Oct 21
New Kaos TV Show Features Queer Characters on Mount Olympus
READ TIME: 3 MIN.
Ancient Greek gods are not restricted by sexuality or gender, but with that being said, on Mount Olympus, there is no openly queer god. Kaos, the new show by Netflix, has put an interesting spin on this, by embedding queerness throughout the fabric of the show to make it more suited to today's audience.
Exploring the Characters of the Hit Show
In the series, Titan Prometheus, who narrates the story, is queer. He has several scenes with Charon, and the show does a great job of showcasing their romance in a genuine and heartfelt way as well.
Netflix has also overhauled what the characters look like, including Zeus and Athena. In other forms of media, Zeus is often portrayed as being physically strong and chiseled. Luke Evans in Immortals is a prime example here, showcasing the true strength of the gods and capturing the conventional image we often expect.
If you look at the Age of the Gods game, which can be found here: https://casino.betfair.com/game/age-of-the-gods-cptn, you will also notice several ancient characters, including Hercules, Athena, Poseidon, and of course, Zeus. Zeus in this game, is portrayed as having a long, wavy grey beard, and a strong physical stature. He also wields his symbolic lightning bolt, as he is the Greek God of Thunder. The representation is very similar to statues and paintings found throughout Ancient Greek history, and it aligns with what most people would imagine him to look like based on historical literature.
With that being said, the showrunners wanted to try something a little different in Kaos, presenting Zeus not as a chiseled muscleman, but instead as a god with a hot temper and the power to do just about anything he wants, dressed in a tracksuit. You can find an image of him here: https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/kaos-plot-release-date-news. This helps to add a new dynamic, and according to fan scores for the show, it looks to have paid off.
Other Queer Characters in Kaos
With queer icons, including Suzy and Eddie Izzard in the cast, it's safe to say that the show has done a great job of making it inclusive.
With every aspect of the show linked by Titan's narration, it's constructed well. Even though a vicious bird happens to peck out his guts on the cliffside, the show strongly links to the original tales told throughout history, paying tribute to them while adding new and interesting angles. In the same episode, you also see how Prometheus isn't the nicest man himself, even to his lover in the show.
Prometheus is known for being a little fiery and a supreme trickster, according to ancient lore, which you can read more about here: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Prometheus-Greek-god. It's said that he was a master craftsman too, with his skill being associated with fire. The showrunners' incorporation of this into the storyline, particularly in his fiery personality, has worked very well for the show as a whole, and it also helps to show multiple sides to the character, something that went down well with viewers.
Kaos is available to watch on Netflix right now; however, it has since been cancelled for a second season.