#circe truly loved odysseus

[katerinaaqu]

Epic the Musical:

Circe: Oh my! He cannot be transformed by my powers! What do I do?! What do I do?! Think think I need to protect my nymphs! Oh I know! He's a man after all! I'll seduce the hell out of him to get my power over him back! He clearly can defeat my entourage of wolves and lions all by himself! I mean he's damn immune to my magic! I am sure he can do anything with his sword!

Circe: *aggressive flirting*

Odysseus: Oh my gods oh my gods she is hot...what the hell?! Oh I am just a man! Forgive me... No! Wait! J can't! I love My wife way too much! Please let us go home! I miss my wife!

Circe: Awww that is so sweet! Of course darling. I was always a sucker for a good soap opera. Of course I'll help you free of charge and here's some useful tips for your trip! Drive home safely!

The Odyssey:

Circe: Oh my! This man actually had the AUDACITY to come in my home and threaten me! And he took all precautions (a God helped him no doubt). Finally a man I can consider worthy of standing by my side and not bad looking either!

Circe: Come on, darling. Remove your clothes and let's get down on it! Let's see what you've got!

Odysseus: (oh my! Forgive me Penelope that is the only way to save my men! Hermes told me not to refuse her a thing! She is a freaking goddess that commands all these wild beasts! Power over me or not she's a force to be reconed with!) F-Fine but I cannot do what you ask before I ensure my men are safe. Please release them first and then I will (gods gotta buy myself time! Ain't prepared!)

Circe: *does that*

Odysseus: *sighs* I guess we're doing this...

*A year later*

Odysseus: Okay men you had your fun but I can't keep entertaining her forever! We must go home!

Odysseus: Please Circe let me and my people go! We have to go back

Circe: Oh but can't you stay a bit more?

Odysseus: No...I miss my wife and son

Circe: Fine, my dear, if that's what you want... Your happiness is more important than my satisfaction and I love you so I shall let you go. You paid your price fully. Here are some useful tips for you, some provisions and good luck...

[maggiecheungs]

Jeanne Dielman, 23 Commerce Quay, 1080 Bruxelles (1975) dir. Chantal Akerman // Emily Wilson's introduction to The Odyssey

[mythvoiced]

@tewwor | for Circe

---

"Why do you seek to keep me close?"

The question is posed carefully. He adds a touch of casual, a touch of afterthought, a touch of nonsense to his voice to make the delivery gentler, for this is not a topic they've agreed to breach.

To the outside they might look like a goddess gifting mercy to a man who had only survived her wrath because another god had helped him first, and there is little more Odysseus would have the guts to claim to be running between them. As such he tries to avoid conversations that could shatter their brittle truce, that could perhaps anger the witch and make her more likely to see him as a threat again.

He wants nothing more than to return home, he's spent so many moments explaining this both to ears that will listen and ears that won't, to actual audiences and to the darkness of his own mind.

Everything he does is done with the motivation of returning to his wife and seeing home before his son has grown too old to harbour the desire to recognise a stranger as a father.

But the island of Aeaea holds him with bounds he can't see. There are not barriers wrapped like Trojan walls around her shores. And Odysseus is nought but a man constantly looking to the horizon and staying that one day longer perhaps to satisfy her whims or keep her generous.

He's not kind and he doesn't want to be there.

He doesn't want to be anywhere but home, wily Odysseus and his tunnel-vision, notorious and infamous but so little to show for it other than blood and carcasses.

So why?

Why does Circe, goddess, witch, daughter of the sun care to keep him nearby?

He finds a way between full worship and reckless atheism, by never kneeling nor spiting her, but rather halting her mid-step via the hold of his words and never his hand, unless she demands it.

He looks up from his seat, from the fireplace he'd stared at and asks her again.

"Why am I here, goddess?"

[ghostvibesonly]

THERE ARE OTHER WAYS DID NOT GO WHERE I WAS EXPECTING IT TO OH MY GOD /POS

PENELOPE’S THEME AND INSTRUMENT?? ODYSSEUS BEING QUITE LITERALLY BACKED INTO A CORNER AND HAVING SEEMINGLY NO OTHER WAY TO SAVE HIS MEN BUT STILL NOT BEING ABLE TO BRING HIMSELF TO GO THROUGH WITH THE ACT (EVEN THO IT WOULDN’T BE A TRUE ACT OF BETRAYAL BECAUSE THERE’S NO ACTUAL CONSENT ON HIS SIDE AND IT WAS SOMETHING HE WAS ABOUT TO BE COERCED INTO)??? CIRCE BEING TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF BEFORE AND BELIEVING THAT “BECOMING THE PUPPETEER” IS THE ONLY WAY TO KEEP HERSELF AND HER NYMPHS SAFE SO SHE OFFERS THIS “ACT OF PASSION” TO STILL HAVE A FORM OF CONTROL, AND THEN SEEING ODYSSEUS IS NOT LIKE THOSE BEFORE BECAUSE HE’S SO IN LOVE WITH PENELOPE (WHO HE HASN’T SEEN IN 12 YEARS) THAT HE REFUSES HER OFFER AND PLEADS BECAUSE IT’S NOT WORTH IT EVEN THO THATS THE ONLY OPTION HE’S BEEN GIVEN??? HIM CALLING HIMSELF A PUPPET MAKING HER REALIZE THAT THIS CYCLE OF ABUSE AND CONTROL ISN’T WORTH IT ONLY TO COME TO A MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING BECAUSE SHE KNOWS WHAT IT’S LIKE TO BE TRULY IN LOVE AND TO BE HURT, SO SHE OFFERS HIM AN ACT OF KINDNESS INSTEAD???

“Maybe showing one act of kindness leads to kinder souls down the road��

[toxinoire]

I feel like the main thing about Epic that I love so much is how Jorge has explicitly stated that it's not accurate to the actual Odyssey, but stayed true to how Odysseus, Penelope, and Telemachus feel about one another.

Odysseus wants nothing more but to go home to his wife.

Penelope is patient, loyal, and cunning who believes Ody will return.

Telemachus wants to be like his father and keep his mother safe from the men who are taking over his home.

These are main things that often get changed in most retellings. The fact that there are many translations that show Odysseus's encounters with Circe and Calypso as non consensual or dubiously consensual show that there is a HUGE possibility that Homer actually wrote Odysseus to be an SA victim, and should not be dismissed--Ody should not be dismissed as just a cheater. Some retellings portray Penelope as someone who doesn't truly love Odysseus, as if she didn't wait for 20 years. While canon Telemachus may seem like a troubled man, he is trying his best to uphold the reputation of his father and keep his mom away from the suitors, even if he has to result to yelling at her to go back to her room sometimes. Not the best way to keep her safe, but his intention is pure, his intention is to make sure his mother doesn't get hounded by them.

Epic is inaccurate, and Jorge has said that.

Many was changed to make it more engaging and like a video game and anime.

But it does stay true to how the Ithacan family see and feel towards one another. And I love that.

[cynthiav06]

Ok, so I am HOWLING with laughter.

So, have you heard? People are comparing Percy and Annabeth to................Odysseus and Penelope.

