This article contains discussions of rape, murder, and incest.
Spoilers for Kaos season 1 are ahead!
Kaos has many great Greek myths that season 2 should cover, adding to the expansive, reimagined world of power and betrayals. The Netflix show follows three mythological mortals – Caeneus, Riddy, and Ari – who are fated to bring down the king of the gods, Zeus. After eight episodes of narrative twists and turns, the end of Kaos season 1 sets up the story to continue, stopping with a cliffhanger. While the next season of the show hasn’t been confirmed yet, creator Charlie Covell has spoken positively about Kaos season 2, indicating that Netflix is open to the possibility.
If the show gets another season, they will have to find new myths to add to the mix. Kaos has already represented Greek mythology well, incorporating the twisted, salacious aspects of the gods. Covell has shown their passion for the source material, integrating both big and small characters from mythology. Luckily, there are great myths that would fit within the world and the story that they’ve developed.
Like all Greek myths, the ten referenced in the article have many variations that change the characters, plot, and ending. These should not be taken as the only iterations of the story.
10 Eros Cursing Apollo and Daphne
Apollo Chased Daphne Because Of Eros’ Punishment
When picking Kaos myths to include in Kaos season 2, the Hellenistic story of Apollo and Daphne would fit well within the show. In Ovid’s retelling of the myth, Apollo angered Eros/Cupid, so the god of love and sex decided to cause mayhem.
Eros shot Apollo with an arrow, causing him to become infatuated with the nymph Daphne. He then struck the nymph with another arrow, causing her to become repulsed by Apollo. Apollo persistently chased her affection, so her father transformed Daphne into a laurel tree so she could escape him.
This myth should be introduced in Kaos season 2 because of the existing story. The god of sun and music is mentioned when Zeus calls his children in Kaos season 1, episode 2, making it natural that the god would be introduced in the next season. Additionally, the myth would fit with the behavior of the other gods, showing how a parent can rub off on their child.
9 The Danaides Murdering Their Husbands
Four Gods Are Involved In The Myth Of The Danaides
Kaos heavily features the Greek gods and sets up the introduction of new gods in Zeus and Hera’s family tree in season 2. As such, the show should incorporate one myth that connects to numerous members of the pantheon – that of the Danaides, also called the Danaids or the Belides.
Considering Poseidon and Hera seemingly broke up at the end of
Kaos
season 1, Amymone’s introduction would make sense, even if none of the other gods appeared.
In mythology, the 50 daughters of Danaus were married off to Aegyptus’ sons with the instruction to murder the men on their wedding night. 49 followed through on the plan, chopping the heads off their husbands, but Hypermestra refused to kill her husband, Lynceus. During Hypermestra’s trial, Aphrodite intervened, speaking on the woman’s behalf.
However, this isn’t the gods’ only connection to the story. Hermes and Athena cleansed the other wives of their crimes. Additionally, one of the Danaides, Amymone, had sex with Poseidon. Considering Poseidon and Hera seemingly broke up at the end of Kaos season 1, Amymone’s introduction would make sense, even if none of the other gods appeared. However, it would be an even more perfect choice if the second season introduced any of the other deities in this story.
8 Leto and Zeus’ Relationship
Artemis And Apollo Are The Children Of Leto And Zeus
If Kaos season 2 decides to introduce Apollo and Artemis, the show will need to include the myth of Leto and Zeus since they are the parents of the twins. Leto and Zeus were cousins who, depending on the source, either married or had a sexual relationship. In either case, Leto gets pregnant with Zeus’ babies, which causes Hera to be jealous.
As punishment, Hera cursed her never to find solid ground on Earth where she could give birth. She wandered around Greece asking for shelter, but nobody was willing to defy Hera. Consequently, Zeus created the island of Delos for her, on which she could give birth (at least in one version of the myth).
Four days after Leto gave birth to Artemis, the goddess of the hunt slew the serpent called Python. Leto went through labor for nine more days, eventually giving birth to Apollo. In addition to providing a background for the twin gods, the introduction of Leto and Zeus’ relationship in Kaos season 2 could offer more tension for Hera.
7 The Rape Of Medusa By Poseidon
The Ovid Version Of The Myth Would Best Fit Within Kaos’ Narrative
Even though Medusa appears in Kaos season 1, she isn’t given much time or attention. With her being one of the rebels trying to take down Zeus, Kaos season 2 should develop Medusa’s backstory more. The original Greek myths presented Medusa as being born a gorgon with wings and snakes for hair. However, Kaos would be better off incorporating the retelling presented by Ovid.
In Ovid’s version, Medusa was born a beautiful woman with luscious hair, gaining the attention of Poseidon. The god of the sea followed Medusa into Athena’s temple, where the pair either had sex or Poseidon raped her. Unable to punish her uncle, Athena transformed Medusa into a monster with snakes for hair who turned people into stone.
This version of her myth is the better choice for Kaos season 2 because the show centers the voices of women characters, calling out the gods’ poor behavior. Poseidon was let off easy in Kaos season 1, but he’s just as bad as Zeus in the myths. Additionally, this background story could contribute to the character’s drive to take down the gods.
