Meeting at Olympus? Check. Half mortal half god? Check. Instead of Percy Jackson, “Blood of Zeus” serves viewers with a more mature Greek revival.

One of Netflix’s newest original animes, “Blood of Zeus” takes an original spin on the classic Ancient Greek epic. The series is set with the premise of being a long lost tale, thereby giving creators Charles Parlapanides and Vlad Parlapanides the flexibility of making a completely new story.

Heron, voiced by Derek Phillips, and his mother Electra, voiced by Mamie Gummer, are poor villagers. With a bloodthirsty horde of demons chased through the town by a group of fighters led by Grand Archon Alexia, voiced by Jessica Henwick, Heron encounters the demons. The resulting conflict leads to the reveal that Heron’s father is Zeus, voiced by Jason O’Mara. 

Through a series of flashbacks, the events that led to Electra fleeing to the village are unpacked and old troubles are brought up. When Hera, voiced by Claudia Christian, discovers Zeus’ betrayal, she decides to aid the demon leader Seraphim, voiced by Elias Toufexis, and the other gods must choose sides. The series thus follows the buildup of war by the gods, demons, and humans. 

Blood of Zeus starts off fast-paced and carries this momentum throughout. With fight scenes and frequent flashbacks, there’s no shortage of action and background in every episode. The animations and music complement the story; there are several sections of dramatic music that fit the supposed Greek epic beginnings. As an homage to the creative process, the ending credits feature drafts of the characters’ visual designs and snapshots from the episode.

Not for the faint of heart, this show features plenty of blood and gore. The creators did not shy away from showing the characters’ gruesome ends, but instead of weighing down the story, the violence enhances the tension and keeps the viewers on edge. 

The show’s complex dynamic between the gods, demons, and humans captivated me. The narrative switches between the actions among the gods and the actions of the humans so the viewer can watch how the decisions drastically affect humans. It’s here that the show demonstrates superiority to Percy Jackson. The interconnectedness of the gods, humans, and demons gives the show a greater complexity while still keeping it hero-centered.

Packed with action, this unique story of a Greek hero navigating his way amidst war will satisfy adventure and Hellenic lovers alike. I recommend this show for everyone but would advise caution if you’re averse to blood and violence.