ve all the time been an enormous fan of music in motion pictures and TV exhibits, and whereas it’s not a scorching take, I’ve all the time thought there’s one thing about music that may amplify a narrative to the following degree.
Vlas: They are saying what you hear is extra vital than even what you see, so the music simply enhances that and might elevate the fabric. That’s what we really feel Paul did with season one and season two.
Image: Paul Edward-Francis
What can we count on from the third season should you’re allowed to disclose something?
Vlas: It’s a freight prepare. It’s nearly like Recreation of Thrones, the place something and every part can occur. You’ll say, “Oh my god, I can’t consider they simply took it there!” Then we ratchet up one other entire degree, and we proceed the journey between the 2 brothers and form of attempt to shut the divide between the 2. We will’t wait for everybody to see the place it finally ends up. It’s very cool and simply an epic season. It’ll be sitting on the sting of your seat kind of viewing expertise, and what’s cool is that we’ve pulled no punches with Typhon. He’s gotten free on the finish of the second season, and he goes on a rampage when he companions up; I feel the viewers will get pleasure from it. Perhaps we are able to share with bro? Like, not the actor?
Charley: However perhaps the character? Nicely, we see Kronos returns, and he’s taking no prisoners. He’s throwing individuals into the abyss as a result of he was informed he could be overthrown and overthrown, however now, whoever poses a risk to him will probably be throwing them into the abyss, they usually’re gone. They’re performed. They now not exist.
Image: Kronos in Blood of Zeus – Netflix
Vlas: What’s cool is that we’ll see new alliances. These pitted towards one another in season one might crew up in season three. However you already know, I really like that you simply mentioned for season two, there wasn’t a foul man per se; they’re simply characters who’ve robust needs that battle with one another.
Jacob: I feel that’s one of many issues that impressed me in regards to the second season. Whereas I’m a fan of motion as a lot as the following particular person, I used to be trying ahead to the interactions between characters greater than something.
Vlas: What was your favourite episode?–
Charley: The factor is, although, and I’ll say in a short time, that the aim was all the time, if we get to do 5 seasons, there was by no means an apocalypse or an end-of-day story in Greek Mythology. It didn’t actually exist, there’s no Ragnarok, no finish of days, and I additionally assume that again then, Christianity so rapidly overtook the faith that it was by no means accomplished. So the unique pitch was that we finally get to a know Ragnarok end-time story by the tip of season 5, after which it’s only a query of whether or not we’ll be afforded the chance to get there. We’ll see, but it surely’s the thought of, like, what occurs, you already know, to the gods and the way their world got here to an finish—sorry bro.
Vlas: No, that’s nice! I’m glad you talked about that.
Charley: I may even say some wonderful episodes are simply nice journey motion episodes in season three. There are two episodes that I really like. I preserve re-watching that I feel individuals will love. So, there’ll be a variety of motion and destruction and chaos and story and character growth. However season three will probably be a freight prepare.
Vlas: So, what was your favourite episode?
Jacob: I’d say it’s between Zeus’ trial and the episode the place Hades tries to persuade Seraphim to affix him.
Vlas: Oh, that’s cool! The place Seraphim and the priestess–yeah.
Charley: I really like these episodes; nice decisions!
Are you trying ahead to watching Blood of Zeus season 2 on Netflix?