When I heard this, you don't know how funny it was to me. I almost choked on my spit. LMAOOOOOOOOOOO

Penelope would NEVER hit or insult Odysseus. She doesn't play mind games with him and they communicate properly.

Odysseus and Penelope are not toxic. Percabeth is.

Also, Rick Riordan is LEAGUES worse than Homer. Like, the guy cannot even compare to the ACTUAL GREEK POET.

And people are actually comparing the two.

Percy Jackson IS good at times, but it will NEVER compare to Homer's compositions. Literally never.

TBH that's just my personal opinion.

Also, Homer actually composed many of the Greek epics that we still read today.

I get why people would want to compare them, but there is no comparison, really. It's so fucking funny to me.

Anyway, what are your thoughts on Percabeth compared to Odysseus and Penelope?

That comparison alone has ruined the New Year for me. It's an insult to the Odyssey. Hell, it's an insult to the recently released Ithaca Saga of Epic the Musical.

But seriously, are these things actually being said? Cause that puts Percabeth stans from delusional category to brain dead.

Homer's Iliad and The Odyssey are one of history's most reputed myths of all time. And the primary source of Greek mythology for many people. I am certain Rick himself referred Homer's works for ideas and references. Even Riordan himself would be ashamed to compare his writing to Homer, in even the slightest manner.

Now to Odysseus and Penelope; the greatest couple of all time, truly and undeniably. The orignal eternal love. Even Hera, the goddess of marriage and family, considers Odysseus and Penelope's marriage bed sacred. Which Odysseus carved out of a living tree as a symbol of their undying love and so that it could never be moved.

Odysseus crawled through hell to get to Penelope and Telemachus. He survived and won the 10 year long Trojan war, defeated/ tricked a Cyclops, countless mythical monsters, Circe, Calypso, and even Zeus himself and at last Poseidon. That alone is beyond comprehension. Because Odysseus isn't a demigod or any specially blessed being. No, he is just an ordinary mortal, a genius mortal, one trained by the wisdom goddess but an ordinary mortal all the same. Yes, he is one of a kind genius, but these are literally eldritch creatures compared to him.

Let me put it this way, Odysseus is the OG Batman. He is who all smart fictional human characters aspire to be.

The Odyssey is literally about the all transcending power of human will. Of Odysseus's sheer fucking will to get back home, to his wife and son. That's it. A common desire of a common man, yet so miraculously burning and indomitable in Odysseus's mind that it alone outshines his extraordinary genius.

He quite literally died on his way there. Had to hitch a ride through the Underworld and then some.

Then he had to sacrifice his ENTIRE CREW, HIS FRIENDS, HIS COMRADES to get back to Ithaca. Mind you, Odysseus had the record of getting every single one of his 600 men alive out of Trojan War. The only one to have done so. And he had to lose some to the tragedies and then WILLINGLY SACRIFICE others to get back to Penelope.

I don't think there are words enough to encapsulate Odysseus's dedication.

Now Penelope. The thing is, she is just as bloody impressive. The Queen of Ithaca and a Spartan Princess, she is also one of a kind. Throughout Odysseus's departure and the suitors' invasion , not five, not ten, 108 SUITORS, Penelope held her own, keeping the castle, her son Telemachus and herself secure. All the while, raising Telemachus and running the kingdom on her own as well.

She tricked the suitors into an eternally futile game of trying to lift Odysseus's bow and shoot with it. Tricked them by telling them she was weaving Odysseus's shroud, which, when finished, would signify that she is picking a new husband. Each day, she would weave for all suitors to see, and each night, she would unravel the shroud. All in an attempt to stall. Among the many other ways, she did so. Including STEADFASTLY DENYING EACH AND EVERY SUITOR CONSTANTLY FOR YEARS AS THEY ASKED FOR HER HAND, NEVER ONCE LOSING HOPE OR FAITH IN ODYSSEUS.

When Odysseus returns, disguised as a beggar, she not only immediately recognizes him but subtly helps him in killing the suitors, which then Odysseus and Telemachus proceed to do.

All 108 suitors dead in a night. Add that to 600 men under Odysseus's command. 708 lives murdered and then some all for Odysseus and Penelope to reunite.

And this is me abridging the whole thing. Imagine the struggle, the suffering, the mental and physical trauma. 20 years straight. You can't fathom it.

I don't think I have words enough to state how repulsively disrespectfully wretched this comparison is. I would use an analogy, but it's so horrendous that I don't think there's one that suffices.

I literally have more than half the posts dedicated to dismantling the delusion of percabeth being a perfect ship, so I won't preach to the choir, but I mean Annabeth's fatal flaw is Hubris and Percy's is Personal Loyalty. Go figure.

If that isn't enough, Percy jumped in Tartarus for Annabeth. She fell, but Percy jumped, among the many other ways he has saved her from countless deaths. And Annabeth offers him what in return? It would have been alright if she gave him nothing in return, but somehow, the situation is EVEN WORSE.

Physical and mental demeaning. Toxic and controlling attitude and of course BLAMING HIM FOR GETTING KIDNAPPED AND HAVING HIS MEMORY WIPED BY A GODDESS. WOW, THAT SOUNDS SO SIMILAR TO PENELOPE AND ODYSSEUS.

Not to mention, Penelope accepted her husband, as he was. Even after being so completely changed by his tragic journey that he was quite literally NO LONGER HIMSELF.

And Percy when had to CHOKE AKHYLS WHO WAS DEFINITELY GOING TO KILL HIM AND ANNABETH, WAS KILLING HIM AND ANNABETH, OUT OF SELF DEFENSE AND SHE BLAMES HIM AND FORCES HIM TO PROMISE NOT TO USE HIS POWERS TO DEFEND HIMSELF???

WHAT THE FUCK??? And sure it would have been ignorable had it not had any long term effects. BUT NO PERCY ALMOST KILLS HIMSELF OUT OF KEEPING HIS PROMISE TO ANNABETH.

Call them whatever the hell you want but DON'T EVER COMPARE THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO ODYSSEUS AND PENELOPE.

PERCY DESERVES INFINITELY BETTER THAN ANNABETH. Enough said, really.

[meteor752]

can we have more details about hermes x Odysseus? Please ~

More than happy to dearie

(Also you didn’t need to send the ask twice lol)

Since Ody is technically Hermes great grandson (*cough cough*), he’s known about his general existence long before he met him on Aeaea. He didn’t care that much about him tho, cause like if he gave a shit about every mortal offspring he had then he literally wouldn’t have time for anything else.

Still, hearing that Athena herself had taken an interest in one of his? Fascinating to be sure. Not enough to start giving a shit, but still, fascinating

And then, Poseidon. Hermes was of course the first to hear the news that Poseidon had attacked and killed over five hundred Greeks over one slight, and you know he spread that gossip to the rest of Olympus like fucking wildfire. But still, that makes two gods (one of which a member of the big three) that has taken an interest in some way in Odysseus. So it might be time to investigate

Hermes finds him and the remainder of his crew having washed up on Aeaea, which tickles him a bit. One of Athena’s “warriors”, seeking refuge on Circe’s island? Interesting choice indeed.

