"Gods & Heroes (TV series)" redirects here. For the video game, see Gods & Heroes: Rome Rising.
Blood of Zeus
Genre
Creator
Director
  • Shaunt Nigoghossian (season 1)
  • Jae Woo Kim (seasons 2–3)
  • Jae H. Kim (seasons 2–3)
  • Joshua Covey (seasons 2–3)
Writer
  • Charley Parlapanides
  • Vlas Parlapanides
Voices
MusicPaul Edward-Francis
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Num seasons3
Num episodes24
Executive producer
  • Charley Parlapanides
  • Vlas Parlapanides
  • Brad Graeber
Editor
  • Shea Formaneck
  • Nick Simotas
Company
Runtime23–37 minutes
NetworkNetflix
First airedOctober 27, 2020
Last airedMay 8, 2025

Blood of Zeus, formerly known as Gods & Heroes,[1] is an American adult animated fantasy action television series created and written by brothers Charley and Vlas Parlapanides for Netflix.[2][3][4] Produced by Powerhouse Animation Studios and animated by South Korean studios Mua Film and Hanho Heung-Up, the first season premiered on October 27, 2020.[5]

In December 2020, the series was renewed for a second season, which premiered on May 10, 2024.[6][7] According to the creators, they originally had five seasons outlined.[8] In July 2024, the series was renewed for a third and final season,[9] which premiered on May 8, 2025.[10]

Premise

Set in mythical ancient Greece, the series revolves around Heron, the demigod son of Zeus, trying to save Olympus and Earth. Though Heron himself is an original character created exclusively for the series, the existence of such demigods born of the union between a god and a human is implied to be common in the original myths. The series claims in its prologue to be one of the tales "lost to history" rather than part of the current canon of Greek myths. It features gods, giants, demons, automata, titans, and mythical mounts from the original tales.

Voice cast and characters

Main

Supporting

Development

According to an interview with series creators Charley and Vlas Parlapanides by Valentina Capoccia of Salicomix, the series was conceived with the idea of exploring Greek mythology from a fresh perspective, rather than retelling familiar myths. They cited Steven Pressfield's novel Gates of Fire, which depicts the Battle of Thermopylae through the eyes of a helot, as an influence. They applied this narrative approach by creating Heron, an original character imagined as the illegitimate son of Zeus, allowing the story to feel both intimate and unpredictable.[12] The creators also noted that Heron's character arc was inspired by classical heroes such as Perseus and Theseus, while simultaneously addressing modern themes of identity, anger, and acceptance. His counterpart, Seraphim, was designed as a morally ambiguous figure embodying both tragedy and menace, echoing mythological figures such as Achilles and Medea. The creators described the contrast between Heron's personal growth and Seraphim's destructive rage as central to the show's dramatic tension.[12]

Reception

Critical response

Season 1

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the first season holds an approval rating of 100% based on 21 reviews, with an average rating of 8.14/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "Reforging Greek mythology as an epic battle royale with slick imagery and sterling voice acting, Blood of Zeus earns a spot on the Mount Olympus of action animation."[13]

Eric Francisco of Inverse called the series "Netflix's best American anime yet",[14] while David Griffin of IGN gave it a 9/10 score.[15] In a post summarizing an interview on her podcast with the show's creators, Kate Sánchez argued that the series offers a "nuanced take on anger and how it relates to power" and noted how the series is part of the "continuing trend of adult animation."[16] Margaret Lyons of The New York Times also praised the show, calling it, "special and dazzling" and remarked on the series' large-scale storytelling and dramatic scope.[17] Thomas West of Yardbarker called the series "one of the more extraordinary recent offerings" of television that depicts the myths of ancient Greece,[18] while Sawyer Grant of Ranker named Blood of Zeus their #1 Greek mythology show.[19] In 2023, Devon James of Collider ranked Blood of Zeus second on his list of "ten best shows based on mythology", praising it as "one of the most original modern shows based on Greek myths".[20]

Season 2

The second season holds an approval rating of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes based on 15 reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "Blood of Zeus long-awaited second season steps down from Olympus to explore Greek myth's underworld, finding even more compelling lore and emotional texture than before."[21]

Marilo Delgado from Espinof gave the second season a 4.5/5 score and wrote, "Blood of Zeus once again proves that it is one of the most entertaining animated series available."[22] Daniel Kurland from Bubblebladder wrote, "Blood of Zeus was a fascinating dissection of not just Greek mythology, but demystifying the larger-than-life figures who are the basis from so much of modern culture's mythology and storytelling."[23] Kate Sánchez from BUT WHY THO? gave the second season a 9.5/10 score and wrote "With fantastic animation that captures epic action moments and emotional character growth that goes far beyond expectations, Blood of Zeus second season is near perfect."[24] Britany Murphy from Muses of Media gave the Second Season a 4.5/5 score and wrote, "The much-anticipated second season of Blood of Zeus has finally graced our screens, and it's a magnificent continuation of the divine drama that captured our attention in the first season."[25] Frantz Jerome of Black Nerd Problems wrote that "Blood of Zeus deeply engages in the ethos of Greek society... The kinds of decisions characters make, the direction of a plot, the design of a character – each of these things hinges on culture".[26] Tom's Guide named it among their list of top five shows about Greek mythology.[27]

