KAOS is a popular new series from Netflix that draws inspiration from Greek mythology and captivates audiences around the world. Nonetheless, the series is not a faithful representation of Greek mythological events, something that might confuse those who are not familiar with the world of ancient Greek mythology.
KAOS is rather an alternative reimagination of Greek mythology that mixes ancient Greek tales with a modern storytelling approach. As the series offers a fresh perspective, it also intentionally introduces several events that diverge from traditional Greek myths.
This technique is obviously sparking interest and debate among viewers.
Zeus in KAOS: A paranoid ruler
In traditional Greek mythology, Zeus is the king of the gods. This very status is what makes him the ultimate ruler of justice and order. However, Netflix’s KAOS portrays him quite differently.
There, Zeus is a paranoid and egotistical ruler who doesn’t listen to others and commits vengeful crimes for pleasure. Played by Jeff Goldblum, Zeus lives in an extravagant mansion that is reminiscent of the one in Versace. This comes in direct contrast to the mythical Mount Olympus, which was a simple, holy, and austere place.
The portrayal is quite different from the ancient myths we know about the king of the gods, in which Zeus is both a powerful leader and a deity with human-like flaws like any other.
In an exclusive interview with Greek Reporter, Dr. Ellie Mackin Roberts, a research fellow at the University of Bristol and a historian of ancient Greece, said recently that the portrayal of Zeus and a few other characters are accurate compared to ancient Greek legends.
However, she also noted that a few characters are slightly off the mark compared to their mythic counterparts.
Hera’s transformation in KAOS
Hera is actually the goddess of marriage and family in Greek mythology. However, in the popular Netflix show KAOS, she is depicted as having disdain for humans, hating them and considering them inferior to her. In the show, Hera also rules over the tacitas. These are women without tongues who dedicate their lives to her.
This is a concept borrowed from Roman mythology and is not part of Hera’s tradition. The particular portrayal also comes in direct contradiction with Hera’s traditional role as a protector of all women and their marriage.
Nonetheless, we do indeed see Hera as a queen in the show. Her will was always important, and Zeus had to listen to her if he wished to avoid trouble at home.
Poseidon as a different figure in Netflix’ KAOS than in Greek mythology
In Greek mythology, Poseidon is another god who is powerful and particularly active. He is a deity that reigns over the seas and earthquakes. However, in Netflix’s KAOS, he is portrayed as a laid-back, lazy, and disinterested character who doesn’t really care about divine affairs.
He is actually shown as living on a luxury yacht, part of the modern narrative of the show. This depiction is obviously much more different compared to Poseidon’s traditional role as an influential god who actively engages in both divine and human issues.
As is understood from the beginning of the show, Netflix’s KAOS follows a brand new narrative whereby crucial elements of traditional Greek mythology are altered or completely absent from the plot.
A central prophecy about the downfall of Zeus, for instance, drives much of the plot, something not found part of actual Greek mythology. While prophecies were indeed common in Greek myths, this specific storyline of Netflix’s KAOS is unique to the series and not based on a real tale.
The show also incorporates modern societal elements into its narrative. Humans and gods are modern-day people with Crete (spelt Krete in the show) presented as a modern state with particularly authoritarian elements in its governance by Minos.
Hades and Persephone: A hard-working couple
Netflix’s KAOS offers a much more different, fresh, and modern take on the story of Hades and Persephone. Unlike the traditional tale of Greek mythology, wherein Hades abducts Persephone against her will to be his forever bride, KAOS depicts the couple as true equals who share a well-working machine in a loving, consensual relationship, ruling the underworld together.
The series, therefore, subverts the problematic abduction narrative of the original Greek myth. In the show, Persephone explicitly says that the abduction story was a lie invented by Hera to ruin their reputation.
Netflix’s KAOS also omits significant mythological elements that play a crucial role in Greek mythology. Hades, for example, is reimagined completely and presented as a very eloquent and diligent administrator, whose primary goal is the undisturbed functioning of the underworld. This directly contradicts the character of a menacing ruler that we are all familiar with in Greek mythology.
At the same time, Persephone enjoys significant freedom and authority in her own right in KAOS, something that was not the case in authentic Greek myths.
Greek mythology reimagined in Netflix’s KAOS
Netflix’s KAOS also uses the imagination of its creators liberally. Such alternative reinterpretations of the established version of Greek mythology offer fresh views and perspectives to stories and tales of thousands of years.
Unlike many traditional stories in Greek mythology, wherein the focus is always placed on divine actions, Netflix’s KAOS emphasizes the power that human characters have during their interactions with gods. This alternative approach shows that human agency is more important than original myths typically show.
This is why the reimagination of Greek mythology offers a modern twist that some find brilliant and others strange. While these changes might annoy purists, they do help us see traditional narratives from different perspectives.
