Blood of Zeus is a rare thing: a four-hour Greek mythology miniseries that treats its gods as gods, not as thinly veiled Marvel heroes. The animated Netflix original follows the demigod Hercules through three major adventures, each one packed with the kind of mythic scale that live-action blockbusters usually can’t afford. It’s a dense, visually stunning, and surprisingly faithful adaptation of ancient legends, and it earns its place among the best animated shows of 2020.
The series is based on the graphic novel Hercules: The Thracian Bull, written by Steve Moore and drawn by Alan Davis. That pedigree shows. The animation is rendered in a painterly style that recalls Renaissance frescoes, with a color palette that shifts from golden sunlight to deep blues and reds. The result is a visual feast that feels both timeless and modern.
Trailer, via Netflix.
Hercules and His Family
The story opens with Hercules as a young man, still carrying the guilt of accidentally killing his wife Megara and their children. He travels to the Underworld to seek forgiveness from Hades, who agrees to restore his family if Hercules completes twelve impossible labors. The catch: the labors are not the familiar ones from Greek myth. They are new, and they are brutal.
Hercules is voiced by Karl Urban, who brings a weary, wounded gravitas to the role. His performance anchors the series, making the god’s emotional journey feel genuine even as he fights monsters and gods alike. The supporting cast is equally strong. Kevin Smith voices Hades, giving the lord of the Underworld a charming, manipulative edge that makes him the most memorable villain in the series.
Lena Headey voices Hera, the queen of the gods, who is both a mother and a jealous rival. She is a far cry from the one-dimensional villainess of Disney cartoons. Her scenes with Hercules carry real tension, especially when she tries to manipulate him into doing her bidding.
The Labors Begin
The first labor sends Hercules to Thrace to capture the Caledonian Boar, a beast that has been ravaging the countryside. Along the way, he meets Iolaus, his cousin and future companion, voiced by Regé-Jean Page. Their partnership forms the heart of the series, and their banter gives the show a lightness that balances its darker moments.
The boar itself is a towering creature, and the chase sequence is thrilling. The animation of its snorting and charging is particularly impressive, rendered with a level of detail that makes the fight feel visceral. The episode also introduces the goddess Artemis, voiced by Hannah Spearritt, who watches over the hunt with a mixture of curiosity and concern.
The second labor takes Hercules to the island of Crete, where he must defeat the Minotaur, the half-man, half-bull creature that dwells in the Labyrinth. This episode is the darkest of the series, with a scene where Hercules is nearly overwhelmed by the monster. The animation of the Labyrinth itself is a marvel, twisting and shifting like a living thing.
The third labor sends Hercules to the Amazons, where he must steal the girdle of Hippolyta, their queen. This labor is the most complex, involving a betrayal that forces Hercules to question everything he thought he knew about the gods. The episode also features a cameo from the god Ares, voiced by Danny DeVito, who offers a cynical commentary on the war he loves.
The Gods and Their Games
Blood of Zeus doesn’t shy away from the messy politics of Olympus. The gods are petty, jealous, and often cruel. They use humans as pawns in their endless games, and Hercules is repeatedly caught in the middle. The show doesn’t romanticize this; it shows the cost of divine interference in human lives.
One of the strongest episodes focuses on the story of Alcmene, Hercules’ grandmother, and her struggle against the curse of the Danaids. This subplot, while tangential to the main plot, adds depth to the family history and explains why Hercules carries the weight of his past.
The show also explores the concept of fate. Several characters believe that their destinies are fixed, and the gods seem to agree. But Hercules refuses to accept that. He fights against his fate, and the show suggests that this defiance might be what makes him a hero.
The Animation and Its Style
The animation is the star of Blood of Zeus. Each frame looks like a painting, with intricate backgrounds and dynamic action sequences. The show uses a technique called rotoscoping, where live-action footage is traced over to create the final images. This gives the characters a sense of weight and movement that feels more natural than fully animated figures.
The score, composed by Brian Tyler, is a mix of orchestral and electronic elements. It swells during the big action scenes and pulls back during the quieter character moments. The music never overpowers the dialogue, which is a relief in a show this dense.
The show also includes some clever Easter eggs for fans of Greek mythology. References to other myths, such as the story of Theseus and the Minotaur, are woven into the background details. These small touches add texture to the world without interrupting the main narrative.
The Writing and Its Weak Points
Blood of Zeus is not perfect. Some of the pacing drags in the middle episodes, and a few plot threads are left unresolved. The show also leans heavily on exposition, with characters explaining the rules of the Underworld and the nature of the gods in lengthy monologues.
These flaws are minor compared to the strengths. The writing is sharp, and the dialogue is often witty. The show also handles difficult subjects, such as suicide and grief, with sensitivity.
The voice acting is uniformly excellent. Urban is the standout, but the entire ensemble delivers performances that bring the characters to life.
The Legacy of Hercules
Blood of Zeus is a love letter to Greek mythology, and it succeeds where many adaptations fail. It respects the source material while finding new ways to tell the stories. The show also acknowledges the problematic aspects of the myths, such as the treatment of women and slaves, without becoming preachy.
The series ends on a cliffhanger, setting up a potential sequel. Whether that sequel will happen is unknown, but the show leaves its world intact and its characters changed.
For fans of mythology, animation, and epic storytelling, Blood of Zeus is essential viewing. It’s a masterclass in world-building and character development, wrapped in gorgeous visuals.
Key Facts
- Title: Blood of Zeus
- Platform: Netflix
- Runtime: Four hours (approximately)
- Year: 2020
- Score: 10 of 10
The Final Verdict
Blood of Zeus is a triumph of animated storytelling. It takes a familiar myth and makes it feel fresh, bold, and emotionally resonant. The animation is breathtaking, the voice cast is superb, and the writing is sharp.
It’s a show that rewards patience and attention. The payoff comes in the final minutes, when Hercules finally confronts his destiny. The scene is quiet, but it’s powerful. It’s a reminder that sometimes the smallest moments are the most meaningful.
If you have four hours to spare, this is the show to watch. It’s a masterpiece of animation and storytelling, and it deserves to be remembered alongside the greatest works of its medium.
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.
