Recap / Atlantis S 2 E 12 The Queen Must Die

Pythagoras sneaks back into Atlantis and meets with Icarus.

Hercules thinks this is a fool’s errand, but Jason is determined to rescue Diocles, the prisoner who helped save him from the gladiators at the amphitheater.Icarus helps the heroes find an entrance into the amphitheater through the sewers.

General Goran informs Pasiphae of Jason’s plans to free a prisoner from the amphitheater. Cilix pressures Pasiphae to have Jason killed, and Pasiphae nods her head sadly. Medea is upset about this, but Pasiphae tells her she has no other choice. Tears come to Medea’s eyes as she thinks about Jason.

The heroes break into the cells beneath the amphitheater, fight off the guards, and free the prisoners. As this happens, Goran quietly brings a platoon of archers into the stands of the arena. While the heroes and prisoners try to escape, they are caught by surprise and many of them are shot down. The heroes make it to the sewer entrance with a few of the rescued prisoners. As they make their way out of the city, Jason wonders how the soldiers knew to lie in wait for them there, and Pythagoras realizes that Icarus must have betrayed them. While fighting his way out of the city, Jason is cornered by the guards and nearly killed, but Medea saves him just in time. Medea runs away before Hercules and Pythagoras can see her, but General Goran saw everything that happened.Goran tells Pasiphae that Medea has betrayed her by saving Jason’s life.

The heroes make it out of the city and are joined in the forest by Diocles and a dozen other arena fighters who managed to escape. As they turn to go back to camp, Pythagoras looks back to the city, tears coming to his eyes as he thinks about Icarus’ betrayal.

Icarus visits his father in the dungeons and brings him water and medicine. Daedalus wonders why he is still alive when he had been scheduled to be hanged some time ago. Guilt-stricken, Icarus confesses that he has kept Daedalus alive by feeding Goran information about Jason and Pythagoras. Daedalus is ashamed to have a traitor for a son and angrily tells Icarus to get out of his cell.

Medea awakens from a dream to find Pasiphae in her room. Pasiphae tells Medea that she said Jason’s name in her sleep.

Medea: It is almost like I feel what he feels. He’s a part of me and I’m a part of him.

Pasiphae realizes the bond Medea is feeling is stronger than she anticipated and is the reason why Medea saved Jason. Pasiphae says she should have done more to protect Medea from these feelings, but Medea says she wants these feelings because she is in love with Jason.

Pasiphae: You thought you could turn him, but it is he who has turned you, and I will not allow that to happen. If you try and see Jason again you will leave me no choice (seizing Medea by the throat). I will slit your throat and watch you bleed at my feet. I nurtured you when others shunned you. All that you are, all that you have, is because of me. (she releases Medea and turns to go). More than anyone, I understand what you’re feeling. But you will soon come to realize just how misguided those feelings are.

The escaped arena fighters kneel before Ariadne, but she tells them that Jason is the true heir of Atlantis. Diocles is astounded that Jason never gave any clue before when they were sharing a cell together.

Jason: A king must earn loyalty, not demand it.

Diocles: Then you have more than earned mine.

The arena fighters all kneel before Jason. Hercules tries to joke with Pythagoras about their rag-tag band of thieves and cutthroats, but Pythagoras is too depressed to hear any jokes.Ariadne reminds Jason that she had asked him to marry her before either of them knew Jason’s true status. Jason assures Ariadne that he still wants to marry her.

Ariadne: I’ve come to realize that the future is so uncertain. Every day is precious. I cannot wait any longer. Marry me here in the forest and let us never be apart again.

That night, Ariadne and Jason are married at a small ceremony in the forest.

Medea packs her bags to leave Atlantis. She is followed by a guard, but uses magic to choke him. The streets are full of worshippers for the solstice, and Medea is able to slip out of the city after taking down two more guards.Pasiphae is informed of Medea’s flight and orders that she be hunted down and killed.Cilix takes note of Pasiphae’s changing fortunes.

Cilix: First her son, now her niece. It seems the Queen is running out of allies.

Goran: There are still those of us who remain loyal.

Cilix: I count myself chief among them. But these are troubling times. Who knows what the future may hold? What is certain is that men like us will shape it.

Goran: I do not have time for your idle speculations.

Cilix: Of course. You must do as you are bid.

Jason awakens the next morning and sees Medea watching him from a nearby hill. Leaving Ariadne sleeping, Jason goes to investigate. Medea tells Jason that she wanted to see him one last time before she returns home to Colchis. Medea informs Jason that for the winter solstice Pasiphae will be traveling to the temple of Chthonia. The temple is sacred to Hecate and cannot be entered by a normal mortal man. Only those touched by the gods may enter, which means Pasiphae will be vulnerable to Jason when she goes inside. Medea then gives Jason a special potion that will lessen Pasiphae’s power. Jason thanks Medea and admits there is a part of him that doesn’t want her to go. Medea kisses him but Jason pulls back, telling her he is married to Ariadne. Medea departs.

