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In part two of their discussion of The Odyssey, Dr. Jacobi Cleaver and Dr. Jacob Wilson are joined once again by honorary co-host Dr. Morgan Jones. Together, they follow Odysseus through the darkest and most dangerous stages of his journey home. Between thoughtful analysis and hilarious side conversations, the three doctors explore the film’s horror elements, standout performances, and whether Odysseus should truly be considered a hero.
Topics Covered :
Circe’s Island and a Turn Toward Horror
The conversation picks up as Odysseus and his remaining men arrive on Circe’s island. Dr. Morgan Jones highlights the unsettling sight of lions, panthers, and other wild animals behaving strangely calmly. Dr. Jacobi Cleaver explains how the starving men aggressively eat Circe’s food before she transforms them into pigs. Dr. Jones adds that the transformation was created using a series of masks, while Dr. Jacob Wilson praises the scene’s frightening atmosphere. Dr. Wilson also notes that the sequence contains genuine horror elements, leading Dr. Jones to jokingly ask whether the movie was already a horror film.
Facing the Dead and the Weight of the Past
After Circe restores the men, she directs Odysseus toward Hades, where he receives a prophecy about the disasters ahead. Dr. Wilson describes the underworld sequence as “dope” and praises the way the dead rise from the ground. He also identifies Elliot Page’s performance as one of the scene’s strongest elements. Dr. Jones agrees, explaining that Page’s passionate delivery feels poetic and authentically ancient Greek.
Dr. Cleaver points out that the scene reveals how some of the fallen men feel betrayed by Odysseus. Dr. Wilson specifically criticizes Odysseus’s treatment of Sinon, who unknowingly becomes a sacrifice during the plan involving the Trojan horse. Dr. Jones argues that difficult sacrifices are sometimes unavoidable during war, adding another perspective to the debate over Odysseus’s leadership.
Sirens, Monsters, and Impossible Decisions
Dr. Wilson names the siren sequence as one of his favorite moments in the movie. He especially admires the decision not to let the audience hear the sirens’ song. Instead, the film uses slow, haunting music and Odysseus’s reaction to show its overwhelming power.
The discussion then moves to Odysseus’s choice between sailing into a deadly whirlpool or allowing a six-headed monster to kill six of his men. Dr. Jones initially says she would rather go down with everyone than knowingly sacrifice six people. Dr. Wilson disagrees, arguing that a leader should save as many people as possible, even if it requires sacrificing a few. Dr. Cleaver joins the debate while comparing the impossible decision to the responsibility of a captain going down with a ship.
A Hero Who Cannot Escape Himself
Dr. Wilson describes Odysseus as a great warrior who is clever but morally questionable. Dr. Jones agrees that he is morally gray, especially because his pride and choices repeatedly endanger his crew. Although Odysseus tries to defy the gods and prevent the prophecy, his men eventually eat the sun god’s sacred cattle and seal their fate.
Near the end, Dr. Wilson offers one of the episode’s strongest interpretations. He explains that Odysseus’s vision of Athena is actually connected to the young priestess killed during the fall of Troy, representing the guilt and shame he has carried throughout his journey. Dr. Jones builds on this interpretation by connecting the vision to the trauma Odysseus experienced at Troy. Despite its long runtime, Dr. Cleaver, Dr. Wilson, and Dr. Jones ultimately agree that The Odyssey is worth seeing in theaters.
