Kaos’ biggest twist reveals the key to the gods’ immortality and powers, raising questions about Zeus’ mysterious origin story. Netflix’s show tells the story of three mortals – Riddy, Ari, and Caeneus – who are destined to bring down the gods. When it comes to theKaosmain characters, one of the funniest and most entertaining to watch is Zeus. As king of the gods, he has the emotional regulation skills of a child with all the power to take it out on others.
One of the most prominent examples of this is his reaction to losinghis watch inKaos. He takes it out on others by killing the ball boys and planning to hit the Earth with natural disasters. He has a similarly overblown reaction to Hera cheating on him, threatening her rather than confronting her in a mature way. However,his pompous attitude might be a front for his insecurity, considering he might not be as untouchable as he seems.
Zeus Was Born As A Mortal Human
The God Started Out As An Ordinary Human
In Netflix’sKaos, Zeus wasn’t born an immortal god but a human, just like everyone he rules over at the start of the series. While he was a mortal, he received theprophecy from the fates inKaosthat he would obsess over even when he’s an all-powerful god who can’t die.
Since he grew up as a mortal,his experiences as a human very well may have contributed to his panic about the prophecy coming true. However, that’s simply speculation without more information on how his life looked beforehand. It would be interesting to see pieces of his human life in flashbacks inKaosseason 2 to provide further context.
What Caused Zeus To Become Immortal In Kaos
Zeus Gained Power From Stealing Souls
Zeus’ path toward immortality in theKaosworld started with his father. He killed him and consumed his soul, which gave him superhuman abilities. Upon realizing the effect, Zeus and his siblings began absorbing more and more souls, requiring them to kill their victims first. Eventually, they all reached immortality and gained godlike powers. However, the gods grew tired of murdering people, so they created the Nothing in order to industrialize the process.
The gods' dependence on the Meander water adds an exciting vulnerability to the seemingly invincible gods.
In the Underworld’s new system, dead souls pass through the Frame, sending their bodies into the warehouse-looking area of the afterlife. Their souls are removed from the body and infused in Meander water inKaos, which the gods drink to maintain their immortality. The gods' dependence on the Meander water adds an exciting vulnerability to the seemingly invincible gods. If they stop drinking the water, their regenerative abilities, inability to die, and powers will disappear. Zeus knows this, rationing the Meander water at theend ofKaosseason 1to punish the other gods for their actions against him.
Kaos: Zeus & Hera’s Family Tree
The family tree of Zeus and Hera is expanded upon in season 1 of Kaos, and teases characters who could become important in a potential season 2.
Interestingly, Zeus’ method of becoming immortal inKaoscould also be his downfall. The Meander water stops flowing when Prometheus takes the throne, and Caeneus revives souls. The former king of the gods will need to find another way to consume souls if he hopes to stay in power, possibly reverting to murder.
How Kaos' Version Of Zeus Compares To Greek Mythology
Netflix’s Kaos Represents Zeus Accurately
TheGreek mythology inKaoscaptures the spirit of the original stories while taking some artistic liberties.When it comes to Zeus, the show’s portrayal is remarkably accurate.The character was never a mortal, but his personality aligns in both versions. The god of thunder is an awful person in the myths. He cheats on Hera constantly, impregnating mortals and gods alike on a regular basis. (Though the show paints it as consensual, he rapes people in most of the myths.) He punishes individuals who threaten him or anger him, such as Prometheus, which matches up with his mythological persona.
The Greek Myths: The Complete and Definitive Editionby Robert Graves is an excellent book for newcomers to Greek mythology.
In both versions, Zeus is egotistical, arrogant, deceptive, cruel, and prone to hissy fits. He mentions wiping out half the population inKaos, which matches up with his actions in mythology. According to the writings by Ovid and Apollodorus, he wiped out every human through a flood except the couple, Deucalion and Pyrrha. This accuracy in the god of thunder’s portrayal adds a sense of authenticity to the show.
The Secret Meaning Behind Kaos' Title Hints At A Possible Character For Season 2
Though it could be a play on the word “chaos,” the title of Netflix’s Kaos has a secret meaning that points to a potential new character for season 2.
However,Kaosremoves some of Zeus’ most horrific acts, like raping people, making Atlas hold the world, cursing Sisyphus to push a boulder up a mountain, or eating his pregnant first wife. Of all these changes, the best was the choice to present Zeus’ sexual interactions as consensual. While he’s a villain, the show needs viewers to at least tolerate him. Zeus would have been unbearable to watch inKaosif he had sexually violated others. The other omissions don’t necessarily take away the obnoxious and vengeful persona in the show.
