2. Blood of Zeus (Season 1) – Netflix
With one of their newest animated series, Blood of Zeus, Netflix delivered a combination I never knew I wanted and that could work so well together – Greek mythology and Japanese anime.
The series takes viewers into a Greece ridden by war as a vicious demon army looks to ravage the Earth seeking revenge while the Gods of Olympus are divided by the past and present actions of Zeus (voiced by Jason O’Mara). The animation is epic on two fronts as it captures the stoic and iconic looks of many
legendary Greek characters and creatures while giving them actions and emotions of an anime. The action is legitimately jaw-dropping thanks to how fast-paced and powerful the blows can be and is brutal as hell. The raw power of the Gods has never looked so devastating as it does here, and it makes the
looks of towering giants and the presence of the series’ main antagonist Seraphim (voiced by Elias Toufexis) incredibly daunting. The anime twist really shows Greek mythology in a whole new light and it’s incredible to behold.
Even better, though, is the excellent hero’s journey the series takes us on as we watch a poor outcast named Heron (voiced by Derek Phillips) rise to become Greece’s last hope as he discovers that he is a demigod. Blood of Zeus tells an incredibly intricate tale of lies, deceit, and betrayal that masterfully connects the Gods of Olympus to humans on Earth with incredibly devastating results. It creates an emotional, familial connection to the Gods, and Heron’s journey of both his reconciling with the fury that stems from his bad upbringing and loss and his becoming a hero for the people is incredibly satisfying. It all leads to a final battle that’s chock full of the amazing moments of animated action and legitimately heart-pounding moments that’ll leave you on the edge of your seat and makes you instantly cross your fingers that the second season the finale teases comes to fruition.