But Hermes takes his time to indulge in one of his favourite pastimes, spying on people. And sure, Odysseus does his fare share of moping there on the beach, but to the messenger gods surprise, despite all of the man’s losses, he takes action almost immediately, ordering some other guy to go scout out the island. And even though Hermes loves watching Circe trick and hex people, he doesn’t leave to go check that out. He stays, watching the mortal go about.

Hermes also takes the time to truly take notice how handsome the man is. He has a slightly short stature and lean build, just like any descendant of his, but he seems to have not let that stop him as he moves about with confident elegance. His hair is much darker than Hermes own, and despite being ruffled and damp from the sea water, the messenger god can see that it’s well cared for. Most of all, he takes notice of the mortals eyes, a deep rich brown, and despite the weariness and paranoia to be found in them, he still sees a small twinkle in them, a light that has not yet been snuffed out by his uncle.

Hermes could have watched the man for hours if he so desired, and so was a little pissed off when the other man from before came running and interrupted them.

But it was through that that Hermes got a chance to see another of Odysseus strengths, his way with words. Despite the frankly idiotic decision to land on Aeaea, the messenger god could clearly see his sister in the way he spoke. He was even more intrigued by the things he was saying, showing loyalty and honour, despite having a chance to escape the situation. Hermes himself never cared much about loyalty, but the fact that the mortal is willing to risk his own life and safety for his crew? He can’t help but be impressed

Until he realises that yeah his new favourite mortal is most definitely going to fucking die if he doesn’t do anything, so, he gets involved.

And if he’s a bit extra giddy when Odysseus says his name, if he flirts a little more than he usually does, if he holds him extra close when they dance, well that’s only for him to know.

Hermes keeps spying on Ody even after Circe, even going so far as to follow him to the underworld. Usually when mortals have extreme breakdowns and cursing the gods out, Hermes finds it kinda funny. It’s a good show. But, when his mortal does it (Because that’s what he is. He’s not Athenas, or Poseidons, he’s his. It was Hermes who saved him from Circe, it’s Hermes who’s keeping an eye on him, hell he would never have been born if it wasn’t for Hermes), it’s way less fun, and just upsetting.

Hermes keeps keeping watch as his mortal keeps getting worse. The sirens, Scylla, his mortals crew turning on him, Hermes witnesses it all. As much as he’d like to assist in some way, he was already in trouble with Zeus for his intervention on Aeaea, and that had been a pretty minor thing all things considered. Despite everything that occurs, he still sees that same twinkle remain in his eyes, that same light that Hermes treasures so.

Still, it was hard to not get absolutely pissed when that other man stabbed his mortal.

When Zeus got involved with his mortal and struck down his crew, Hermes lost sight of him. The messenger god spent seven years scouring the ocean for any trace of the king, but to no avail.

When he’d searched every single corner of the earth, Hermes through in the towel and finally did what he really didn’t want to do.

He asked his sister for help.

Despite how much it upset him, Athena had actually formed a divine bond with Odysseus, which made her capable of tracking him.

And find him she did. On Calypso’s island.

Fuck.

Luckily, Athena wanted him freed too, so Hermes didn’t have to grovel to Zeus himself. He would have done so if needed, but having Athena do ir for him was easier on his pride.

And he was more than happy that that was the case, as Athena got a lightning bolt to the face, and Hermes got the job of retrieving his mortal.

He’s never been as excited as he was, travelling to Ogygia, past the veil keeping the island hidden from the outside world. And, maybe he’s a little gloaty when he tells Calypso to release his mortal, but it’s difficult not to be. The goddess has spent seven years thinking that Odysseus belongs to her. Laughable, truly.

Hermes has spent years thinking about his mortal, missing his elegant stride, his beautiful hair, his lopsided cocky smile, his eyes. Yet, when he first get a look of him again after so many years, building his sad little raft, it’s nothing less than painful.

Because he’s wrong. The paranoia has settled in, making him jumpy and uncertain, and while his time on Ogygia had made him altogether more healthy, it was in a way that just didn’t fit. He looked almost uncomfortable in his own skin as he moved. And worst of all, his eye twinkle had all but vanished.

But all of his upsetting feelings vanished the second his mortal laid eyes on him, and his smile shone brighter than Apollo himself.

Hermes stayed by his side as long as he could warning him both about the dangers ahead, but also drinking in every moment his mortals attention was on him.

