WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Blood of Zeus Season 1, currently streaming on Netflix.
Netflix's Blood of Zeus has a sprawling cast of characters as the Greek pantheon of gods try to stave off a civil war and the rise of the Giants as they come for revenge on behalf of the jealous Hera. Heron, the bastard son Zeus is trying to groom as a successor, serves as the heart of the story alongside Seraphim, his half-brother-turned-demon king.
However, it becomes obvious as the first season concludes that the story sidelines its most badass characters.
Heron and Seraphim get most of the screen-time, with the shifty Zeus and the heartbroken Hera constantly in conflict and trying to use the brothers as pawns. There are brief appearances from Zeus' ally Poseidon and Hera's ally Ares. The other demigod bastards, Hermes and Apollo, come to Heron's aid. The big problem with this cast is that, aside from Hera, the goddesses are completely sidelines.
Athena the strategist and Artemis the hunter should have joined Hera. Not only are they awesome warriors, but it would have done a lot to remedy the show's general problems with its treatment of women. It would have been progressive to see these goddesses sticking together and letting Zeus know that time's up for his toxic behavior that destabilizing Olympus.
A feminist movement seeking to give Olympus proper leadership would have been intriguing, as even Poseidon knew Zeus was messing up. This would have made up for how Heron's mom Electra was made into a damsel in distress, how Ariana was brutally killed for trying to save Seraphim as a kid and for Hera being a jealous housewife that wants to kill everyone. Alexia the warrior is a character with potential, but she's not given agency as Heron's love interest and ultimately sideline in the finale.
It's not just the women who could have been given more focus. Zeus mentions Perseus and Hercules, so it would have been great if they joined Hermes and Apollo, or even replaced them. They'd have been able to better inform Heron's transition, and they'd have stacked up as better warriors against the Giants. Audiences are familiar with Hercules' feats and his power, plus Perseus could have been riding Pegasus in the final battle, allowing Heron to focus on Seraphim, Zeus and Hera. Nothing's wrong with Hermes and Apollo, but they don't have as interesting backstories as Zeus' other abandoned sons. Hercules' super-strength and Perseus' skills with a sword would have fit more in line with Heron's grounded abilities in the field, making them an elite yet underdog trio.
Starring Jason O'Mara, Mamie Gummer, Chris Diamantopoulos, Derek Phillips and Jessica Henwick, Blood of Zeus Season 1 is currently streaming on Netflix.
