Netflix’s Kaos is one of the best modern portraits of Greek Mythology, involving all main protagonists: let’s analyze Orpheus and Eurydice.
Kaos has finally landed on Netflix, the first big release in the ending part of Summer 2024. The success was guaranteed way before it was released: the cast is sensational, the plot is full of original ideas, and the concept differs from anything we’ve seen recently. Greek mythology is probably the richest source of stories we have from ancient history, and having a modern retelling of those unique characters is an extraordinary way to revamp the interest in this classic knowledge.
Not everybody knows those stories, though. Therefore, the curiosity about how the characters look in the original Greek mythology has conquered everyone: how are the real Zeus, Dionysus, Hera, Prometheus, Orpheus, and Eurydice? We may need a series of separate articles to explain everything. This article focuses on Orpheus and Eurydice, highlighting how the TV series reimagined their original story.
Orpheus & Eurydice: the Greek Mythology vs Netflix’s Kaos
Orpheus was one of the most captivating figures in Greek mythology. His mother was Muse Calliope, the muse of epic poetry, whereas his father is uncertain (the authors mentioned both the Thracian king Oeagrus and the god Apollo in this regard). Celebrated as a masterful musician, poet, and prophet, he inherited an extraordinary gift for music: his talent was so profound that it was said his lyre could charm all living things—animals, trees, and even inanimate objects.
The power of his music was not only a testament to his divine lineage but also a symbol of the transformative power of art and creativity. In Netflix’s Kaos, his contemporary version is portrayed in the most obvious way: he’s a modern rockstar, with fans recognizing him on the streets and fully booked concerts everywhere. Rock is the music that attracts most followers nowadays, so seeing Orpheus as a famous rockstar is the perfect way for young generations to understand his unique character.
The most famous tale of Orpheus is his tragic love story with Eurydice. Orpheus fell deeply in love with Eurydice, a beautiful nymph, and the two were married. However, their happiness was short-lived. Eurydice was bitten by a snake while fleeing from a satyr and died shortly after. Devastated by the loss, Orpheus decided to descend into the Underworld, the realm of the dead, to bring her back. Armed only with his lyre, he played music so sorrowful and beautiful that it moved Hades, the god of the Underworld, and his queen, Persephone, to grant him a rare favor. They agreed to let Eurydice return with him to the land of the living, but only on one condition: Orpheus must not look back at her until they had both reached the surface.
From this point of view, Kaos takes distance from the original Greek mythology, and the plot goes a little differently: when Eurydice dies, Orpheus is desperate, unable to decide what to do. Dionysus will come to help in the first episode: he wants to help Orpheus to show his value and autonomy from his father’s will. Dionysus is Zeus’s son and wants to prove his worth. Bringing back Eurydice from death would be a perfect way to act as an independent God, disconnected from his father’s will.
In the original Greek mythology, Orpheus’ journey into the Underworld was fraught with tension and uncertainty. After Hades and Persephone allow Eurydice to return to the living world, Orpheus leads her through the dark, twisting paths of the Underworld, his heart heavy with the fear of losing her once again. As they neared the exit, his anxiety became unbearable. Unable to resist, he turns around to make sure she is still behind him, only to see Eurydice fading away, pulled back into the Underworld forever. This moment of doubt and despair sealed her fate and left Orpheus grief-stricken and inconsolable, having lost his beloved a second time.
After losing Eurydice, Orpheus was said to have wandered the earth in sorrow, shunning the company of others and dedicating himself entirely to his music. His songs became even more poignant, filled with the pain of his loss. In some versions of the myth, Orpheus rejected the love of other women, which angered the Maenads, frenzied followers of the god Dionysus. In their rage, they attacked Orpheus, tearing him apart in a brutal frenzy. His head and lyre, however, continued to sing and play as they floated down the river Hebrus, eventually washing ashore on the island of Lesbos, where his music was said to inspire generations of poets and musicians.
In Netflix’s Kaos, things take another direction compared to the original Greek mythology: Eurydice (or better, “Riddy”) comes back to life, but she’s no longer in love with Orpheus. Caeneus becomes the third element in their story, and that’s another original idea of this TV series (Caeneus and Eurydice are two unrelated figures in the original mythology). We don’t want to reveal too many details in case you are still watching Kaos: we may be back soon with more stories, but meanwhile, just enjoy the events in this new light, knowing how Orpheus and Eurydice were represented originally.
