ITHACA SAGA - Full Unedited Reaction!!

Not the treasure planet reference. I wasn't sobbing till then. 😭😭 I am way late but I wanted to thank you for sharing this moment in time with us. It is a hard thing, expressing your emotions authentically in general, let alone in front of a camera. I felt like I re-experienced Epic with you through this. It was a journey I was glad to make. Can't wait to check out everything else and be along for the ride!

Lunal

I honestly can’t believe this got noticed by Mortius. I know this is Patreon, so it’s more exclusive, but seeing that I was hearted genuinely makes my day.

Chandler Blackwell

This is probably going to be lost in the comments, but I wanted to share what I learned. In the background of “Odysseus”, the guitar is playing the main melody of “The Underworld”

Chandler Blackwell

I don't usually comment on things, but seeing you all but break down hyperventilating at 1:21:20 onward is facinating to me as someone with a personality disorder, the reactions to songs can be as if not more impactfull than the song itself when I can see just how much it effects others. EPIC is what led me to your channel and I have no intention of leaving any time soon, looking forward to what comes next.

Sean gilhooly

Thought I'd mention that the sound you heard around the time that Telemachus and Odysseus reunite that you couldn't quite place sounds like it comes from the first saga when he's saying the words at the beginning of the song "Just A Man" when he says "I look into your eyes and I, think back to the son of mine, you're as old as he was, when I left for war".

Elizabeth Drennon

In the odyssey Telemachus' diplomatic mission was involved with him trying to find his father.

Daniel Walker

I could be wrong but as far as I'm aware I remember that being a scene, I haven't seen it in any animatics so I feel like I haven't made it up. If I have let me know 😅🤣

Shannon Gibbons

Ohhh shoot I've seen that in a couple of animatics now but didn't realise that was lore accurate. I've just started reading the poem, but got a long way to go !!

Clarissa

I don't know if it's been mentioned. But during "the challenge" the reason penelope says she'd rather die is that in the original odyssey she set the axes up in line with the throne. So if they shot through they'd also shoot her. Showing that even if they won the throne they wouldn't win her 😭💓

Shannon Gibbons

And now I have come to the screams of fear, and I have a notion I came up with today that I wish I could commission from an animator that I wanted to tell you about! Beheading a suitor in front of the rest is nowhere near as terrifying as the pursuit predation game he'd already been doing, in my opinion. XD What I've come up with as the only thing I feel like would bring them to the utter fear expressed in the audio would be if he pulled a move like the moment between Get in the Water and Six Hundred Strike where he seemed so close to the Underworld that he was interacted with by the restless ghosts of the 600 men. What if they all show up: spooky, and terrorizing the remaining suitors with the threat of restless death.

Marguerite McBee

Another comment: Telemachus was out consulting with the other kings Ody had fought alongside in Troy to get stories of what news they'd heard of his father. He was on the trip per Athena's direction before she found Ody on Calypso's island and sought to have him released, then she told him to go back. XD Though, to be fair, I've got half my awareness of this story from Overly Sarcastic Productions' telling of the Odyssey.

Marguerite McBee

Further comment: I've heard a suggestion that Ody had a different kind of bow, so it wasn't just about the draw strength being too great, but that it was a different set up than they understood. I don't think she messed with it, otherwise they would've had reason to cry fowl (as opposed to Antinous' temper tantrum leading to Hold 'Em Down).

Marguerite McBee

So, traditionally the shroud Penelope is weaving is for her father-in-law. Also, the storm that Penelope's reacting to has to be the 600 Strikes storm, not the Keep Your Friends Close storm.

Marguerite McBee

Mortius, right after Odysseus kills Melanthius. He shoots 8 shots, same number of blows dealt by the Cyclops in the cave. Again proving he's more than mortal now

Simon Weed

the fact he carved the bed then built the palace around the bed is absolutely beautiful

Phoenix Mackenzie

Can’t believe you quoted Treasure Planet lol I mean… mood but like. What whiplash 😂

Sarah

something else to point out is that odysseus calls out penelopes name twice for two acts, and her call for waiting lasts 20 seconds, and (possibly coincidental) says waiting 7 times for the 7 sagas where she doesn't see him (counting the wind bag because she saw the ship).