But even still, he eventually had to depart. He knew his uncle was waiting for a final chance to finish his mortal off. If Apollo was to be believed, Odysseus would survive the encounter, somehow, but that didn’t stop the rising anxiety Hermes felt as he said farewell to his mortal, taking his leave with a soft kiss.

~~~

I have many thoughts on Hermes, my favourite Greek god (Not my favourite overall god tho, Idun my beloved <3). Mans is most def extremely Not Normal about poor Ody, who did not ask for all this attention from the gods.

I do also imagine most gods to be extremely possessive, and do not like sharing, so Hermes isn’t too fond of the fact that like five other gods are vying for Odysseus attention.

He remains silly tho, stalker tendencies and all

[ultravioletqueen]

Some time ago my sister introduced me to the world of the video game Hades and its sequel, all the lore and references to Greek mythology fascinate me (I'm a Greek mythology nerd, it's my weakness), I didn't think there would be anything that would bother me about the game Well, except one thing, ODYSSEUS.

Odysseus is by far one of my favorite heroes in Greek mythology, not only for his cunning, gray morals and determination, but also for his immense love for his wife and son, that made him different from the rest of the Greek heroes for me. ,that he was a genuinely loving father and a truly devoted husband even with the situations with circe and calypso, which to clarify, NEITHER OF THE TWO WAS CONSENSUAL, it was extortion and sexual abuse, Odysseus did not want to be with either of them.

For this reason it made me sad to see that Supergiant showed Odysseus as an unfaithful man (when in the Odyssey this man is the personification of simping) who is separated from his wife.

Even if I find the idea interesting that he is lying and Penelope is and working from the shadows like the partner in crime that they are, I have another idea:

After what happened with Circe and Calypso, he thinks that he no longer deserves Penelope, who according to his words "was waiting for years for an unfaithful man" and that is why he separated from her and calls himself "unfaithful" even though both situations were far from his control.

He loves penelope,he loves telemachus,he waited for years to meet them again,but the calypso and circe incident make him feel DIRTY(wich is common in victims of sexual abuse) and not deserving of the love of penelope and penelope in general.

using the lies about being unfaithfull could be a form of trauma block to avoid thinking about the incident,but at the same time it makes him feel WORSE because he thinks he betrayed the WOMAN HE LOVES,HIS SOULMATE AND LITERALLY HIS OTHER HALF.

Im not okay guys...i just want them to be happy again.

(Español)

Hace tiempo mi hermana me introdujo en el mundo del videojuego hades y su secuela,todo el lore y referencias a la mitología griega me fascinan(soy una nerd de mitología griega,es mi debilidad),no pensé que habría algo que me molestaría del juego,bueno,excepto una cosa,ODISEO.

Odiseo es de por lejos uno de mis héroes favoritos de la mitología griega,no solo por su astucia,moral gris y determinacion,sino tambien por el amor inmenso hacia su esposa e hijo,eso hizo que para mi fuera diferente al resto de heroes griegos,que fuera un padre genuinamente amoroso y un esposo realmente devoto aun con las situaciones con circe y calypso que para aclarar NO FUERON CONSENSUADAS NIGUNA DE LAS DOS,fue extorsion y abuso sexual,odiseo no quiso estar con ninguna de las dos.

por esta razon me puso triste el ver que supergiant mostro a odiseo como un hombre infiel (cuando en la odisea este hombre es la personificación del simping) que esta separado de su esposa.

incluso si me parece interesante la idea de que esta mintiendo y penelope trabajando desde las sombras como los partner in crime que son yo tengo otra idea:

que después de lo ocurrido con circe y calypso piensa que ya no se merece a penelope que segun sus palabras "estuvo esperando por años por un hombre infiel" y por eso se separo de ella y se denomina a si mismo como "infiel" aun cuando ambas situaciones estaban lejos de su control.

El ama a penelope,el ama a telemaco,el espejo por años para volver a verlos,pero los incidentes con circe y calypso lo hicieron sentir SUCIO(que es común en víctimas de abuso sexual) y no merecedor del amor de penelope y de penelope en general.

Usar las mentiras sobre ser infiel podría ser una forma de bloqueo traumático para evitar pensar en el incidente, pero al mismo tiempo lo hace sentir PEOR porque cree que traicionó a la MUJER QUE AMA, SU ALMA GAMELA Y LITERALMENTE SU OTRA MITAD.

no estoy bien gente...solo quiero que sean felices otra vez.

[therantspot]

I've been seeing a lot of eurylochus hate on tiktok and I've come to rant about how you're allowed to hate him if you want to (I understand) but also, from my point of view, the man doesn't deserve it all. (this is in no way hate towards odysseus, I love the dude)

the way I see it, he literally is just a man. he's made mistakes, obviously. shouldn't have opened the bag, shouldn't have questioned odysseus in front of all the crew, shouldn't have eaten the cows...

but people are calling him a hypocrite for the way he shouts at ody for sacrificing 6 men when he was ready to run for his life when they were with circe. and stupid for opening the bag when he had one job. and dumb for eating the cows.

here's the thing though. eurylochus started out in the musical as the guy that's worried for the dangers that await, he just wants to get home, like everyone else on the ship. he's the first ready to battle for the chance of food to feed themselves and skeptic at polites' view of being nice. he's all "let's get our food by force and get going, we gotta get home" ("I say we strike first, we don't have time to waste, so let's raid the place and-")

but then the kindness plan sort of works. for a quick second, before they start to get slaughtered by a cyclops. odysseus gets them out of it because he's a great leader tho. smart and with a plan, the kind of man eurylochus has relied on for over 10 years. his brother.

but... his brother is tweaking a bit, he had this fight with his matron and lost one of his best friends along with idk how many men that we're under his care... anyone would be traumatized, even if Odysseus doesn't see it yet (I believe he had a time of denial where he wanted to stay positive like polites, but deep down he was spiraling). and eurylochus shows his concern in luck runs out. was he wrong for voicing his concern in front of the crew? absolutely. but I think eurylochus' brain was also tweaking. bro was worried and wants to get home. he also can't help but think how in his war experience, there's many plans that have gone wrong, people around him keep dying and so what if? what if one of his captain's plans goes wrong and they're all goners? and Odysseus understands!! ("thank you for the concern (...) I understand that we're tired, I understand that we're fazed"), but he tries to remind him to have faith in him. so eurylochus does. and I think he's always had faith in his captain, he just didn't trust the gods to be in their favour anymore, because lately, they haven't. he also voiced it at the beginning of the song ("don't forget how dangerous the gods are").

and then eurylochus opened the bag. big fuck up. and maybe it's too far fetched and I'm just looking for ways to justify his behavior BUT. I don't think he did it just to disobey captain's orders. if he had done it because he didn't trust odysseus then guilt wouldn't have been eating him later. I understand it might be because Poseidon suddenly showed up and killed most of the fleet like a minute after he did, that's a big possibility, yes. I also don't think he did because he believed the bag held treasure. he trusted odysseus' word over anything else, so when he said the bag had the storm inside eurylochus believed him. but what if, just what if, by opening just enough the winds would propel them to Ithaca? then again, if the storm was holding them from getting there in the first place why would a man desperate to get home try that? this is not my strongest argument tbh.

then he wants to leave the men as pigs and go home. he truly just wants to go home (10 years of war, a horrible journey back when it should've taken like a week at most, my dude just wants his mom to pick him up and take him home and honestly, same). but bruh. he's been the one that's repeatedly said that they shouldn't trust strangers or gods, reminding everyone to be on their guard, and suddenly his men see a woman and forget all about it???? the guy is traumatized, mourning, tired, and angry. on top of that they placed an enemy that his men should've easily been able to defeat had it been a regular woman and they ended up as pigs, so he really sees no way of beating her and getting anyone back. of course he wants to run away!!! safe whatever is left before he loses himself completely ("look at all we've lost and all we've learned, every single cost is so much more than what we've earned, think about the men we have left before there's none, let's just cut our losses, you and I, and let's run")