Back at camp, Ariadne asks Jason where he was, and he tells her about his conversation with Medea.Hercules is outraged that Jason would believe anything that Medea told him after what happened the last time he trusted her.

Hercules: Even the blindest and most stupid of stupid blind men could tell this is a trap!

Ariadne is upset that Jason would trust anything from the woman who tried to kill her, and Pythagoras points out that even if Medea is telling the truth, they won’t be able to help Jason, since only those touched by the gods can enter the temple. Jason retorts that he must face Pasiphae, and this may be his best opportunity to do so.

Pasiphae prepares to leave for the temple. General Goran warns her that it would be safer for her to remain in Atlantis, but Pasiphae only says that if he doesn’t think he is up to the task of protecting her, she will just have to find a new general.

As the heroes stalk the Atlantean convoy, Hercules asks Pythagoras what has been troubling him since he left Atlantis. He guesses that Pythagoras has fallen in love with Icarus, but Pythagoras refuses to reveal anything.The heroes arrive at the temple ahead of Pasiphae. Jason goes in and pours Medea’s potion into the font of holy water. Pasiphae’s soldiers form a perimeter around the temple while she enters alone. Pasiphae says a prayer to Hecate and performs a ritual, making a blood offering and drinking some of the holy water. Suddenly, she sees Jason there.

Jason: I pity you. Everyone you have ever loved has deserted you. Your husband, your son, your niece.

Pasiphae tries to kill Jason with a spell, but when she tries to use magic, nothing happens. Jason knocks her out and carries her away.Jason’s army surprises Pasiphae’s guards and they escape with the Queen.Goran returns to Atlantis to tell Cilix what has happened. Cilix suggests they should assume that Pasiphae is already dead and take charge themselves. Goran tells Cilix what he’s saying is treason, but Cilix points out that Pasiphae’s survival isn’t in Goran’s best interest: if she returns, she is sure to blame him for not protecting her. Unwilling to contemplate seizing power, Goran leaves Cilix.At the forest camp, Pasiphae is kept in a wooden cage and drugged to keep her from recovering her magical powers. Pasiphae taunts Ariadne by claiming that Jason has been unfaithful to her with Medea.

Pasiphae: Why else would Medea betray me for him…if not for love? You couldn’t possibly understand the bond between them. I pity you, Ariadne.

Ariadne: Save your pity for yourself.

Unable to personally kill his own mother, Jason asks Hercules for help. Hercules agrees.Jason goes to Pasiphae and tells her that the time has come for this to end. Pasiphae protests that he can’t kill her, but Jason shoots down her arguments: though she is his mother, blood is all they share, nothing else. Though matricide is a crime against the gods, Pasiphae has grossly violated the will of the gods already.

Jason: (Tearfully) There is a part of me that will always love you. I don’t deny that. But all you know is hate. Maybe in death you will find peace.

Pasiphae: (Sobbing) Jason if you do this you will never forgive yourself. You will regret it for the rest of your life.

Jason: I know. I hope you find peace with your Goddess.

At dawn, Pythagoras and Hercules take Pasiphae away to execute her. Pasiphae asks to say a prayer to her Goddess first, and Pythagoras stays Hercules’ hand, since slaying her in the middle of a prayer might anger the gods. Pasiphae says a prayer of resurrection to Hecate. When she is finished, Hercules stabs her through the heart.This being done, the group discusses their next move. Ariadne notes that Cilix will have seized control, and Jason does not have the loyalty of the army or the council. Their only chance would be to kill Cilix, but to get to him they will have to lure him into a trap. Suddenly, Pythagoras has an idea.

Pythagoras: Cilix will seek to find out if the offer is genuine. The only way he can do this is through the person who has been betraying us these past weeks.

Pythagoras tells them that if he tells Icarus about their plans for peace, he might be able to turn Icarus’ betrayal to their advantage.

Tropes

• Deadly Dodging: At one point Jason is surrounded by guards and dodges a javelin, causing the javelin to hit the guard standing behind him.
• Dying Curse: Avoiding this is part of the reason why Pythagoras and Hercules allow Pasiphae to finish her prayer before executing her.
• Heel–Face Turn: Medea leaves Pasiphae for good and gives Jason crucial information that helps him defeat her.
• I Owe You My Life: Jason goes to rescue Diocles after Diocles saved Jason’s life in the amphitheater.
• Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: Pythagoras’ decision to let Pasiphae say her prayers before she is executed gives Pasiphae a chance to ask Hecate for a spell of resurrection, which brings her back to life not long after her execution.
• Ship Tease: Icarus and Pythagoras have a quasi-romantic scene as they look at the stars while hiding on a rooftop.
• Villainous BSoD: Pasiphae goes through one at the beginning, as she is depressed at having lost Jason again, and sees she has no choice but to kill him.
• Villains Want Mercy: Pasiphae pleads with Jason not to kill her, though her main reason for doing it seems to be that he is her son rather than out of fear of death.
• We Can Rule Together: Cilix proposes this to Goran, but Goran is too much of a loyal soldier to seize power for himself.