Joshua Zumbuehl

the motif you were having a hard time pinpointing, was open arms when odysseus and telemechus embraced each other

Joshua Zumbuehl

How dare you say something so poetic about the future of Epic?! They will RATTLE THE STARS?!!!😭😭😭

Kenzie Garbiel

About the thing you said after Odysseus basically told Athena that he's retiring from being her Warrior of the Mind and that he's hoping she'll be able to create a better world, maybe even with Telemachus of the next Warrior of the Mind. One might say that this is their legacy, their garden where they plant the seeds Odysseus will never get to see /ref Also how tragic it is that he basically told her he'll die and she will still be alive. Same with Telemachus. The ending is so bittersweet, because yeah, he did get to reunite with his family, but he's broken, he lost himself and he sacrificied/lost so many of those he loved and cared about. Once his sister Ctimene, who isn't in the musical, but still, found out he traded her husband's (Eurylochus) life just to see his own spouse again, it would be awful.

Edielle

This was amazing, watching the last of the concept album with your reactions, and seeing all of the journey we've watched and listened to end, at least for the concept album. One note, just to share for fun- Odysseus didn't have anyone else make that bed, like it sounded you assumed. He carved and designed it all himself, literally into that tree he was talking about, so it was absolutely rooted into the ground. And the only people who knew he did that, all the details, were himself, and Penelope. One last test to see if it was him.

James StClair

Epic has been one of the best things I have ever found. And you, Mortius, are one of the best people on YT and I just love your reactions. You are such a wholesome and gentle person. We have a lot in common, you and I. And we have reacted in similar ways through this journey. SO thank you for that. I cannot wait to see how big Epic becomes. And how FAR YOU WILL GO!

Amanda Inman

Fun fact, the song King was renamed to Odysseus because every Named Monster gets their own name in a song title.

Drew Schneider

Just joined the patreon, can't wait to see more😸

Boo

Not to rain on Mortius or anything, but to me that quote felt like something taken out of "Treasure Planet", I might be wrong, but it felt eerily close to it

TheeDanishViking

yeah no I can't wait three weeks for the whole thing XD. The "oh no I don't want that song stuck in my head" yeah I feel that so hard haha. Ill start just singing it out loud and then I'm like oh no, no don't do that.

Steven Creech

That diplomatic mission was from Athena to go find out what happened to Odysseus in the Odyssey I believe.

Morgan Estep

Honestly, i came back to your patreon Specifically for this reaction. I am not in the position rn, where i can stay subscribed but as other commentors have pointed out, no other Reaction Channel even comes close to the experience you deliver. Every second of this Video was filled to the brim with your passion for this project. I think i almost cried harder at this reaction as i did when i first watched the stream when it came out. So thank you, you have such a beautifull soul and are a true Enrichement to this community. Also: "This show is going to rattle the stars, and I can't wait to be there, catching some of the light" Might be one of the most beautifull things i have ever heard ngl, so good on you for coming up with that on the spot xD Also Also: When i first saw the flashback animatic of all the previous animatic with Odysseus Belting his heart out over it, that was a god damn trancendental experience, so i am glad that it seemed to have hit just as hard for you as it did for me xD

TaeIsBae

Not the same island. The winions told Polities to go east. I assumed it was close but not exactly the same place.

Breanna Marino

this was so worth joining, no other reaction channel gets as into things as you do that resonates w me so much. Much love from a fan who joined today but is excited to watch more of your content!!

