Episode 1

Season: 1

Episode: 1

Information

Airdate

August 29, 2024

Writer(s)

Charlie Covell

Director(s)

Georgi Banks Davies

Chronology
Next →
Episode 2

Episode 1 is the first episode of the first season of the Netflix original mythological dark-comedy KAOS. It was released on August 29, 2024.

Synopsis[]

On the holy day of Olympia, Zeus questions his omnipotence. Down on Earth, Riddy — a mere mortal — is more concerned with matters of the heart.

Plot[]

Prometheus narrates the story of Zeus, the King of the Gods, whom he plans to bring down. He reveals that his plan involves three humans and introduces Riddy as the first one.

Somewhere in Krete, Riddy is pondering how unhappy she is with her life. While on a grocery run, she is approached by Cassandra, who tries to warn her that the gods are stealing human souls and prophecizes that she will leave her husband Orpheus before the day ends.

On Olympus, Zeus is creating storms to celebrate Olympia, when he notices something wrong with the Meander. He is approached by his sister/wife Hera, who reassures him that everything is alright. Back on earth, Dionysus is partying in a club. Feeling bored and dejected, he randomly approaches Nik to talk about his father before realising it's Zeus' special day and that he should buy him a present. Nik advises him to buy a watch as a symbol of time that father and son spend together. Zeus doesn't appreciate the gift at all, and when Dionysus confronts him about wanting to have a more responsible role, he ignores the request. Annoyed by this and by Hera's crude remarks, Dionysus storms off but not before stealing Zeus' watch, which was a gift from Hercules and is believed to be a lucky charm. In Heraklion, a monumet to the gods is unveiled and Zeus is shocked when it turns out to have been devastated, leaving behind a pile of feces and a wall with the words "fuck the gods" sprayed on. On TV, president Minos shouts in rage, while Zeus swears vengeance despite Hera's suggestion that he let Poseidon deal with it.

Riddy gets home, where Orpheus is waiting playing his guitar. They discuss the defilement of the monument and Orpheus' upcoming live show at the Heraklion, with Orpheus revealing that he is going to open with a new song called Euridice. Riddy doesn't like the idea at all, feeling like their relationship is being made public against her will. Orpheus' manager Calli comes to take him to Heraklion.

Zeus is becoming paranoid after the defilement of the monument. Looking in the mirror, he notices a wrinkle on his forehead. Chained to a rock and having his liver eaten by an eagle, Prometheus smiles at his plan starting to come to pass before being teleported to Mount Olympus. Zeus reveals to him that he's afraid his prophecy may be coming true, which would mean the end of the gods' reign. Prometheus reassures him that being a god means Zeus can't be harmed, after which Zeus promptly sends him back to his chains. Alone again, Prometheus smirks and explains that he's lying to Zeus, who can absolutely be destroyed.

Calli and Orpheus are stuck in a traffic jam on their way to the live show, so he pops out of the car to buy cigarettes. He is approached by a devoted fan, which puts him in a great mood. Meanwhile, back in their apartment, Riddy takes a shower. Orpheus arrives at Heraklion, where the feces are being cleaned from the monument. Riddy takes a ride and Orpheus briefly runs into Ari. Dionysus goes back to Nik for more advice and is told to find a purpose of his own instead of trying to live for his father. As the time to perform approaches, Calli reassures Orpheus that Riddy is there to watch him, while she in fact visits Hera's temple to speak to a tacita. Prometheus explains that the tacitas are meant to be keepers of humanity's darkest secrets, which are in fact collected by Hera. Riddy starts her audience and the tacita is revealed to be her mother.

Orpheus starts his show with the song for Riddy, explaining that she is the love of his life, while at Hera's temple Riddy confesses that she doesn't love him anymore. She explains she feels suffocated in the relationship before expressing her anger and resentment towards her mother for abandoning her to serve the gods. She then asks for advice and is reminded about her prophecy, to which she replies that she cares neither about it nor about the gods. The crowd is enjoying Orpheus' show and soon Dionysus teleports to Heraklion to watch it. On her way out of the temple, Riddy runs into Cassandra, which surprises her so much that she stops in the middle of the street and is hit by a speeding truck.

The Tacita unfolds Riddy's prophecy, revealing it to be the same as Zeus', which is followed by Prometheus' claim that no two prophecies are supposed to be the same. Zeus obsesses over his wrinkle. Calli approaches Orpheus on stage and talks to him briefly, leaving him broken in tears. Cassandra and Riddy's mother watch Riddy's body being taken away by paramedics.

Some time later, it is Riddy's funeral and Dionysus has decided to attend. Orpheus is too shaken to give the speech, so he asks the priest to do it. Once the church is empty, Orpheus stays with the coffin and Prometheus explains he would do anything to get Riddy back. Back at home, he gets drunk before going out to buy a gun, which he takes with him to a beach, intending to kill himself. Before he can do that, he is stopped by Dionysus, whom he shoots on instinct. He starts to panic, but Dionysus reveals himself to be a god and impervious to wounds.

Prometheus explains that Zeus wasn't always a god, but a mere mortal, and as such can be destroyed by humans. Riddy finds herself on a ferry in a black-and-white Underworld.