© BBC Pictures
Atlantis is finally back for its seven week swan song before it disappears forever, the BBC having decided that it won’t be renewing it despite the improving viewing figures and critical acclaim Part One received last year.
Before the mid-season hiatus we saw Pasiphae fail to tell Jason the complete truth about who he was to her – doing so will of course turn his heart black according to the Oracle – though his close friends, Hercules and Pythagoras, are harbouring the secret that she is his mother. Also, Ariadne was saved at the eleventh hour by our hero, and finally admitted that she did not care for tradition and asked for him to marry her.
Unsurprisingly, this news of the upcoming nuptials does not sit well with the noble families of Atlantis, or indeed with the banished Pasiphae who realises that her chance of taking the throne could be lost forever if the wedding goes ahead. In a desperate bid to terminate Jason and Ariadne’s relationship she hatches a plot that will have far reaching and destructive consequences for many of the characters.
The loss of Vincent Regan last year was a sad blow as I enjoyed his presence at court and felt that he was a stabilising figure for the younger actors to work with. But since I’ve learnt that it will be Emmett Scanlan who will be taking over the role as General, I feel that cannot complain too much. He is a fantastic actor whose career I follow with interest, and with second half of the season looking to have some darker twists he is an ideal replacement. Unfortunately we don’t get to see as much of him as I would have liked in his first episode, but his character is well established none the less.
It is Sarah Parish and Juliet Stevenson who easily steal the show however, as the two accomplished actors spar effortlessly off each other in their shared scenes. If you have read the upcoming press releases then you will know that this could possibly the last time that we will see the pair up against each other, which is a shame as they are always superb. Mark Addy also impresses as Hercules this week, giving us a less jovial portrayal than usual as his role gets some heavier scenes to deal with.
A Fate Worse Than Death airs on Saturday 11th April at 7.45pm on BBC 1 and BBC 1 HD. Below are a few dialogue teasers to see you through until then, if you would like to have a guess at who says what in the comments below then I will fill any correct answers before the episode airs. Don't forget to come back to vote in our poll after the episode and let us know what you thought.
“We all answer to the gods, even you”
“It’s a trap, we’re walking into a trap”
“With everything that’s happened, are you sure we should be going ahead with the marriage?”
“The gods will make their will known. At dawn, you will have your answer”
“Do not pretend to care for my wellbeing; you’ve come to taunt me”
“You should be glad that the gods do not allow you to see your own fate”
“Your marriage to Jason, he is not of royal blood. I fear the nobles never accept it”
“There’s no truer guide than your heart”
“The Oracle is a servant to the gods. Anyone who tried to kill her would be forever cursed”
“You’re giving away our food? What will we eat?”
Trailer Teaser
“There can be no clemency, only justice. The sentence must, and shall, be carried out”
About the Author - Sandi
Sandi is part of the Senior Staff at SpoilerTV having been a contributor from back in the Lost days of DarkUFO, and who now writes previews for Banshee, The Musketeers, Poldark, and other BBC shows. She also enjoys watching and commenting on other shows such as Reign, Hannibal, Game of Thrones and Elementary.
I'm sad this show has been cancelled. I really enjoyed it. Are you able to reveal how things are looking for Jason and Ariadne as a couple? I love them together. And I really don't like love triangles. Is it still clear in this episode that Jason loves Ariadne as much as she loves him? Anything you could share would be appreciated. I didn't like how the promos made it look like a love triangle is happening. :(
ReplyDeleteThere's no triangle in the episode, but it should be pretty clear from the preview above and the upcoming promotional material what state the couple/marriage is in at present.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sandi!!! How are you by the way? :) Always a pleasure to talk to you!
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, I think this "love triangle" will remain unresolved in the upcoming new episodes...The cast has said that many things are left unresolved in the season finale (well, series finale now). I'm going to assume one of the things that will be left up in the air is this triangle. It would have been nice to at least have Jason/Ariadne officially get together and stay together in the last episode especially since the show is ending. But I bet this triangle thing will ruin everything for them. And we'll be left with a cliffhanger. I hope I'm wrong! I really do! We shall see!
You're welcome Juliet. I'm not bad, being kept busy :)
ReplyDeleteI think you may be right, I've heard that there are quite a few deaths and unresolved issues by the end of this season...