Cody Nathaniel

This Musical changed my year in just the month or so thats I've watched and caught up on everything

Simon Weed

When I hear the “Just a man” theme play in the background, just after Penelope tells Ody “don’t tell me you’re not the same person, you’re always my husband”, it makes me think back to my first playthrough of Undertale and how I felt when I saw the mirror that says “despite everything, it’s still you”. Like, despite all the trauma he’s been through and how much he’s changed, there’s still always gonna be a part of Ody, at his very core, that’s just a man who loves his family, friends and home. It makes me feel like now that he’s with his family again he can find a new light and heal🥹❤️ Loved your reaction btw💖

tsukihimeyfan

Mortius being an absolute poet.

William Wolffe

I thought it was just saying polyphemus lol

Izzy

I thought that was gigi but i wasnt sure. Thats so cool!

Izzy

Truely Epic

Montavious

Joined the patreon specifically for this reaction and I intend to watch it repeatedly to bask in the ups, the downs, and the neuro-spicey solidarity of sometimes just having to hop right out of your own shoes with joy-stim. Mortius, you'll never know the true extent to which I *needed* your soft soul and eloquent words at this stage of my life. But finding you (and Casper <3) on youtube, and following here, has been an essential light in the darkest of times. Congrats on being the first (and probably only) artist I will ever pre-save to my spotify (and yes, that is even counting our Lord and Savior Jorge) because dammit you are WORTH IT good sir!

Hayley Miller

1 thing I noticed was that in the final song when Odysseus tells her what he’s done the instruments play ruthlessness, thunder bringer and Scylla

Gavin Gibbons

I dont know if this is a hot take or not but when I first listened to the stream I heard the "Ody-se-us" chanting as "Ody Save Us!" like, the suitors begging for mercy as they're being slaughtered. Its probably just my ears playing tricks on me (auditory processing issues amirite) but I still think its very fun Im pretty sure its intended to be saying "Odysseus" to mirror the "Polyphemus" chanting from Polyphemus as you observed I just wanted to say that I really love your reactions, joined as a Patron for Twisted but I've been watching for a while through the Epic stuff and they're all awesome :00

Duckie

"This show is going to rattle the stars, and I can't wait to be there, catching some of the light." Sir?! SIR?!?! WHAT ABSOLUTE POETRY

Spidersilk559

I’m pretty sure Polyphemus’s cave was on the, Winion island.

StormyDear

A few things: 1. Penelope is actually making her Father's Funeral Shroud, but I love your interpretation as well. 2. Like others have said, Ody's Bow was weird in its construction and also had a heavy draw weight. 3. Telemachus was actually out looking for his father, at least in the original epic. He went to a bunch of the places Ody did, learning the story of what happened from the people he met. I don't know if this was changed for EtM though...

Logan Baxter

In case no one had pointed this out yet: The last three song names say "Odysseus, I can't help but wonder, would you fall in love with me again?" And I interpret this as Penelope also having doubts about whether she would be accepted by her husband as well.

Tinysweetbunny

I have the theory that penelope KNEW they wouldn't be able even string it but decided to add the "shoot through 12 axes cleanly" to 1) hide the truth it was pretty much impossible 2) make SURE it HAD to be oddyseus in case somr suitor got "lucky" or cheated. Also, the chants of oddys name remind you of anyone? Perhaps a prophets final chant 😁 I loved this saga, its a perfect ending to this whole musical! And the just a man motif in the background of the final song but this time its not for a sad moment was fantastic and so satisfying. Great reaction! If you need to feel better, I recommend watching an animation by gigi "hold them down" parody song (it's so good and the VA for antinous actually sang it bc he found it so good!)

AceOfTheDeck

Someone else pointed out that the number of arrow sounds towards the end of Odysseus match the number of club swing sounds from Polyphemus. Someone also said you can hear Odysseus at the end of hold them down. Very quiet though. I miss stuff like this all the time so hopefully someone else can confirm that. Great reaction, it did not disappoint. So many moments where I first listened through I kept thinking “oh Mortius will love this, oh Mortius will hate this, oh Mortius will definitely notice this etc.” I do look forward to seeing rewatching of the last couple songs to see more of the musical analysis, but I understand that the first time through is very emotional.