and that's exactly the difference between eurylochus in puppeteer and odysseus in Scylla and mutiny. eurylochus wants to run away because he doesn't see another way out. he's seeing his friends disappear one after the other either to death or to magic, and he's on survival mode. whoever is left, whoever is still alive, they should leave before they aren't anymore. they all need to get home. odysseus however, he's blinded by the need to get himself home to see his wife and son. he's the one that has to get home, and to ensure that, they have to pass by Scylla's lair, because if they don't go that way, Poseidon might get them and if he does, he won't let Odysseus get out alive this time. so if 6 men is what it takes, he'll do it. it's not running away, it's sacrificing.

i think the next turning point for eurylochus is actually mutiny. but here it's important to talk about how much the journey has changed him, odysseus, and their relationship and the way they see each other. like i said, eurylochus starts the journey worried about what's up ahead and, like everyone else, thinking only about getting home. but he trusts his captain with his life in every decision he makes. he also speaks for the entire crew. odysseus also starts the journey tired and thinking only about getting to ithaca. but he's got 600 men to think about as well. as captain, their lives and deaths are on him, and with every turn, he loses more and more of these men. like it or not, he's responsible for it, even if he tried his best, even if he didn't mean for it to go in that direction; he's in charge, he's responsible. it's sorta like when parents tell the eldest kid they're the model for the younger siblings.

but in the polyphemus' cave, when odysseus panics and eurylochus has to wake him up from his unresponsive state, it's not only a blow for ody, it's also a blow for eurylochus. he relies on odysseus to carry them through and he wasn't answering. they were all going through the same thing, watching their friends die, but he was the one that's supposed to keep it together the most. alas, they're all just men. and that's when eurylochus' concerns and picture perfect of odysseus start to show and blur.

odysseus still tries his best to lead with kindness like polites showed him, taking care of everyone as he should, but with every passing day and with every hardship, it becomes more and more difficult to do so. and then, just when he thinks he's about to get the answer that will save them all, by going down to literal hell, the guy with the answer tells him he won't get home to his wife and kid (the thing that's been keeping him sane and giving him hope throughout this shit of a journey). that everything they've done, all the kindness, all the being nice, has been for nothing. he also realizes that he's taking way too long and he's losing too much, like his mom, who was left waiting. so he breaks (monster).

throughout this whole thing, he never doubted eurylochus would be by his side, and he lowkey neglects and takes him for granted. dismissing when he wants to tell him something ("whatever you need to say can wait some more, of that i'm sure" in puppeteer, and if he'd let him talk he probably would've been able to prevent mutiny, but he was too distraught and wanted time to think), and he was warned in keep your friends close too, even if he didn't know it. he was also warned by the prophet, but he still didn't know it ("i see a brother's final stand"). i think it's because while odysseus did want them all to go back home, at least during most of their travels, he mostly wanted to get home himself. deep down, he was always ready to make the sacrifices, life just hadn't forced him to make them or hadn't made the right circumstances or traumatized him enough.

eurylochus sees how the experiences change him from the outside, and what it means for the rest of them every time odysseus loses himself some more. but this is odysseus, it's his brother, the man he entrusts his life to, the man that's guided them through war and the underworld, taken them out of the weirdest troubles, and the man that's most desperate to reach ithaca. and the guy that's seemingly gotten his shit together (finally) and is ready to do whatever it takes, slay whoever now (different beast). so he'll pull through, right? he might be a monster towards the dangers that are trying to get them, but he's always done his best to protect them, so there's nothing to worry about.

so a part of eurylochus has trouble believing odysseus would really sacrifice six of their friends, because he doesn't want to believe it. but the smartest man he knows wouldn't just tell them to "run for their lives" when he's well aware they're in a fucking boat. and he is desperate. eurylochus asks, begs, odysseus to tell him he's wrong in thinking he didn't just do what he did, because he needs his brother to not have gone completely off the path they paved at the beginning of the story ("use your wits to try and say i'm crazy and mad, that this is all a trick the gods have sent").

but he's too far gone in his tunnel vision, and eurylochus has to think of himself and the men that are left too, who also want to get to their families. and at the rate this is going, he's losing too many friends. at first, odysseus was to blame only in the "he's responsible for all of us because of his role as captain", but he never meant for their men to die and he tried with all his might to keep them safe, but as of right now, he used them as bait and let them die on purpose. he can't stay in charge if he won't fulfill his role as keeper of them. so eurylochus stages mutiny. rightfully so? maybe, maybe not. i personally think he didn't do it out of hate, he just didn't see another out. but he wasn't a hypocrite any more than odysseus was, so in my opinion, he was justified.

anyway then they get to the sun god's island. and people like to say that he shouldn't have killed them cows. and this is one of the parts were the hate makes me lowkey mad. as humans, when we're pushed to a point of heavy starvation or anything that endangers our lives, we enter survival mode, where instincts take over and we do things we wouldn't do if we were in our right minds. and that's exactly it, eurylochus and the rest of the crew weren't in their right minds anymore. they're hungry, and they don't have the willpower odysseus seems to have. they've given up after everything they've been through, and they're hungry and don't think they'll make it home anyway, so they eat the cows. eurylochus can't help it, and even after all, he still cares for odysseus, but he doesn't believe in their chances anymore ("ody, we're never gonna get to make it home, you know it's true", "i'm starving/tired, my friend"). he's past the point of hoping, he wants it all to end, and he can only think of his hunger, the one thing he can actually do something about in that moment. ("how much longer must i suffer now? how much longer must push through doubt? how much longer must i go about my life like this, when people die like this?" he repeats it in plural as well, voicing the crew)

so in the end, he kills the cow. and then odysseus gets to choose and he chooses himself. he has to see his wife and he'll take any opportunity that allows him to. he's on survival mode too, just with a different goal, the one that keeps him sane and makes him push through everything horrible that happens to him.

the odyssey is a story that shows how its characters lose themselves to sorrow, each in a different way. so neither odysseus nor eurylochus are to blame for the way they acted, life pushed them to the edge and they each responded in different ways. it wasn't fair to either of them, they're just men that can only withstand so much.

[vassal-of-nightjars]

Some Greek mythology hot takes! If you disagree, I'd love to hear your opinion :D

1. Any adaptation that depicts Hera as the "Karen" of Olympus is bad and predictable. She's one of Zeus's first victims. The goddess of marriage and motherhood forcibly married to Zeus. She's not a bitch, she's a rage-filled victim with no outlet.

2. Most of the praise Circe gets is more warranted towards Artemis. Circe raped Odysseus and turned Scylla into a monster for dating her ex. I truly find it difficult to believe that she has her nymphs' best interests in mind.

3. Ares being a dumb jock with no redeeming qualities is also tired. If Athena can turn Arachne into a monster for calling out Zeus and Poseidon for their crimes and transform Medusa for being assaulted and still be loved, Ares can be as well.

4. Change details if modern audiences would have an easier time with it. The stories you're drawing from were written to be entertaining to their ancient audience. It's fine to make them entertaining for their current audience.

5. Medusa as a tragic victim is a better and more interesting story than the "original"