6 Kaos And The Birth Of The Cosmos
Kaos Is The First Primordial Goddess In Greek Mythology
The title of Netflix’s Kaos hints at a possible character for season 2 that would perfectly fit into the Greek gods’ existing dysfunctional family. In mythology, the term Kaos refers to either the disordered state of the universe before the gods or the first primordial god in Greek mythology. The latter created Tartarus, Eros, Gaia, Nyx, and Erebus. Gaia then created Uranus, Mountains, and Pontus. Gaia and Uranus procreated, with Gaia giving birth to the first generation of Titans – including Kronus and Rhea, the parents of Zeus and his siblings.
Kaos season 2 could include the primordial goddess, incorporating her into the show’s lore. Even if she doesn’t create the universe and the gods in the Netflix series, she could still be the family matriarch and someone that Zeus fears. This would add an interesting dynamic because Zeus doesn’t seem to openly fear anyone, despite his obvious insecurities and fears that the audience sees.
5 Medea Murdering Her Two Sons
Vengeful Women Are Central To Kaos Season 1
When it comes to distressing Greek myths, there is no shortage of choices. However, Medea is perhaps the best-known one centering on a woman. In the myth of Medea, the titular main character helped Jason finish his quest and left her home to be with him, only for her to be abandoned by him. She punishes him for leaving by murdering their two sons.
Medea’s myth doesn’t directly relate to the characters in Kaos season 1, only loosely connecting to Hera. However, it would fit perfectly within the tone and themes of the Netflix show. In another Greek mythology TV show, Medea’s filicide would be too disturbing to appear. Luckily, Kaos leans into the darker, more disturbing elements of Greek mythology, making the idea of a woman murdering her children fitting.
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Additionally, Kaos has already included scorned women who take revenge on their oppressors, such as Hera and Ari. As such, Medea wouldn’t feel out of place within the existing story.
4 Sisyphus’ Punishment By The Gods
If Kaos season 2 wanted to give Prometheus an ally who has just as strong a reason to hate the gods, the story should introduce the myth of Sisyphus and his punishment. Sisyphus thought negatively of the gods, trying to trick them and outwit them on a regular basis. When the mythological figure chained up Thanatos, the god of death, it caused humans to stop dying.
It seems unlikely that Charon, Prometheus, and Medusa are the only people leading the charge against the gods in
Kaos
.
As punishment, the gods gave Sisyphus a futile task that he would never complete. He had to push a massive boulder up a hill in the Underworld. Every time he got near the top, the boulder would roll back down to the bottom. Like Prometheus, this is another instance in Greek mythology of someone getting punished for trying to defy the gods. The two stories fit together like puzzle pieces.
It seems unlikely that Charon, Prometheus, and Medusa are the only people leading the charge against the gods in Kaos. If the Netflix series wanted to show how expansive the effort is, they could have Sisyphus already be a part of the movement or join up with them.
3 The Cult Of The Maenads
The Maenads Were A Cult Who Worshipped The Greek God Of Wine
An obvious choice for a myth to include in Kaos season 2 is the Maenads, a cult of women who follow Dionysus. Stories about the Maenads are perhaps the best-known myths related to Dionysus. The group is described as wild, frenzied, and neurotic. They live in the mountains and forests, dancing, tearing animals to pieces, and drinking wine. The group is notable for their violent tendencies, killing characters like King Pentheus and Orpheus.
Since Kaos season 1 introduces the god of wine, showing him partying and having sex, it’s not a far stretch to believe that some of those patrons would worship Dionysus. As such, the Maenads already feel like they would exist within the established world. Since the god is going up against his father after Dennis the Cat’s murder in Kaos season 1, Dionysus could use his Maenads to help plot an attack against the rest of the pantheon.
2 The Relationship Of Aphrodite and Hephaestus
Aphrodite Repeatedly Cheated On Hephaestus Like Her Dad Cheated On Hera
Kaos season 2 will undoubtedly introduce new members of the pantheon, including Aphrodite, the goddess of love. With her introduction, Kaos should also weave in the myth of Aphrodite and Hephaestus. Despite being married to each other, Aphrodite had an ongoing affair with Ares, the god of war. On top of cheating, Aphrodite gave birth to many children with Ares.
In revenge, Hephaestus crafted a golden bed that would trap them, revealing their affair to all the other gods. Even if the show didn’t want to include the revenge aspect of the relationship, Kaos would be better off displaying the dysfunctional relationship between these two spouses.
The inclusion of this couple would show the impact of Zeus’ and Hera’s infidelity on their kids and stepkids. Additionally, it would fit with the more taboo parts of the Netflix show and mythology, since Aphrodite and Ares are half-siblings.
1 The Romance Between Ariadne and Dionysus
Ari And Dionysus Meet At The End Of Kaos Season 1
The last myth that Kaos season 2 would be wise to incorporate is the romance between Dionysus and Ariadne. Not all versions of Ariadne’s myth end with her marrying Dionysus; however, that is one of the possible variations of her story. Dionysus and Ariadne fall in love and get married, with the former gifting the latter immortality – either by putting her crown in the sky as a constellation or by him going into the underworld to retrieve her soul.
The specific events of the myth wouldn’t necessarily fit within Kaos, since Ariadne isn’t in a relationship with and then abandoned by Theseus. However, the dialogue already hints at the possible love story between Dionysus and Ari. The first thing the god of wine says when he sees her is that he thinks he’s in love. Then, at the end of Kaos season 1, he approaches her for help. It seems as if creator Charlie Covell is setting the two up to have a relationship in future seasons of the Netflix show.