Breanna Marino

This has been such a journey and somehow having your reactions along the way has elicited more emotions from me for this musical than I felt the first time around, so thank you for that.

Tia Neilla

It is! The modern term for its type is a recurve bow, though it had a specific name in ancient times. That I can’t recall.

Trey Nix

Interestingly, I'd say of all the surviving characters, it's Athena who most fully inherits Polites' will. She's the one who's wondering about a better world, and the one who's entrusted with making it. Odysseus can't do it, and while I think Telemachus could, he's got to much worship for Odysseus at the point where the story ends he can't really. So it falls to Athena, the one who disdained Polites' ideals the most at the beginning, to carry them one

Jeff Champlin

The thing about Odysseus’s bow is that it wasn’t a traditional bow. It was a backwards bending bow, meaning that it looked like a bow bent in the wrong direction. There’s a special way to string it that not many people know, truthfully not even sure if it’s a real bow or not

IllustriousIllusionist

The most beautiful part of the last song for me are the instruments. At the very end, it is only a viola and guitar, symbolizing the final unity of Odysseus and Penelope. Finally no gods, no monsters, no suitors. Just simply…them. 😭

Elijah

I’d love if you reacted to the davidsings/gigi alternate Antonio’s parody song

Kurosaru

YES! I was thinking the same thing. As long long it is on purpose not a coincidence, I'm not sure how you meant that part "just as A gets in front of them"

Nobody

Exact same situation with me

Chandler Blackwell

I've watched this saga with the animatics five times now, two of which was this reaction. And every time I cry. It's so beautiful- the music swells, combined with beautiful visuals is just an absolute treat for someone who has followed it through it's creation. And I'm glad part way through I was in this community as we watched it grow together. I'm excited to be here for what's to come, be it Epic or anything else. ^^

Daisy whatzittoyou

I have listened and watched this saga and other reactors over and over already, but it was your reaction that made me tear up again. It's hard to find reactors with as much passion as you! Your passion is so infectious, and you pick up my mood so quickly! Thank you!

StellarStudios

I think everything emotional I could say right now has already been said by others in this comment section and other parts of social media, so instead let me be the one to ask: epic cast watch party compilation reaction when?

Chris Cipher

I am so thankful for your chanel Mortius. You are the one that got me into Epic to begin with. It has been an amazing journey following along with you. Thank you Mortius 💗💙

Sioned Davies

Yeah, I think he just just absolutely peeved off and disgusted at one of them attempting to use his late best friends ideology against him after what they was planning and all it did was anger him more

Phoenix Mackenzie

I don't think anyones mentioned it yet but when Odyssrue is recounting what he has done in Would you fall in love with me again. Different motifs play Left a Trail of Red on every island (Ruthlessness is mercy upon ourselves) As I traded friends like objects I could use (Thunder Bringer) Hurt more lives than I could count on my hands (Drown in your sorrows and fears)

FryTheFish

Small adjustment, it was for odys father who was old and potentially not far off passing so it was "let me get this made ready for when he passes"

Phoenix Mackenzie

I don’t know if anyone has said this already so I will. Odysseus’s bow is a godly recurve bow, there’s a trick to stinging a recurve bow that only Odysseus and Telemachus knew. On top of that it has a draw weight of 200lbs I think, so only Odysseus or something like him would be strong enough to shoot it at full draw Edit to add: it was considered shameful to kill a man with a bow because a bow is a hunting weapon so when Odysseus slaughtered the suitors with his bow he was basically calling all of them animals

IndigoFusa

So fun fact, found the video for callbacks Jorge did about Antonius and how he originally went for Tireseus. The notes that Jorge gave about him were interesting, for this version it's not so much that he sees all of time but rather can see the perspective of that person and that's what's laid out before him. Meaning the man who makes it home isn't "no longer you" but how Oddy sees HIMSELF after everything. Penelope dismantles that with his own actions and remarks about being asked to move the bed. Which also then makes "don't tell me you're not the same person" hit way harder afterwards. It's all that pain she's had for 20 years bursting out!

