Recap / Atlantis S 2 E 11 Kin

Three days after their last sighting, the fugitives have still not been found. In Atlantis, Pasiphae confides to Medea that she felt relief when Goran told her they still hadn’t found Jason’s body. Pasiphae said she had started to have thoughts of her and Jason ruling Atlantis together as mother and son.

Medea: What you desire is not strange. He is your true heir.

Pasiphae: No. I cannot give in to such weakness.

Medea: I believe he feels the same. The forces that bind him to us grow stronger every day. I can feel it in my heart. Be patient, he will come to us.

In the forest, Pythagoras, Ariadne, Hercules, and Aeson all search for Jason while trying to avoid the soldiers. Hercules feels this is his fault for abandoning Jason during his hour of need. Pythagoras tells Hercules that what is important is that they act now while there is still a chance to save Jason.

Pasiphae presides over gladiator games at the Atlantean amphitheater. Medea is horrified to see a well-trained and armed gladiator fighting against a pair of chained prisoners armed with wooden swords. Pasiphae tells her the games are important for keeping the populace in line.

Pasiphae: It is a necessary evil. It allows the people to forget their troubles. It is a palliative, to placate and distract them from dissent. They are like children. They must learn that those who behave will be rewarded, and those that don’t will be punished.

Ariadne and Aeson search for Jason. Aeson sees that Ariadne has been shaken to see what has happened to Jason in the past days, and he asks her if seeing Jason’s darker side has changed her feeling for him. Ariadne says she still loves Jason, and Aeson says he wishes he and Jason had such a bond. To Aeson’s surprise, he sees that the soldiers are withdrawing from the forest.

The soldiers drag Jason to the dungeons of Atlantis. Pasiphae comes to visit Jason. When she sees him, her resolve withers away.

Pasiphae: I came here certain in the knowledge of what I would say, but I…I look at you…I see so much of myself. Do you not feel it? The bond that binds us. We are tethered, Jason. It is a cord that can never be broken. (She touches Jason’s face) Perhaps the gods have brought us together now for a reason, to mend this wound. Would you not let that be so?

Jason: I would.

Pasiphae: I came here, my sole desire was to kill you. How could I? You are my only child. I gave you life. I will not take it from you.

With new hope, Pasiphae leaves, unaware that Medea was eavesdropping on her conversation.

At court, Cilix proposes that Jason be executed for murdering the Oracle. Without telling Cilix the truth, Pasiphae tries to come up with an excuse not to kill Jason, but Cilix keeps pressing her with his incessant questions. Medea steps forward and says that at the moment Jason was captured a flight of ravens flew across the moon, which must be an omen of the gods’ displeasure. Cilix scoffs at this, but Pasiphae says they will have to consult the Oracle.The three of them go to the temple and ask Cassandra if they should execute Jason. Cassandra claims that the gods have cried out with one voice demanding Jason’s salvation. Cilix is bewildered by this result and informs Pasiphae that the people demand justice and will not accept Jason being spared without a reason. Seeing no other option, Pasiphae orders Cassandra to give a reason.

Cassandra: Their reason was plain, for they warned that there was no greater crime than a mother putting her own flesh to death.

Melas begs Pasiphae not to harm Cassandra for revealing the secret, but Pasiphae is not angry, having accepted that it was inevitable.Cilix continues to pester Pasiphae, telling her that the people will still be demanding that Jason be punished for his blasphemy. Since she can’t simply let Jason walk free, Pasiphae decides to have him undergo a trial by ordeal: Jason will fight in the arena. If he survives, it will be considered the will of the gods.Hercules prepares to return to Atlantis, but Aeson argues that he must be the one to go, as according to Cassandra’s prophecy, only he can unlock Jason’s heart.

Unrecognized by all, Aeson is able to enter the gates of Atlantis. He delivers a note from Pythagoras to Icarus, and Icarus tells him a place they can meet at night.

Medea visits Jason in the dungeon and explains to him that Pasiphae doesn’t want him to die and has arranged for him to fight in the arena.Icarus tells Aeson what is going on, but they have no hope of reaching Jason. Aeson recalls that people with leprosy are sometimes allowed to act as corpse-bearers at the amphitheater and asks Icarus to see if that can be arranged.

At the amphitheater the next day, Jason is chained to a prisoner named Diocles and given a wooden sword before being sent to fight a gladiator. Jason uses his chains as a weapon to defeat the gladiator, though not without being wounded. Aeson carries Jason out of the arena on a stretcher. When they are alone, Jason recognizes Aeson from the last time they met. Aeson tells Jason that he is his father, but Jason doesn’t believe him because he thought his father was dead. Before they can speak further, a guard yells for Aeson to get away from there.

