Hello Readers,
Today’s post is a little different it's a music recommendation! If you’re looking for something unique and captivating, I highly recommend Epic: The Musical, a loose adaptation of Homer’s The Odyssey by Jorge Rivera-Herrans. I would just like to say thank you Jorge for creating such a great musical and I hope it gets an adaption either on stage or a film.
Last year, I reviewed act one when its final saga was released, and now the musical has come to an end. From its emotionally powerful ballads to its vibrant storytelling, Epic transforms the classic tale into a modern and far more enjoyable experience than reading The Odyssey.
Please note, the poster images featured in this post were sourced from Google. I do not own the rights to these images and am using them solely for review purposes, in accordance with the 'Fair Use' provisions under sections 29 and 30 of the Copyright Act.
I absolutely love how ‘Suffering’ opens this saga and act two. The saga opens with the sirens attempting to lure Odysseus into the water. Spoiler alert: it’s an incredibly fun and deceptively joyful song. The first time I listened, it completely caught me off guard, especially coming right after the intensity of the Underworld Saga. However, as much as I enjoy Suffering, my top pick for standout lyrics goes to ‘Thunder Bringer’.
“[EURYLOCHUS, spoken]
...Captain?
[ODYSSEUS, spoken]
I have to see her.
[EURYLOCHUS, spoken]
...But we'll die.
[ODYSSEUS, spoken]
...I know.”
Thunder Bringer
The Wisdom Saga is easily my favourite saga in Epic. Every song in this saga feels like a masterpiece, brimming with heart, hope, and incredible storytelling. This saga also contains my favourite misheard lyric Ares: He didn’t even try tequila!
The two opening tracks, ‘Legendary’ and ‘Little Wolf’, primarily feature—Odysseus and Penelope’s son—and they beautifully capture his struggles and perspective on life. Athena also plays a significant role in this saga, and as always, her songs are an absolute delight.
‘Love in Paradise’ is Calypso’s first song and I can’t help but have a soft spot for her. I also love the opening of ‘Love in Paradise’ as it has a snippet of songs from the saga. Then there’s ‘God Games’ the first time I heard it, I teared up at the ending. But when I saw the animation, it completely broke me. I also love how ‘God Games’ features Apollo, Hephaestus, Aphrodite, Ares, and Hera.
“[CALYPSO]
Did you know you talk in your sleep?
Tell me, though, who's Penelope?
[ODYSSEUS]
She’s, my wife.
[CALYPSO]
Anyways, I've got all you could want here”.
Love in Paradise
This saga takes the musical down a darker, grittier path, and the tonal shift from The Wisdom Saga is palpable. It opens with Calypso singing a heartfelt ballad that tugs at your emotions, making it impossible not to sympathise with her.
“Now get in the water
Get in the water
Or I'll raise the tide so high, all of Ithaca will die
Get in the water”.
Get in the Water
This saga marks the end of our journey, concluding the musical on an emotional note. Much like The Vengeance Saga, this chapter is dark and gritty, delivering an intense ending.
The saga begins with Penelope issuing her challenge: to win her hand and the throne of Ithaca. The tone is immediately darker, with songs like ‘Hold Them Down’ and ‘Odysseus’ setting the stage. In ‘Hold Them Down’, the suitors conspire to seize the throne, banding together in a desperate bid for power. But in ‘Odysseus’, the story takes an even darker turn, as Odysseus overhears their plans and unleashes a brutal spree to protect his son and wife, leaving no room for mercy.
After this intense moment, the tone softens with ‘I Can’t Help but Wonder’, a deeply emotional song that captures the reunion between Odysseus and Telemachus. The musical then ends beautifully with ‘Would You Fall in Love with Me Again’, a poignant and heartfelt finale. In this perfect ending, the king and queen of Ithaca lovingly embrace, finally reunited where their story began, after 20 long years apart.
Choosing my favourite lyrics from this saga was no easy task, but I ultimately settled on lines from ‘The Challenge’. I can’t stop humming the tune and you can’t help but empathise with Penelope.
“[PENELOPE]
Whoever can string my husband's old bow
And shoot through twelve axes cleanly
Will be the new king, sit down at the throne
And rule with me as his queen.
Let the arrow fly
Once you know that your aim is true
Cause I'd rather die than grow old without the best of you”
The Challenge
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