TheSuperSonicBlur -

Jay throwing MICO off the sofa in just a man in the watch party tho

Izzy

Jay apologising for his words not being articulate when his normal ‘articulate’ words are: little froggy in the window. Mither deer and her ✨BeBeHs✨

Izzy

I literally waited for this reaction to finally sign up for your patreon.

Michelle West

The moment the Just a Man instrumental was playing I've cried so hard. Also.. it started with gigi and it ended with gigi. I was so perfect 🥲

Teelchen

The "Diplomatic Mission" Mentioned, Is the story of the Odyssey, Or Rather, how Telemachus learns about it, By going to the various Isles and Allied States of Ithica and learning from those Kings who fought with Odysseus through the Trojan War, and met with him at several points during his accursed journey, Aiding his return to Ithica. With Telemachus then racing home and just barely Beating / Being Beaten (Cant Remember if im being honest.) by Odysseus to Ithica after learning all of it.

Chibi Potate

The shroud Penelope weaves is meant to be Odysseus' burial shrowd - in Greece, at the time the myth is set, heroic burials involved dressing the corpse in a specially-made attire. Her stipulation to marry was basically "I won't marry until my husband is buried" which would have been appropriate, if maybe excessive to some people after a few years passed with him considered dead.

Eliška Svobodová

The last one is definitely not sorry for loving you, not Scylla, but yeah

Null

A fun connection, the song being called "Odyyseus" is anouther way to call him a momster. "Sylla" "Polyphemous" "charibdis" all songs that just use the monsters name as the titile.

max yoder

So, the thing about the challenge is that the suitors are all nobles, not warriors. They don't have experience nor training in stringing a bow designed for combat. On top of that, even if they did know what they were doing and have the strength to get the proper draw strength on the bow, shooting through the holes of 12 axe heads could only be accomplished by a soldier with years of practice. It's a challenge intentionally designed to be impossible, even for a brute like Antinous who's capable of beating up a 20 year old with no fighting experience. This is a challenge only someone like Odysseus could accomplish.

Jeremy Gares

I redubbed at the $10 tier specifically to watch this reaction, and I'm really really glad I did because it reminded me to pre order that Epic Crewneck while the window was still available! The sleeve designs are gorgeous and I'm going to love talking to people about the album when they ask what I'm wearing. Also, what a saga huh? The whiplash between 38 and 39 had me on the floor

Jeremy Gares

I love watching mortius taking emotional damage in real time (but tbh same)

Lenya Hope

Oh right dang it I love this Disney how did I forget this quote ?! ;-;

꧁ Gasai Yuno シ ꧂

Hi, great recording. I've got something I think you'll enjoy. A way to wash "Hold Them Down" out of your head. https://youtube.com/shorts/FCffjiRrW4Q?si=3qw5sAkV69Chfi8f. I don't knoe if you can access links through comments, if not search " Gigi Epic the musical parody" It should be tge first short you see, with Commision writen over a picture of Telemacus.

max yoder

For "Odysseus" : i honnestly think Ody's not through Polites teaching and... Let's be honnest, Polites would also go nuts if he found out what the suitors planned

Sin

WHAT AN EXPERIENCE!!!! I would love to see you and casper go through the live stream from start to finish just for the cast's goofiness alone!! (Probably not gonna happen so at least you might be able to watch it for fun in your own time..?)

