Kaos: Episode 2

September 4, 2024 9:18 PM - Season 1, Episode 2

Dionysus has an idea to help Orpheus reach his lost wife, Riddy / Eurydice. Zeus, annoyed by the mortals' lack of respect for him, shares his own plan with Prometheus.
posted by Pronoiac (8 comments total)

autopilot posted a full season discussion, btw, but I'd already gotten started, I tend to not binge, and others might be similar.

content warning: baby death

I note that Riddy was offered "living quarters".
posted by Pronoiac at 9:21 PM on September 4

I really love the world-building in Kaos. Just by the tech it seems to be set in their version of "The '90s" (cordless phones, film cameras), but the soundtrack hits a lot of Gen-X memories. Polyphemus as a one-eyed bar owner of "The Cave" just cracked me up. I'm really enjoying this show; I feel safe in the hands of the writer and I want to see where he takes me.
posted by Harvey Kilobit at 12:55 AM on September 5 [1 favorite]

On further thought, I can see why they're aiming for a '90s pre-smartphone tech level: so many stories in Greek mythology hinge on misinterpretation or lack of communication.
posted by Harvey Kilobit at 1:00 AM on September 5 [1 favorite]

I really like how they’re playing with the Greek legends; it’s almost as though they’re reframing them as stories told by someone with an angle. Dionysus being like “uh yeah I like your music, that’s why” becomes *in an Orpheus telling* “I was so great that my music moved everyone”. Which makes me also wonder/hope if the “it’s just because I looked back, that’s why she didn’t come with me” is another self serving telling, and if in fact Riddy is just going to refuse to go with her obsessive, selfish boyfriend/husband. (Her not having a coin seems like it’s going to work out for her in this case, but in every other case, and as far as Orpheus knew, it wouldn’t have).
posted by corb at 1:44 AM on September 5 [1 favorite]

I rarely say strictly negative things on fanfare, but this show is not my bag after going 2 episodes in.

It's pretty, and there are actors who do really great roles, but I never "got" Goldblum, even back from 'Earth Girls Are Easy.' Goldblum for me is like Fred Armisen. Not tolerable. Will Ferrell.
posted by porpoise at 9:43 PM on September 5

Also see Miracle Workers [fanfare] (re: Steve Buschemi as cap-G God).

But the show got more seasons (each a more massive pivot than the last) that were... odd but great, then faceplanted badly in the 4th.
posted by porpoise at 9:49 PM on September 5

All I have to say is Eddie Izzard!
posted by LizBoBiz at 11:35 PM on September 6 [4 favorites]

We're also watching this in fits and starts and enjoying it. I gotta say, I really like the flip of the Orpheus/Eurydice relationship. Their powerful love story is always from the perspective of his loss, but here, Orpheus means well but is so so so needy with Riddy. Like, she has to be near him at all times, he just loves her that much. He smothers her with neediness and affection! The poor girl can't even move on in death because he took her coin! Like, dude, STOP IT.
posted by Kitteh at 6:48 AM on September 25 [1 favorite]