[stufftoinspiremetowrite]

Okay, hear me out. Ruthlessness is only mercy upon ourselves when you're dealing with someone ruthless. I know the point our Captain was making is that ruthlessness is necessary, but I want to tack on a sometimes to that.

Cause Odysseus never would have made it home if people hadn't shown him mercy. Circe showed him mercy. Hermes showed him mercy. Athena showed him mercy. Zeus showed him mercy for Athena.

Yeah, he was more hurt by people than he was helped, but he was helped. So I don't think Polities was right and I don't think Poseidon was right. I think the best way to survive and to live is somewhere in between.

Not everyone is going to return your kindness. Some things can only be forgiven after there's been retribution. And even then it won't be the same as it was before. *Cough cough Athena cough cough*

The thing is that you never know when the person you're dealing with is someone waiting to take advantage of an outstretched hand, or someone who's own heart is softened by your sincerity.

A Polyphemus, or a Circe.

I really don't know what this looks like in real life. Maybe I'm just too stuck in Open Arms. But I truly hope that if I live life giving at least a second chance, (not in situations as life threatening as the Odyssey) There'll be people who return the gesture. I don't want to live in a world where ruthlessness is the only mercy that won't disappoint you.

Loved Epic. It's made me think about things. Also wake up in the middle of the night singing Dangerous, but that's fine. didn't you know that danger is my friend?

[sassylovermongerbear]

Polites is one of my favourite characters of Epic, even if he barely is in it, cause he is such a genuine kind soul and loyal friend. He is a free spirit that see the good in the world even after years of war and he is trying to help Odysseus to relax and enjoy life after the war. He is his best friend and he does his best to make him happy.

He is so kindhearted that even in death he's still trying to tell his best friend to see the good in the world. In the underworld saga we hear him sing open arms even if it's in a sadder way than the upbeat version in the first saga. All while the rest of his men trash him and blames him for their death when his only fault was to give his name to the Cyclops.

Meanwhile the man that actually betrayed them all, including his captain that he dare called his brother, get to go blame free ? And then keep betraying them over and over, telling Odysseus to leave them behind on Circe's island and opening the bag with the storm cause he was greedy and wanted to get his hand on the supposed treasure. He didn't believe in Odysseus, not once, only listening to him when he got them out of the shit Eurylochus put them in. Even in the cave with the Cyclops Odysseus clearly had a plan but Eurylochus kept punching to ran away when Odysseus proved many time, especially during the war, that he was smart and could get them to win.

And I think Odysseus knew that. He knew that the only person he could actually trust was Polites and he tried to honour his memory by trusting others, by revealing his name to the Cyclops and letting them live. Because that's what Polites would have done, he would have spared the Cyclops. It was his way of remembering him. He tried to go keep an open mind all along but things just never works out cause while he trust his crew, they don't trust him back.

That's why in the underworld saga seeing Polites and his mom hit the hardest cause, while his other crew members blames him for their death, wrongfully so, he is already eaten by guilt, but those 2 don't blame him at all. Sure they are sad but they don't blame him. Which make it worst for him cause he realised that those person that believed in him completely still do even in death, but they are dead and that's the only time he'll be able to see thel again befire he dies himself and he cant even stop to talk to thel properly. Plus his mom being here just show him how long it actually has been since he left which feel far more than it actually been for him in that instant. Yet she still loves him and doesn't blame him, while the 599 other men he brought in war, he lead them and didn't let a single one of them die for 10 years, blames him for their death when he always did his very best to get everyone home safely.

Out of all the 600 men under his command only one was truly loyal to him even in death. Odysseus realised that in the underworld and I think that's what pushed him to turn into a "monster" and putting himself first after this because everyone blames him for everything when he just wanted to get home with all his soldiers.

Polites is my favourite characters cause even if he doesn't stay in the story for long his impact goes far beyond. At least in my opinion, that's just my interpretation of it

[xfilesinamajor]

Second in Command

There are days—more and more, lately—when he forgets that home even exists. The fig trees, the goats, the view from the palace at the top of the hill, stone floors and a soft bed, the background noise of the slaves gossiping, the sound of Ctimene’s laughter. It feels as if all of that was not a different lifetime, but an ancient fever dream, something that never really existed at all.

What does cheese taste like? All he can think of is the underripe fruit they find on the shores of tiny inlets, and the fish they catch and share. There’s never enough of either. Not enough for 42, let alone the 600 who left Troy two years ago.

At least he thinks it was two years. Elpinor was the one counting, keeping track, diligently marking every time the sun rose. Maybe it’s just as well he died on Circe’s island. There were no dawns in the Underworld, no storms or meals to judge how much time was passing. Were they there one day, or twelve? The constant hunger, fitful sleep, and strange visions made it hard to tell.

He had looked for Elpinor, down there. Because his death had been so fresh, and so stupid. To survive the war, the cyclops, the storm, the sea god, the witch, only to fall from a roof? Where was the justice in that?

He should know better than to expect justice by now, in any form. Most of the time, he does. Justice is a useful tool in ruling an island or fighting a war, but when it comes to survival…

Anyway, he didn’t see Elpinor in the Underworld. He saw the face of the first man he killed in battle, staring unblinkingly up at him from the murky waters, as if judging him silently. Just as he’d done when he fell to the ground outside the walls of Troy, the light of life fading from his eyes as one hand weakly crept toward the spear in his throat.

He could have screamed into the waters, as some men had. Demanded to know what the dead wanted of him. It was a war. He hadn’t asked to go, but he had vowed not to bring shame to himself and his family once he got there. He had a beautiful bride waiting for him, and parents to make proud, and whatever these Trojans had done to incur the wrath of Menelaus, he was going to do his best to destroy them. He has no business feeling guilt over the death of one pathetic enemy soldier. By now he is responsible for the deaths of hundreds. None of the others followed their ship through the Underworld, judging him with dead eyes.

What did the others see? No one spoke of it. Nireus had cried silently but constantly until he fell at last into sleep, Theasides had screamed and thrashed around as though he were being attacked, and Odysseus himself had stood there with his lips moving silently in conversations no one else heard. But no one spoke of what they saw. Not then, and not in the weeks that have stretched into months since they returned to the realm of the living.

Are they living? These days hardly seem to count as life. Perhaps they are all dead already. But the men are still hungry, the blazing sun still burns their skin, they still wake and sleep. When there were more of them, a whole fleet trailing behind, there were jokes. He doesn’t often remember his life on Same, but he does remember the early days of the trip from Troy. High on victory and spoils, full of hope and excitement at the prospect of returning home. The shouting and laughter had been loud enough to travel over the waters, spreading from one ship to another, infecting the entire fleet with happiness.

Sometimes he thinks of Polites and wonders how much would have changed if he had lived. Probably the captain would have listened to his foolish trust and naivete one time too many, and they would be in the Underworld already. He’d like to believe that. Because if it’s not true, then Polites…no, he wasn’t right! He had loved Polites, too, but that man had never seen the world as it truly was. He’d never seen the danger and darkness all around them. He’d been great with a bow, but he’d had no common sense.

And yet…Odysseus had trusted Polites. Had he lived, the captain might have relied upon Polites to guard the wind bag. Perhaps Polites could have persuaded him to trust Eurylochus, too. They could have taken it in turns, ensuring that bag stayed closed, and the captain wouldn’t have nearly killed himself from lack of sleep.

