1.13 Touched By The Gods – Part 2 First, this week’s action. Having been betrayed by her favourite handmaiden, Ariadne has been sentenced to death and it’s up to Jason, who has really landed her in this predicament in the first place, to rescue his beloved and save the day. Ariadne’s fate is to be roasted to death in a big metal bull, though Jason feels he can bypass such a fate by handing himself in. She’s given up hope and, whilst her fate may be sealed, she wants her father to be looked after. Pasiphae leads the search for Ariadne whilst her husband lays dying, unaware that The Oracle plots to save the King and has sent Jason to meet his father, who is secreted away in a leper colony. As Jason and company help Ariadne escape, Jason is knocked unconscious and about to be executed at Pasiphae’s hand, with his life saved by his father who reveals that Jason is their son! Given that the series started with Jason in modern times, was he from Atlantean times and sent into the future? If so, how? Atlantis series one ends on a high with a final episode that fulfils the ambitions of Touched By The Gods, Part 1. Whereas many of the episodes felt poorly paced and underwhelming, this two-part story really had an epic feel with set pieces and performances to match. Sarah Parish and Juliet Stevenson’s exchange is a wonderful moment and a true high point for the series. The Oracle’s cryptic messages are laced with aggression, whilst Pasiphae brims with arrogance. Together, they are truly strong women, with Aiysha Hart’s Ariadne being a third and having some wonderful moments of her own – she isn’t restricted to a wilting maiden role, even when she’s being emotional. With only a few moments of dialogue, Alexander Siddig puts in a beautifully regal performance. His condemnation of Pasiphae’s actions drip with royal poise, without tipping over into melodrama. His performance, very much like Parish’s, commands the screen. Jack Donnelly’s performance actually feels heroic here! Along with Addy and Emms, there’s a sense of gung-ho heroism that should have been present all along. Some of his delivery may still be a bit lacklustre, but he’s improved with this role and will hopefully be more comfortable next time round. The guest star for this week is the always reliable John Hannah, as Jason’s father. Another strong performance from a known name led to a gloriously emotional exchange between Parish and Hannah. The hokey acrobatics have been replaced by well choreographed fight sequences that, whilst lacking bloodshed, feel suitably violent and fitting of the timeslot. There are still a few unanswered questions, especially relating to Jason’s apparent parentage. Did the script writers forget he’s from modern times or will his time-travelling become important later on? Just how will Pasiphae’s fall from grace affect her position? Can Minos really keep Ariade and Jason apart? Read Dave’s review of the previous episode, Touched By The Gods – Part 1, here. Follow our Twitter feed for faster news and bad jokes right here. And be our Facebook chum here.