Season 3

The third season holds an approval rating of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes based on 8 reviews.[28]

Paul Tassi of Forbes wrote, "I would highly recommend Blood of Zeus...The level of quality has been stellar and it's nice to watch something fully original for a change".[29] Andres Cabrera of Geeks of Color called the show "remarkable", stating that "Blood of Zeus quickly set itself apart with a focused plot set in the world of Greek mythos complete with amazing references and a true genuine love of the canvas that the world of the Gods of Olympus and the Underworld offer".[30] Kate Sánchez of But Why Tho? praised the final season for bringing the story to a satisfying close, stating that the third season "completes an epic story".[31] Alfred Molina's performance as Cronus also drew praise, with Anushka Bhattacharya of MSN noting that he "shines bright" in the role.[32] Daniel Kurland of Den of Geek praised the series, calling it "a godly finish to a series that's always been incredibly passionate and sincere in its storytelling", adding that, "Everything comes together in Blood of Zeus season 3, which makes this an extremely satisfying conclusion to a truly epic story".[33] Blood of Zeus has been compared to the series Game of Thrones[17][34] with Margaret Lyons of The New York Times having wrote that the series "scratches that Game of Thrones itch", while Carolyn Jenkins of Collider described it as a "no-holds-barred epic" that is "just as bloody and dramatic as Game of Thrones". Memory Ngulube of Screen Rant called Blood of Zeus "undoubtedly one of the streamer's best" fantasy shows, praising it as a "hidden gem" and for its intricate storytelling and well-developed characters[35] while Matt Kamen of Wired also stated that the series "impressed with smart writing that offers compelling twists on the classic myths".[36] Following its conclusion, the series has been listed among Muses of Media's "Top 10 TV shows of 2025",[37] Collider's "10 Best Fantasy TV Finales of the Last 10 Years",[38] and ComicBook.com's "10 Best Sword & Sorcery Fantasy Shows of the 2020s (So Far)".[39]

Accolades

In 2021, Paul Edward-Francis was nominated for the Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Music in an Animated Television/Broadcast Production for the episode "Escape or Die".[40] Ryan Brothers won a Concept Art Association Award for an Animated Series Environment for his piece titled "The Burning Polis".[41] In 2025, Charley and Vlas Parlapanides were nominated for the Writers Guild of America Award for Television: Animation for the second season episode "Winter is Born".[42] In 2026, Blood of Zeus was nominated for the Motion Picture Sound Editors Golden Reel Award for Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Broadcast Animation for the third season episode "A Breath Before Dying", with Rob McIntyre credited as the supervising sound editor and Sound Rebels providing sound design.[43]

