Blood of Zeus

The show features a highly diverse voice cast, including Jessica Henwick as the female lead Alexia and Adetokumboh M'Cormack as the warrior Kofi. It also includes visible LGBTQ+ representation by showing the god Apollo as bisexual, sharing a bed with his male lover Hyacinth in Season 1. This representation is further explored in Season 2 with flashbacks of their relationship. The confirmed presence of LGBTQ+ characters adds to this score.

The show features almost no modern political or activist dialogue. The characters speak in a traditional high-fantasy style suited to Greek mythology. There are no modern social justice buzzwords or lectures on identity politics.

The core story is a classic mythological adventure about a hero fighting demons and titans. However, the show incorporates identity-driven themes through the tragic romance between Apollo and his male lover Hyacinth. This relationship serves as a key emotional motivator for Apollo in Season 2. The inclusion of this LGBTQ+ narrative theme increases the score.

While the series portrays the Greek gods as highly dysfunctional and abusive of their power, this remains a standard depiction of ancient mythology. It does not reframe these conflicts into modern activist critiques of capitalism, patriarchy, or other Western institutions.

The series invents a new protagonist, Heron, rather than altering existing mythological figures for ideological reasons. Apollo's bisexuality is accurate to traditional Greek myth rather than a modern forced change. The depiction of characters like Hades and Hera fits standard mythological drama rather than a woke agenda.

Mainstream backlash against the show was virtually non-existent. A few fringe online comments complained about Apollo's brief bisexual scene or the presence of the strong female warrior Alexia, but these did not lead to a widespread campaign or significant controversy.

Creators Charley and Vlas Parlapanides have expressed a mild interest in diversity, while producer Brad Graeber actively advocates for representation and queer themes. However, the show's directors have completely neutral profiles with no history of socio-political activism, resulting in a moderate overall context.