Sharing that duty would have been the smart thing to do. Hadn’t he said as much to Odysseus? Hadn’t he offered to share the burden? But no, the captain had been stubborn, as he always was, trusting the wind bag to no one but himself, going without sleep until first his temper began to crack, then his focus began to wane, and finally until the waking hallucinations began.

Eurylochus is the second in command. He couldn’t just sit back and watch his captain, his friend, his brother destroy himself in such a way! And yes, maybe…yes, he had been hurt that Odysseus would not share the responsibility. Weren’t they brothers? Wasn’t he next in the line of command? Why wouldn’t Odysseus trust him to watch the bag while he slept? No man on board would have dared try to take it from him by force.

The captain didn’t trust him. That was what it came down to. Odysseus hadn’t trusted him. He had chosen to destroy himself rather than accept help from Eurylochus. That truth had burned a deep, angry hole inside him and at last he had lost his temper, tearing open the bag to prove to himself that there wasn’t really a storm inside. The captain’s stubbornness had convinced him that the gods were playing games, giving them an empty bag and laughing as they watched to see how long Odysseus would deprive himself of sleep to protect this bag of nothing. He’d wanted to prove that he was smarter than Odysseus, that failing to trust him had been a mistake.

Instead he’d proved the opposite, and the guilt of that has been a constant companion to him ever since. The deaths of those 552 men at the hands of the sea god—he carries just as much of the blame for that as the captain. Odysseus was the one who told the cyclops his true name and left him alive. But Eurylochus is the one who opened the bag that brought Poseidon to them.

What would Ctimene think of him, if she were to see him now? He can imagine how he looks: burnt, scarred, emaciated, filthy, shoulders rounded by years of guilt and weariness. If that didn’t stop her embracing him, the knowledge of all that he’s done surely would. He left home to bring her honor, and nothing he’s done since the war is worthy of honor. All he can do is continue to look out for the remaining men as best he can.

Not that it matters. He’s never going to see Ctimene again, if she ever truly existed at all. He will never taste another bite of soft goat cheese or watch the wind rippling through the leaves of the trees on his island. It is not that he’s resigned to his own death, though there are moments when he thinks he would find it a welcome relief. No, he will not go down without a fight, not as long as his men need him, not while he still has a job to do. There’s a chance, just a small one, that they will find a place that has food, shelter, relative safety. With full stomachs, a week of good sleep, and no one trying to kill them, it’s possible that the morale of the crew might improve. It could be that life will become worth living again.

But making it home? The only one who still believes that is Odysseus, and how he continues to do so is anyone’s guess. It’s impossible. Poseidon won’t allow it. Defying the gods seldom ends well for those foolish and bold enough to try. The captain’s luck has brought him this far, but it can’t last forever.

The only big question remaining is what will come next. Gods? Monsters? Death? Peace? Or simply day after day of slow starvation, watching what little hope remains in the faces of his friends fade into desperation and madness? He doesn’t like to think about that, so he focuses on smaller questions. Which way the wind is blowing. How much safe drinking water remains. Whether they will catch any fish, or if they seaweed they chew on will make them sick. How long he’ll be able to persuade his friends to exercise, practice combat, stay active.

Whether the growing rift between himself and Odysseus, which gets progressively harder to ignore, is from the guilt of the secret he carries, or perhaps the guilt that Odysseus himself carries. Has he done something to upset the cold, harsh man who he used to consider a friend? Or is his captain simply angry at him because he still lives, when Polites does not?

How much longer can this go on?

[404pagenotavailable]

hot take calypso isn't as evil as some of yall make her out to be. at least in the musical.

she's definitely a manipulator, but not on purpose. she comes across to me very strongly as "naive kid in love with an older man", not as "manipulative toxic woman trying to seduce a man".

For one thing, Barbara Wangui and Talya Sindel are, like, opposites to me in terms of how their characters sound. Circe (Sindel) is very purposefully mature/older sounding; she sounds menacing and nefarious even when she's trying to seduce Odysseus. On the other hand Calypso (Wangui) sounds very young and innocent.

Also both of Calypso's songs are in a major key and very happy-sounding. "There Are Other Ways" and "Done For" might be in major key (genuinely can't tell, i'm pretty sure TAOW switches at some point?) but they don't sound...happy. or hopeful.

Calypso sounds very genuinely concerned for Odysseus in "Love in Paradise". as far as she's concerned that is her husband and she wants the best for him; she just doesn't consciously know that she isn't what's best for him. In addition, she sounds devastated that he can't/won't love her in "Not Sorry for Loving You".

"i hate that i fell in love with you"? "i'm stuck in the moments we swore that we had"? "you're all i've ever known"? idk man that just feels a lot more like a kid realizing they were wrong to manipulate someone and feeling very remorseful. unlike "this is the price we pay to love", "want to save your men from the fire / show me that you're willing to burn" etc.

i agree that her actions were wrong OF COURSE. but people who put her on the same level as Circe i truly don't get it.

[silverstarssart]

The thing that's really getting me is that the final lines in Epic is "I love you."

From the very first strings of Penelope's theme in The Horse and The Infant, Telemaches' theme being a mirror of his father's, to Polities's words being repeated again and again, the palpable LOVE in Epic is the driving force for Odysseus. Why he killed the infant, why he sacrificed his crew, why he endured all the horror and the tragedy.

Penelope is only in the very last few songs of the musical, but we have had so much build up of her theme and presence that we feel that we have known her all along, but she's not quite there, she's just out of reach to us and Odysseus.

The constant repetition of her theme, the electric fakeness of it in Suffering that shows it's not truly her, the strings playing when Odysseus refuses Circe. And then the full orchestra of The Challenge comes in and we see just how she's been waiting, waiting, waiting for him.

In the end, Odysseus just wanted to go home, to Ithaca, to that house that mirrored the city he sacked, to the son he never got to know, to the wife who broke her hands every night on the loom to buy him time, to hold them with hands stained with blood.

In the end, he's just a man, who traded the world to see his son and wife.

[raguonmynieceandnephew]

EPIC THE MUSICAL SONGS RANKED BY ME

With the release of the Ithaca Saga, I can finally rank all the songs from the musical! I did this before, for Act One, so I naturally I gotta do the whole show.

Before we dive in some disclaimers:

This is my personal opinion, and forewarning here, there are some hot takes and very unpopuplar opininons below. If you disagree you are welcome to talk your shit on the notes because there is nothing I love more than arguing with strangers on the internet. No really, I mean it. Give me your worst. Just have some decorum, dont get your panties all twisted

ALL SONGS ARE GOOD. I LOVE THE ENTIRE SHOW. Just because a song is low, it does not mean I dislike. I just like it less than the ones above them.

I am ranking based on overall quality, replayability, personal enjoyment, basically just what my silly little brain thinks about it.

40 - CHARYBDIS

Truly a nothing burger. She's just...there.

39 - SIX HUNDRED STRIKE

This song is to me what The Godfather is to Peter Griffin from Family Guy. Do with that information what you will. Also, first impressions unfortunately matter, and that CG animatic...yeah.

38 - GET IN THE WATER

Poseidon should've a second verse before Ody had his. If he did, i'd like this much better. And by now you can deduce what is my least liked saga LMAO, and I really didn't want it to be so, but these three are probably the only songs in the show I actively dislike. Unfortunately the hype was too high on these, and they did NOT live up to it. I fear we lost a little bit of the plot after the Thunder Saga, although Wisdom was (much) better than Vengeance.

37 - POLYPHEMUS