References

  1. ^ "Netflix Dates Blood of Zeus From The Same Studio That Brought You Castlevania". Bubble Blabber. September 23, 2020. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  2. ^ "Netflix Orders Greek Mythology Anime Series". The Hollywood Reporter. March 12, 2019. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  3. ^ "Netflix Orders Gods & Heroes Greek Mythology Anime Series". Deadline Hollywood. March 12, 2019. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  4. ^ Evershed, John (2020). Adult Animation Finally Breaking Free of its Comedy Shackle.. High Concentrate, LLC in Squarespace. p. 27. Archived November 3, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
  5. ^ "New On Netflix October 2020". Decider. September 23, 2020. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  6. ^ "The Fates have news! Heron's adventures will continue in season 2 of Blood of Zeus. @powerhouseanim". No. 1334543850929414144. December 3, 2020.
  7. ^ "If this is episode 1, Blood Of Zeus season 2 is about to be insane. Blood of Zeus is coming to Netflix in 2024". No. 1723105757732733229. November 10, 2023.
  8. ^ "Blood of Zeus Creators Aim for 5 Seasons, But That's Not Netflix's Style". Observer.com. November 3, 2020. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  9. ^ Campione, Katie (July 27, 2024). "Blood Of Zeus Renewed For Third & Final Season At Netflix". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  10. ^ O'Rourke, Ryan (April 11, 2025). "Blood of Zeus Season 3 Sets a Thunderous Release Date for Heron's Final Journey". Collider. Retrieved April 16, 2025.
  11. ^ O'Rourke, Ryan (March 12, 2025). "Spider-Man Villain Alfred Molina Joins Blood of Zeus Season 3 as the King of the Titans". Collider. Retrieved March 12, 2025.
  12. ^ Capoccia, Valentina (August 28, 2025). "Blood of Zeus è una lettera d'amore alla mitologia" [Blood of Zeus is a love letter to mythology]" (in Italian). Salicomix. Retrieved September 5, 2025.
  13. ^ "Blood of Zeus: Season 1 (2020)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
  14. ^ Francisco, Eric (28 October 2020). "Blood of Zeus: Season 1 (2020)". Inverse. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
  15. ^ Griffin, David. "Blood of Zeus: Season Review (2020)". IGN. Retrieved October 27, 2020.
  16. ^ Sánchez, Kate (November 11, 2020). "INTERVIEW: Blood of Zeus with Charley and Vlas Parlapanides". But Why Tho? Podcast. Archived November 12, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
  17. ^ Lyons, Margaret (29 October 2020). "How Much Time Do You Have This Weekend: (2020)". The New York Times. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
  18. ^ West, Thomas. "Best Dark Fantasy Movies and Tv Series: (2023)". Yardbarker. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
  19. ^ Grant, Sawyer. "Best Shows with Greek Mythology: (2023)". Ranker. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
  20. ^ James, Devon (24 September 2023). "10 Best Shows Based on Mythology, Ranked". Collider. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
  21. ^ "Blood of Zeus: Season 2 (2024)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  22. ^ Delgado, Marilo (20 May 2024). "Sangre de Zeus' regresa a lo grande a Netflix: (2024)". Espinof. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
  23. ^ Kurland, Daniel (10 May 2024). "Season Review: Blood of Zeus: Season 2 (2024)". Bubbleblabber.com. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  24. ^ Sánchez, Kate (10 May 2024). "Review: Blood of Zeus Season 2 was well worth the wait (2024)". butwhytho.net. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  25. ^ Murphy, Britany (10 May 2024). "Review: The Epic Return of Blood of Zeus was well worth the wait – Review (2024)". musesofmedia.ca. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  26. ^ Jerome, Frantz (14 May 2024). "Olympus Gets Messy for Blood of Zeus Season Two". Black Nerd Problems. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  27. ^ Harbet, Xandra (3 April 2025). "Top Five Shows Based on Greek mythology". Tom's Guide. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
  28. ^ "Season 3 - Blood of Zeus". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 26 May 2025.
  29. ^ Tassi, Paul (May 4, 2025). "You Should Watch This Perfect 100% Scored Netflix Show This Week". Forbes. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  30. ^ Cabrera, Andres (May 27, 2025). "Blood of Zeus sticks the landing with a riveting Final season – Review". Geeks of Color. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  31. ^ Sánchez, Katie (May 8, 2025). "REVIEW: Blood of Zeus Season 3 Completes An Epic Story". But Why Tho?. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  32. ^ Bhattacharya, Anushka (May 18, 2025). "Alfred Molina Shines Bright as Cronus, as Blood of Zeus Bids Adieu With a Blast in Season 3". MSN. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  33. ^ Kurland, Daniel (May 8, 2025). "Blood of Zeus Season 3 Review: A Gods and Monsters Battle Royale". Den of Geek. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
  34. ^ Jenkins, Carolyn (August 13, 2025). "If Game of Thrones Were an Anime, It'd Be This Brutal and Bloody 3-Season 100% RT Netflix Fantasy Series". Collider. Retrieved August 15, 2025.
  35. ^ Ngulube, Memory (August 22, 2025). "Every Fantasy Fan Should Watch Netflix's 100% RT Hidden Gem". Screen Rant. Retrieved August 23, 2025.
  36. ^ Kamen, Matt (December 27, 2025). "The 46 Best Shows on Netflix Right Now". Wired. Retrieved December 30, 2025.
  37. ^ "Top 10 TV Shows of 2025". Muses of Media. December 30, 2025. Retrieved December 31, 2025.
  38. ^ Nyffenegger, Dawson (March 15, 2026). "10 Best Fantasy TV Finales of the Last 10 Years, Ranked". Collider. Retrieved March 31, 2026.
  39. ^ Delgado, Catherine (March 15, 2026). "The 10 Best Sword & Sorcery Fantasy Shows of the 2020s (So Far)". ComicBook.com. Retrieved March 31, 2026.
  40. ^ Flores, Terry (March 3, 2021). "Annie Awards Nominations". Variety. Retrieved December 31, 2025.
  41. ^ "ConceptArtAssociation 2021 Finalist". Concept Art Association. April 19, 2021. Retrieved December 31, 2025.
  42. ^ Hipes, Patrick & Hammond, Pete (January 15, 2025). "Writers Guild Awards Nominations 2025". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 31, 2025.
  43. ^ Verhoeven, Beatrice (January 12, 2026). "MPSE Reveals 2026 Golden Reel Awards Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 16, 2026.