Netflix’s Blood of Zeus is an animated series that brings the grandeur of ancient Greece and the mythical figures of Greco-Roman mythology to life. Mythological inaccuracies aside, the show excels in intricate storytelling, and its popularity has caused it to be renewed for a third season, which will be its final season.
While the show does a great job of depicting Olympus and its gods, it fails to fulfill the potential of Athena, the Goddess of Wisdom and War strategy. Unlike Zeus, Heron, or even Hera, she is barely present in the story. Despite being the literal goddess of war strategy, she is sidelined repeatedly, and fans can’t figure out why.
Athena’s significance in Greco-Roman mythology
In Greek Mythology, Athena is one of the most important goddesses of Olympus. Many myths and tales surround her, most of which portray her as a wise and powerful being (sorry, Medusa). She is revered for her wisdom, courage, and strategic approach to warfare. She advises Odysseus and assists him throughout his journey to his homeland, Ithaca.
Her very birth symbolizes her entire personality. She was born from the mind of Zeus, fully armored and ready for battle. This represents both her physical and mental might, making her a unique figure in the myths. Such a figure, whose very birth is intertwined with warfare, must play a crucial role in a show like Blood of Zeus, right? Wrong (read the title).
Blood of Zeus seems to forget Athena’s origins and importance, since the show barely mentions her. Her role is severely diminished, and the show places importance on characters like Zeus. Most of the show is made up of Hera’s hatred towards Zeus’s illegitimate child (lore accurate), Heron’s journey, and Seraphim’s story.
This gives Athena barely any room to shine. Yet, even when it is time for her to shine, the show simply sidelines her. Battles, which should be Athena’s spotlights, instead highlight the might and intellect of other characters. Most tactical decisions are made by Zeus using his authority, and Heron, following Zeus’s death.
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Athena is mostly relegated to background roles, and this underutilization of her character feels criminal. The show missed a huge opportunity to explore her character. They could have leveraged her expertise at various points in the first two seasons, but they failed to do so.
The third season seems to be continuing the trend of relegating Athena to the background. In the trailer for the third season, Heron gets a lot of attention along with Seraphim, while Athena gets none. We see Cronus walking around menacingly, but all Athena does…is throw a spear at a random enemy while grunting.
Why is Blood of Zeus sidelining Athena?
Blood of Zeus’s decision to sideline a character like Athena, who has a lot of potential in the current narrative, is baffling. One might argue that a god like Ares is better suited, but unlike Ares, who is most often than not a brute who relies on strength alone, Athena brings a calculated approach to the battlefield.
The trailer for Blood of Zeus’s season 3 further underscores the issue, with Heron and Seraphim taking the lead in battles while Athena throws a spear and does nothing else. If Blood of Zeus truly aims to honor Greek Mythology, should it not give Athena the honor she deserves as the Goddess of war tactics?
Blood of Zeus instead seems to be focused on a male-driven narrative, where the man is responsible for saving the day and making the necessary decisions. Zeus sidelined everyone with his authority, and Seraphim and Heron seem to be doing the same.
Perhaps her reduced screentime is a result of writers struggling to embrace the idea of a female character who outshines her male counterparts. Whatever the reason may be, it is causing the show’s ties to Greek Mythology to appear weaker with every season.
Her marginalization is a disservice to both her legacy and the show’s potential. Being the goddess of wisdom and war strategy, she deserves a central role in a series centered around conflicts of divine magnitudes. The show must try to give Athena the legacy she deserves, allowing her to shine by restoring her place as a tactical mastermind.
The final season of Blood of Zeus will be available to stream on Netflix from May 8, 2025.