In the forest, Ariadne and Hercules struggle to keep from despairing as all they can do is hope that their friends will return safely.

Bloodied and bruised, Jason sits listlessly in the underground cells at the amphitheater. Aeson again tries to convince Jason that he is his father.

Jason: I know who you are, but I don’t care. You are dead to me.

Aeson: I refuse to believe you mean that. The knowledge of who you are, of what is contained within you, it has opened a door. It is tempting you, drawing you, you must resist. You must fight it. You must not be drawn into Pasiphae’s world. Do not give into that side of yourself. You are not like her.

Jason calls for the guards, but before he leaves Aeson pleads with Jason to not close his heart to the people who love him.That night, Hercules slips away from the camp.The next morning, Jason is pitted against two armed gladiators, while he has only a wooden sword. The gladiators soon have Jason at their mercy, but before they can kill him Medea casts a spell that breaks the legs of one of them. While the other is surprised, Jason recovers and finishes him off.Aeson carries Jason out of the arena. As Jason lapses in and out of consciousness, Aeson talks to him about how he once loved Pasiphae and lost her to the dark side.

Aeson: As a woman of Colchis, I knew she had powers mere mortals could never comprehend. But when I realized the source of those powers was darkness, it terrified me. I saw her change. Watched her give in to temptation. She slipped further and further from me and all trace of the woman I had loved was lost. Please, please, I cannot lose you too, Jason. Do not go the same way as her. Turn toward the light. Turn your back on the darkness. In this world, there are many who love you. If I have learned anything, it is that this is the only thing of true worth. Look at me, (Jason looks at him) feel my love. Please, I beg you. (A tear rolls down Jason’s cheek) Oh Jason! (hugging him) I will not abandon you again. I will not leave here without you.

Now that he has Jason’s full attention, Aeson gives him a small cordial, telling him to drink it at night to slow his heartbeat and feign death.

Ariadne and Pythagoras see that Hercules is gone. They realize he must have gone to Atlantis.Icarus visits Daedalus in the dungeon. Daedalus is in very poor condition and wonders why he hasn’t been executed already. Icarus promises his father that he will find a way to get him out. As Icarus leaves, General Goran pressures him to give him more information in exchange for keeping Daedalus alive.As night falls, Jason drinks the cordial and passes out. The guards inspect him and think he is dead. Aeson puts Jason on a cart of bodies and wheels him out of the amphitheater. A guard tries to stop him to enforce the curfew, and Aeson stabs the guard.

Once outside, Aeson gives Jason another draught that revives him, but once they are outside the city, they are attacked by Goran and a group of soldiers. Aeson throws himself between Goran and Jason and is stabbed. Goran corners Jason but is taken by surprise when Hercules shoves the cart into him.Jason apologizes to Hercules and the two are reconciled. They carry Aeson back to their camp. As Aeson dies, he pleads with Jason not to go down the same path as Pasiphae, and Jason promises.Goran tells Pasiphae what happened, and she sends him out to continue searching for Jason. Medea sees that Pasiphae is shaken by the news.

Pasiphae: He chose his father over me. Where is this “bond” you spoke of?

Medea: You witnessed it.

Pasiphae: I let him touch my heart! I listened to you.

Medea: All is not lost…

Pasiphae: Get out of here.

Medea: Pasiphae…

Pasiphae: NOW! Before you burn with him!

Medea flees and Pasiphae sobs uncontrollably.Reunited in the forest, the heroes bury Aeson.

Tropes

• Big Damn Heroes: Hercules saves Jason when Goran has him cornered.
• Bread and Circuses: Pasiphae puts on Gladiator Games in the amphitheater and explains to Medea that the games help distract the people from their dissent.
• Chained Heat: Jason and Diocles are forced to fight in the arena chained to each other.
• Even Evil Has Standards: Medea is disgusted to see prisoners forced to fight gladiators.
• Gladiator Games: Pasiphae has prisoners armed with wooden swords fight gladiators with real weapons.
• Luke, I Am Your Father: Aeson reveals this to Jason.
• The Power of Love: Aeson’s fatherly love brings Jason back from the depths of despair.
• Shout-Out: When Aeson carries Jason out of the arena he says that he is fortunate to have “just a flesh wound.”
  • When trying to get Jason to recognize him as his father, Aeson tells him to search his feelings and “you will know it to be true.”
• Single Tear: Jason, after Aeson’s speech about love.
• So Proud of You: As he dies, Aeson says this to Jason.
• Taking the Bullet: Aeson takes a sword thrust from Goran to save Jason’s life.
• Villainous Rescue: Medea saves Jason when he is about to be killed by the gladiators.