Lore Olympus Season Two Wrap Up: Part 1

Season three of WebToon’s hit series Lore Olympus is set to premiere this Sunday, August 27th, 2022. This is the first part of our season two wrap up.

Lore Olympus 101

Witness what the gods do…after dark. The friendships and lies, the gossip and the wild parties, and of course, forbidden love. Because it turns out, the gods aren’t so different from us after all, especially when it comes to their problems. Stylish and immersive, this is one of mythology’s greatest stories–The Taking of Persephone–as it’s never been told before.

Created by Rachel Smythe, Lore Olympus follows the complicated and slow burn relationship between Persephone, goddess of Spring, and Hades, King of the Underworld. The entire pantheon of Greek gods and goddesses fill Smythe’s colorful world with their drama, intrigue, and chaos one would expect from mythology.

Before we jump into a new season, let’s take a look back on the action-filled, titanesque (see what I did there?) culmination of season two.

Season Two

At the end of Persephone’s trial for acts of wrath, Zeus’s punishment comes in the form of banishment from Olympus. For her crimes, Persephone is sent to the mortal realm. But the other gods suffer as well, as Zeus severs all communication between Olympus, earth, and the Underworld. Zeus refuses to reverse his ruling until Persephone can prove herself as the goddess of Spring and as the de facto goddess of Harvest in place of her mother, Demeter. Swift and harsh, Zeus’ punishment causes an uproar among the gods and goddesses, but perhaps none more than Hades. At the last possible minute, Hades confesses his love to Persephone just as her banishment is enacted.

Ten years pass, and we find Persephone has flourished in her duty to care for the mortal realm and gathered an unexpected group of friends. These include Minthe, the nymph Persephone accidentally turned into a plant during a fit of rage. Artemis, who chose exile for her friend over living a life of lie with her family on Olympus. Eris, the goddess of Discord, previously shown as a source of shared fear amongst the pantheon, thrives alongside Persephone as friends. With her family of nymphs working diligently by her side, Persephone survived years of harsh rejection at Zeus’ hand. 

Zeus however, as he always does, has an ulterior motive.

Zeus’ Role in Lore Olympus

In keeping Persephone tethered to the mortal realm, Zeus effectively removed the single biggest threat to his rule: a fertility goddess. Rumors of Persephone’s status as a fertility goddess are hinted at throughout the series. But we finally receive confirmation straight from the God of the Heavens himself. Zeus explains that fertility goddesses are basically sources of untapped power.

Over the course of history, previous deities have used the power of fertility goddesses to achieve domination over all. The most recent god to do so was Zeus himself. He consumed the goddess Metis in order to gain the strength to defeat his father, Kronos. With Apollo’s sights set on his father Zeus’ throne, Persephone’s mere existence is a threat to Zeus’ control of Olympus. 

What Will Persephone Do?

Persephone, though, has had enough of Zeus’ games and decides to take matters into her own hands. Certain that something is amiss in the Underworld, she sets out to return to her former home and her lost love. 

What will our heroine find? Stay tuned for part two of the Lore Olympus season two finale breakdown.