My favorite theory so far is that Polyphemus was absolutely going to let them go after the wine, and after hearing Eye to Eye joke, he decided they needed to die.
Lool Polyphemus already walking away and Ody's like "I'm so glad we see eye to eye btw! 😜" and Polyphemus immediately turning around like "alright, nope. No. Mm-mm.👎🏼"
8:50 Yes, indeed my friend that was Polites smashed by Polyphemus club 🥲 and killing more soldiers while Odysseys is still shocked by his best friend dead
It's just so different listening to the audio and not watching an animatic. It feels so much more real or magical and immersive. I really enjoyed this reaction I can't wait for when you react to the Ocean Saga!
Odysseus shouting his name in the book was definitely a big face palm moment for me as well. However, as I interpreted it here, it feels half on Athena for it. He was getting to the boats, ready to sail away without another word. Polyphemus would’ve been none the wiser to who had blinded him. However, Athena popped into Odysseus’ mind, pushing him to kill when he was both mentally and physically exhausted. Distraught and in mourning, her interference exploded the emotions already churning inside of him. He wanted Polyphemus to remember who had blinded him. To remember who avenged his friends. So, he gave in and screamed his name in anger. Then, instead of sticking with him when he needed her, she just left him. It’s an accurate depiction of how the gods treated heroes, but, _dang_ . ‘My Goodbye’ still hurts. On top of the soldiers that died, he lost two longstanding friends (at least, he saw Athena as a friend) that day.
I disagree with this take. It comes off as a modern interpretation, which isn’t always wrong in Epic, but misses the mark in this case. Partly this is because it places too much responsibility on Athena. It’s not the gods’ place to be responsible. The Peter Parker “great power, great responsibility” isn’t a thing here. Rather, it is the privilege of power to demand of others. But also, Odysseus’s well-being is not Athena’s concern. What is her concern is creating her perfect warrior. Half-way is not perfect. If Odysseus goes all the way, he’s doing what she wants. If not, then he’ll learn the hard way.
I quietly watched your last few Epic reactions, and finally hit Subscribe on this one. For whatever reason, you do a great job of balancing moments of simply listening and taking in what you're hearing, and pausing to give thoughts and feedback. Really been enjoying these, good sir.
Though I initially questioned the choice to react to only the audio of the songs (EPIC's animatics are amazing), I can say I genuinely respect it now. Your knowledge of the source material allows you to more effectively focus on the audio than most reactors I've seen. For instance, I've seen plenty of reactors not ever catch the Odysseus guiatar connection. Additionally, I really like that you give a window into a more average listener's experience; you have to interpret what's happening based on the music. More than that, I really like your distribution of listening to the music / pausing., and I love that what you have to say doesn't just boil down to "Yeah," or "Wow, that's so cool." I'm subscribed now/
To clarify, they were winning the fight. Slicing away at his legs while he was too slow to hit them. The problem came when he reached the back of the cave and drew out his club. It didn't make him faster, but now he can hit.them from farther away as well as not have to lean down. Beautiful decision and very accurate to the situation. Extra reach is what makes weapons so unbelievably powerful.
More details I love about this saga! • In **Remember Them** you can hear in many parts, “Full Speed Ahead” motif. • Some fans had this idea that since Polites dead, Odysseus took his headband and add it to his outfit so he can remember him wherever he goes
I actually love that ur reacting to the songs without the animatics first. It allows ur imagination to run wild, love it. But I do hope after u have reacted to all the sagas u will watch the animatics
One thing my dungeon master told me that has always stuck with me was:"names have power." I'll never forget that. Every time I listen to this saga it reminds me.
Yup Polyphemus did kill Polites 🥹, Jorge ( the creator of Epic and voice of Odysseus, Polyphemus and the lotus eaters ) confirmed that 7 people died in the cave due to being hit with Polyphemus' club.
Doesn't matter how many times I listen to the whole album, the cyclops saga is always the one to really serve the goosebumps. It's really heavy this feeling that were put in these songs, I mean it. The other sagas are all masterpieces, but I can't say that any of them are able to serve the same feeling. Not that the other sagas would have some motive to give off these vibes, but bro.. This saga really is... I mean, I really like all of the other sagas, but I must dare to say that the cyclops one have the best songs in my opinion, cannot ignore this one, truly the masterpiece among all the other masterpieces surrounding it. I just so can't wait to listen to the next one, my God
It's incredibly refreshing to see someone who already knows the story listening in. I've never read the full original poem myself but I've read and watched enough parodies, allusions and adaptations to know the general plot by now, so it's nice to see someone who isn't just going "oh what's going to happen next" and making bad assumptions. Definitely looking forward to seeing you cover the rest of the sagas. Since that's where we find the largest deviations from the original tale.
Everything Ody did in Remember Them would have been fine, just FINE, if he had stopped after the words "Remember me." He hadn't yet said anything about himself. And Poseidon didn't care that Polyphemus was left alive but maimed. He was more offended that someone would dare namedrop themselves and sail off. Harming Poly? Bad, but forgiveable. Letting him live blinded? Bad, but forgiveable. Pridefully telling him who did it? Can't let that slide. I know... that's not how the story goes. But still, I can gripe about it lmao EDIT: Also, one musical detail I absolutely loved with Athena was in Warrior of the Mind, Athena sustained her notes at first, on the word 'Mind' and gradually mirrored Ody's runs. In My Goodbye, she then goes from using his run on Goodbye, to at the very last word, sustaining her note as she did when they first met. I REALLY hope this comes back in the Wisdom Saga, and we hear her slowly open up to him again with gradually growing runs in her singing.
Athena: Don't do anything stupid. Odysseus: Alright... Bet... Hey Polythemus here's my ID, my passport, my home address, my family photo, and my business card.
Adore the fact that because you know the story and myth so well that youre avle to focus on the music motifs! If you're interested in another Greek Mythos themed musical i recommend Hadestown which has an early industrial/jazz twist on a story that i'll leave you to figure out ;)
I did really enjoy the deeper insight of your first two reactions that were only one song, but I'm also glad not to have to wait so long... Really like your reactions
FINALLY! lol I'd been waiting for this to drop since you said you were gonna be doing the sagas as whole chunks and it's so much more fun for me when I know the person who's experiencing this for the first time is also familiar with the source material... I'm so excited for you to continue cause man when you get to the Ocean saga *chefs kiss* (although Thunder saga, the most up to date new saga, is Premotoptier) Great reaction and as always I'm waiting with anticipation for your next to drop. OOH and are you doing the animatics on patreon or are you going to check them out afterwards, or not at all? cause some of the songs will sound slightly different due to the animatics using the original releases instead of the remastered versions you're hearing now.
Thank you! You are the first person from those I watched reacting to EPIC that remembers to enjoy the story with all the actions and events. Yes, we know that giving his name to Polyphemus was the first step that lead to all that is coming, but if it didn't happen we wouldn`t have had this story. We have to learn to accept that everything is a thread weaven to form a story, character development, decisions, losses, wins and all that. Odysseus didn't know for sure how it would play out, as we don`t know for sure how our actions will play out in real life.
Geoff Castellucci has a new video premiering tomorrow, the 9th at 11:30am est..... Imagine by John Lennon. It is absolutely beautiful. Classic from the 1970s.
After You're done listening to poure audio version - please check the animatics! They are not 100% canon but animators took a lot of details Jorge shared on tiktok and sagas debute livestreams to incorporate into the visuals. It is much more heartbreaking with all what is happening to be seen on screen
