Skip to content

TV Review: ATLANTIS Season 1, Episode 4 ‘Twist of Fate’

Written By:

Tony Jones
atlantis-s1-e4-review

Twist of Fate has the briefest of setups: Jason, Pythagoras and Hercules are out hunting and find a baby boy left out to die. They can’t leave it; so they bring it back Atlantis. Meanwhile, the city is currently playing host to King Laius (Tristan Gemmill) and his young queen (Elen Rhys). Our heroes have little to do in the bulk of this story except look after the baby. This does give a good opportunity for the relationship between Hercules (‘what will she see in me? I’m old and fat’) and Medusa to deepen and this is one of the elements of the show that Starburst has been impressed with.

Most of the drama takes place in the palace; Sarah Parish as Queen Pasiphae is excellent, both flirting with King Laius and arguing with her daughter Ariadne. Sadly her husband King Minos (Alexander Siddig) has become something of a minor character that adds very little to proceedings. Given how well his role in Star Trek: DS9 developed we expect more from this character.

Inevitably we learn that the baby is the child of Laius, but are surprised when we find out that his wife is the child’s mother – this is not some out-of-wedlock bastardy story. When we learn her name is Jocasta distant bells ring and eventually we twig that this is the story of Oedipus, destined to kill his father and marry his mother; all very mythic and all very true to the original.

We do have a chase sequence to give Jason and company something to do but it is rather formulaic. Unlike previous stories, this takes a Greek myth and does nothing new with it. We enjoyed the episode as part of a series but in its own right we’re afraid it adds little. Overall an entertaining but forgettable:

Tony Jones

You May Also Like...

chinese remake of anaconda drops trailer

ANACONDA Trailer Grants First Look At Remake Of 1997 Horror Flick

Three sequels and a spinoff-crossover film wasn’t enough for the 1997 creature feature Anaconda, which not only has a new movie in development, but is getting a Chinese remake! From
Read More
black widow star scarlett johansson in talks to lead new universal jurassic world film

Scarlett Johansson In Talks To Join JURASSIC WORLD Film

Another MCU star appears to be taking up the reins for Universal’s new Jurassic World movie: two-time Oscar nominee Scarlett Johansson is reportedly in talks to lead the franchise that
Read More

Exclusive Reveal! Titan Comics to Deliver Prehistoric Hysterics in First 2 DUMB DINOS Collection

Titan Comics have exclusively revealed to STARBURST that they’re gearing up to publish the first-ever collection of the hilarious cult digital comic strip 2 Dumb Dinos, and we’re not the
Read More

New Dates For Lovecraftian Key of Dreams

Key of Dreams has announced new spaces for its titular immersive luxury horror event. The critically acclaimed company is known for its overnight experiences that dunk you into a strange
Read More

FAB Café to Host Free Film Screening of New Indie Comedy SECRETS OF A WALLABY BOY

We’re well known for our championing of truly independent filmmakers here at STARBURST, so it’s doubly exciting to be writing about one of our own! After joining the crew in
Read More
colin farrell returns as oswald cobblepot in the penguin series trailer

Colin Farrell Returns In THE PENGUIN Trailer

Colin Farrell returns as Gotham City’s answer to Tony Soprano in the first trailer for Max series The Penguin, which spins out of the world of the 2022 DC film
Read More