Reviewed by Allie Schembra
Set in the mythical streets and palaces of ancient Atlantis, the very mortal Jason and his friends, Hercules and Pythagoras, reunite to romp once more. The kingdom stands on the brink of collapse when Jason, Hercules and Pythagoras get tangled in a bloody and brutal political power struggle. With the future looking bleak, one question remains unanswered: will Jason fulfill his destiny…or will Atlantis be lost beneath the waves forever? Gather the family for a playful mix of legend, adventure, fun and sci-fi from the creators of Merlin, starring Jack Donnelly (Dancing on the Edge) as Jason, Mark Addy (Game of Thrones) as hefty Hercules, and Robert Emms (War Horse) as studious Pythagoras. Season two of Atlantis premiered on BBC AMERICA in 2014 as part of Supernatural Saturday
Show (4 out of 5 stars)
Atlantis got a bad rap. As a show with only two seasons under its belt before it was cancelled, I think there were so many more stories that could have been told. The mythology used in the show was entertaining and I thought the writers did a really good job telling the stories. I didn’t like how the season was split up… either make it one season or two. It makes no sense to wait months between parts of seasons. The second half of the second season picks up just after the events of the first half, and the season finale serves as the series finale. I would have liked to have more stories and to have seen where the relationship between Jason and Madea went.
I enjoyed all the actors in the show, though Sarah Parrish’s acting at times bothered me. Seeing Mark Addy as Hercules was great. He really brought a new perspective to the Demi-God and made the character more human. I loved how the characters were all Greek people and the writers even included the story of Icarys in the show. Having so much Greek influence was good and though Atlantis is a lost place, it really got me thinking about what really happened to it in Greek Mythology.
I really enjoyed the sets and the costumes – they all seemed very authentic to ancient Greece and the characters were appropriate for the times. The direction was good and the actors were really good in their roles. They all seemed believable and the stories and scripts were very well done.
“Atlantis” Season Two Part 2 consists of seven episodes, including the season finale, which served as the series finale.
- A Fate Worse Than Death – Pasiphae hears that Jason and Aridane are to be married and carries out a plan to kidnap and kill the Oracle using Medusa to turn her to stone. Jason is framed for the murder and arrested.
- The Madness of Hercules – Jason is ordered to be executed and Hercules is also arrested after trying to rescue Jason. Ariande and her advisor are also arrested in another attempt to rescue Jason. After escaping, Hercules goes to Medusa as asks her to come forward and save Jason, but she refuses. Pasiphae, having imprisoned Ariadne reclaims the throne and the Atlantis army.
- The Gorgon’s Gaze – Aridane, having been arrested and thrown in a cell is tortured by Pasiphae in order to make her formally give up her throne and accept Pasiphae as the new queen. Ariadne refuses and continues to be tortured. Medusa and Pythagoras come up with a plan to save Ariadne, but it involves stealing Pandora’s Box, restoring Medusa to her cursed self and Jason taking her head into the city. Before Jason can leave the city with Ariadne, Pasiphae confronts him and tells him the true nature of their relationship.
- The Dying of the Light – Jason, with the knowledge of who his mother really is, continues to travel and hide with his friends, but with his heart blackened, he is withdrawing from the good and from his friends. Pythagoras realizes that the key to saving Jason is his father, and goes back to the caves to bring him back. Under stack, Jason and his friends are helped by Madea, who has betrayed Pasiphae.
- Kin – Captured by Pasiphae’s men, Jason is thrown into the arena to fight for his life. His father helps him escape, but once they rejoin the group in the forest, Jason’s father reveals himself to him and Jason’s heart begins to feel the love of his father again. Unfortunately, Jason’s father dies in his arms after sacrificing himself for Jason.
- The Queen Must Die (Two parts)– In order to free Atlantis from Pasiphae’s rule, Jason breaks into the arena to fee the other prisoners, but walks into an ambush. After barely escaping, Jason and Aridane marry in the woods. Before she leaves Atlantis, Madea tells Jason how to kill Pasiphae, and once that’s done he and Ariadne return to Atlantis as King and Queen. Unfortunately, through magic, Pasiphae is resurrected and returns to the city where she once again takes control. In order to defeat her for good, Jason begins a journey across the sea to meet up with Madea, who is the only one who can help him.
Video (4 out of 5 stars)
I really enjoyed watching the wide screen presentation of “Atlantis” on Blu-ray. The picture was really clear and a good improvement from the television screen. Colors were bright and the contrast between deserts, forests, dark caves, and indoors was really good. The palette was accurate and the picture was sharp.
Audio (4 out of 5 stars)
The English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 for “Atlantis” Season Two Part Two was really good. Dialogue was clear and background was not overwhelming. I always find it funny that shows are always set in ancient times and all the characters have British accents. I enjoyed the stories told and how seamlessly they were told.
I wish there had been more special features – gag reels, deleted scenes – but I did enjoy the one they included.
- Behind the Scenes – This is a 23 minute look at the show with cast and crew interviews. It gives a good insight into the season, the characters and the actors. This is a feature I really enjoyed watching.
Summary (3 out of 5 stars)
I really liked “Atlantis.” The series was fun and imaginative and I am sorry it was cancelled. It’s one of the many shows that airs on BBC America that I can’t get enough of. If you’re looking for a fun fantasy bathed in mythology, then you should watch this series. It’s definitely worth purchasing the Blu-ray for and watching the enhanced picture.
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