It's slow, heavily dialogue-y and is not very fun to listen to outside of a full listen through of the show. Just not my vibe at all. Still love her tho <3

36 - STORM

My opinion on her has not changed in the slightest since the last time I ranked it to be honest, but the addition of the 20 other songs made her plummet. Still think she lacks a little bit of flavor, a little something. Haven't felt her since tiktok teaser days, still don't.

35 - LUCK RUNS OUT

I said it once and I'll say it again. I am pissed at the change from the teasers lmao, the rappy version of Eury's first verse was SO much better and I am still salty about it, but it is a good song overall and I like Eury's character beginning to blossom here.

34 - LITTLE WOLF

Don't shoot! The song is great, i love Athena's part, but idk, it's so weird to put it before We'd Be Fine. Like, I just can't put my finger on why, it's just my truth.

33 - THERE ARE OTHER WAYS

We have officially entered No Skip territory. 33/40 is a great score.

The intro and the duet are amazing, I am a sucker for duets between man and woman: Bad Idea from Waitress is one of my fave broadway songs of all time, and that last high note is life changing but Circe's second verse is kinda meh. It has grown on me quite a lot since last ranking.

32 - PUPPETEER

Anyway, I love me some Puppeteer. The intro is amazing and fooled me, i thought Eury was going to profess his love or something. The Lyricism, the dynamics between Ody and Eury, perfection.

31 - KEEP YOUR FRIENDS CLOSE

She is weird but she is good. Another song I love that plummeted in the rankings because of the second act lmao. Jorge has since then showed us the twink.

30 - THE UNDERWORLD

My opinion hasn't changed but I'm tired of Polites showing up everywhere lmao

29 - LEGENDARY

Pretty good song to introduce Telemachus and Antinous, silly and fun, but not much else to say. Very solid, good song, nothing to complain about.

28 - ODYSSEUS

She is incredible. The edge, the villain era, the violence and the climax of it all, remarkable. The vocals are insane, the extras, all. I screamed when Telemachus appeared.

27 - DONE FOR

Oh how the might have fallen LMAO this was ranked 7th last time, but the competition is STEEP baby. The second act songs just blew it out of the park, plus many songs I ranked low last time went up so yeah. Still an amazing song, and i will always love it as the one teaser that truly got me into this musical.

26 - MUTINY

ARMANDO JULIAN. Stellar performance, and that Just a Man reference my GOD.

Truly insane how low this song is, when this is song TWENTY SIX the other 25 have to be absolute bangers, which they are.

25 - FULL SPEED AHEAD

The harmonies, the character intros, the simplicity, the naïveté, the HARMONIES, YES, AGAIN THE HARMONIES. Troy saga best saga, and if you disagree you can eat my ass

24 - WARRIOR OF THE MIND

This song was second to last on my Act One ranking and I would like to apologize, as I ranked all athena songs kinda low back then. The cultural impact this had alone makes her stand above many. Great song.

23 - DANGEROUS

Hermes wouldn't disappoint me, even among the Vengeance Saga he shines. I love this song. Animatic on the live stream kinda sucked, (no shade to the artist, I loved your work on I Can't Help But Wonder) but the song has been stuck in my head since before Troy was cast.

22 - HOLD THEM DOWN

YES. YES. I LOVE A VILLAIN WHO IS JUST IREDEEMABLY EVIL. God, I love Antinous's character so much, and Ayron Alexander's performance is simply insane. His death was SO FUNNY, truly, I love this song.

21 - LOVE IN PARADISE

Another song that snatched my ass during teaser era, I adore Love in Paradise. The percussion, the immaculate vibes and the emotional whiplash at the end, i just love it.

20 - GOD GAMES

I'm so sad she isn't better LMAO, the gods' arguments were too short! This should've been an 8 minute song, and I am so serious. Either way, despite my gripes with it, I love it, and I want Luke Hot to step on my neck, respectfully.

19 - OPEN ARMS

A classic. What's not to love about her? The dialogues get a bit meh, but c'mon, who cares? Love Polite's solo moment. I just with it had more duet-y parts.

18 - SURVIVE

This song grew on me tremendously. I didn't like it as much at first and i ranked it pretty low last time, but holy shit. This song is so ALIVE. it fills me with, idk, gas? You get it, right? PUSH FOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWAAAAAAAAAAAARD!

17 - DIFFERENT BEAST

The payoff on Monster, a masterpiece tbh. Great song, very dark and violent, just how I like it. First time Ody actually scared me.

16 - MY GOODBYE

Perfection, but I wish Ody and Athena really had a proper duet, like harmonizing together and stuff at some point on the show, and I feel like here would've been the perfect opportunity. But the song is phenomenal, and the JUST A MAN REFERENCE? Lifechanging.

15 - REMEMBER THEM

Top 15 mean we have entered perfection. All songs from here on out are 10/10, with zero notes. Perfection. Immaculate. No suggestions, no way to be better, no. PERFECTION. The rankings are just numbers atp, ngl, except for the top 5.

She is serving rock pauleira, serving angst, serving outro. Like, she is neither man of mythical like, what else you want me to say?

14 - THUNDER BRINGER

My GOD. Oh Luke Holt, you are so sexy, just one chance please!

13 - THE HORSE AND THE INFANT

What an opening. That duet, the set up for the best song on the show (spoilers IG), THE DUET WITH ZEUS? HELLO? (have I mentioned I find Luke Holt attractive?) Perfection.

12 - SUFFERING

Oh she is SO FUN and so catchy, and Anna Lea? I have to stan.

11 - WE'LL BE FINE

This is so beautiful, honestly, Mico's voice is the sweetest and I said before i LOVE duets between men and women, idk why, it just hits all spots on my brain. That first "MAYBE" they sing together sounds fucking angelic.

10 - NOT SORRY FOR LOVING YOU

@ghostlycollectorchaos hates to see me coming at 5:50 am belting this at the bus stop. Calypso they could never make me hate you. She was just in a silly goofy mood u guys!

9 - WOULDN'T YOU LIKE

Oh Hermes, I love you so much. The TikTok snippets had me on a chokehold. (Hermes, however, is not my fave character anymore. Penelope snatched his spot from his hands)

8 - THE CHALLENGE

Speaking of the Queen, OH THE CHALLENGE HOW I HAVE LOVED YOU FOR YEARS! For those who don't know, this and NSFLY have been (kinda) out for a long time before release because Jorge presented them on workshop before even the Troy Saga came out! And The challenge has always been one of my favorites. Anna Lea delivered a spectacular performance. It brought me to tears to finally see it out.

7 - I CAN'T HELP BUT WONDER

I wish I could forget this to listen for the first time again. Tears, every single time. Also ATHENA IS ALIVE YALL.

6 - MONSTER

I mean, come on. Do I even have to say anything? When he quoted Poseidon. The venting about all he lost, THE CONFIRMATION THAT HE DID, IN FACT, KILLED THE BABY. HE BECOMING THE MAN TIRESIAS SAW IN HIS PROPHECY. I MEAN, COME ON

5 - NO LONGER YOU

Wig? Snatched. This was my favorite song for a while, I even auditioned for it lmao. Deffo my favorite one to sing, still. Mason DEVOURED this track, and the prophecy? Odysseus's scream? Setting up Monster, AKA one of the best things in this show? Gagged me, your honor. I can't stress enough how much I love Mason's performance here.

4 - RUTHLESSNESS

I was INSUFFERABLE when this came out. I made this song my entire personality for a good 3 months. Ask anyone close to me. She was on repeat for WEEKS. Steven Rodriguez, man. God. That man's voice. That man in general, actually.

3 - SCYLLA

The most hype song in the show, sung exquisitly by who can only be described as vocally insane KJ (have yall seen the video of them belting her lungs off while KAYAKING?) But honestly, what I love the most about the song is the lyrics in the chorus.

"Die in the blood where you bathe" will forever be my favorite line in EPIC.

2 - WOULD YOU FALL IN LOVE WITH ME AGAIN

Tears. Every single time. Shit, i'm beginning to tear up writing this. The voices, the harmonies, the rage, Penelope's gambit, THAT RIFF ON "FOR YOU", THE JUST A MAN INSTRUMENTAL THAT MAKES ME CRY. The fact that the show ends in "i love you". I just can't describe in full how much I love this song. I can't wait to see the many actresses that will play penelope on broadway.

1 - JUST A MAN

Remarkable, showstopping, absolutely the best song ever made in a musical. The lyricism, the production, the poetry, vocal performance, I really don't have much to say because it's not needed. All of my favorite moments in this soundtrack, unreleased songs included, are moments in which this song is referenced.

I love this song so much i literally can't think about things to write that can represent how much I love it. Shit, this entire part is straight up copy paste from my act one ranking.

My life's dream is to go to broadway once to see this fucking song live, and i know it will be life changing.