GPTC

I am not gonna be normal about this

Ashton

1:28:53 Literally all of us😭😂😭😂😭

Itzayana

He said he plans to do it in 2-1-2,

Phoenix Mackenzie

Been around since your first Epic video, been an awesome crazy ride

Jakob

I think “diplomatic missions” is a nod to the start of the Odyssey, which actually starts 20 years in, with the suiters being a problem and Telemachus having to deal with them and so he goes to the old kings who fought in Troy in order to find out what happened to Odysseus after they parted ways. He finds out that Odysseus is on Calypso’s island and then he returns home. The whole journey of Odysseus is actually told as a veeery long flashback lol

crocky

Re: the olive tree wedding bed, Odysseus actually built the room around the tree where they met and then truly built the bed himself. Then he designed a palace around it. The ‘trick’ or special bit is that it was carved of a living tree and is still rooted to the ground—this is a test to prove Ody’s identity because the literal only people who knew this information were Pen, Ody, and the single handmaid that waited on Penelope since she married Odysseus. Penelope was scared that she would be tricked by someone pretending to be him and thus accidentally betray him/cheat on him, so she came up with a final test to ensure he was her true husband. It’s a gorgeous symbol of their marriage, and I’m so glad Jorge included it! 😍

Tessara Dudley

Odysseus bow was specially made (it was made for Heracles) and needs a certain trick to string that only he knew

NotAVegan3

The last two songs just work way better if they're side by side in a video. Odysseus is the only one that works fine by itself

Boo

I highly recommend splitting the videos as "The Challenge/Hold them down" - "Odysseus" - "I can't help but wonder/would you fall in love with me"

Boo

I don't see anyone saying it, but during that graphic part about Penelope on Hold Them Down, the violin sounds like it's screaming 'No'. The same way Odysseus screamed no when the wind bag was opened. Also Ruthlessness is mercy upon ourselves, thunder bringer, and something I can't put my finger on, play when Odysseus describes everything he's done to Penelope

Silverymess

On top of the chants in Odysseus referencing Polyphemus, the last two are the same as at the end of No Longer You. Tiresias' prophecy has been fulfilled.

Picea

I really anticipated them to kiss, but goddammit!

Lucy Jackson

I found you shortly after I found Epic, and Both you and Everyone from the Epic cast have made my life so much better!! It has brought me a love for Greek Mythology and it has reignited my Love for Musicals! Now everyone who's been here before Ithica can say we've all had our parts in Epic whether it's from making content like the amazing stuff You, Casper and all the Animators make! Or the Small parts like me and any one just subscribed or supporting with our views to show we want this. We all had our parts in making Epic the MASTERPIECE It has and will always be! Thank you, So much For being a Comfort Creator for me. Anytime I feel sad I know watching one of your videos (even if it's a sad one) will always lighten my Heart, Keep doing what you are doing and never stop! Can't wait to listen to Rediscovery when it drops, I can assure I will be running it on repeat! Thank You Mortius. 💜🩷

LunaHalo17

I think the "diplomatic mission" was a reference to back when Jorge originally had Telemachus go on a bit of an adventure with Athena. In We'll Be Fine, Telemachus's line "I got in a fight and I didn't die" was originally "I got in a boat and sailed to an island." My guess is that we're meant to just assume he's just off doing princely things under Athena's mentorship

Emma DeFrank

I’ve seen a Cas and Mortius cameo in The Challenge, but I sincerely hope that’s the only song they show up in animatics for. 🤞🏽

Tessara Dudley

ive had the whole saga on repeat since it dropped but i swear to god every time i get to odysseus i put it on repeat like 5 times and then finish the saga and start it over again. the entire saga is so good. the musical as a whole is so good. odysseus the song is like actually addictive to listen to

ariona leilani

The diplomatic mission in The Odyssey is a journey Athena (in the guise of an old man named Mentor) encourages him to go on: she tells him to visit the kings who fought beside his father in the Trojan War and ask them if they have any news about his father. Lol, can you tell I have the Iliad and Odyssey as a special interest?

Tessara Dudley

I meant Poseidon's "Die" from "Ruthlessness" right before he destroyed Odysseus's fleet. His delivery there was very calm. Almost casual to me, which is how Ody delivered "no." The screamed "die" you're referring to was in "Get In The Water."

Anon E. Mouse

And the reason the bow was so hard to string is that it was a backsprung bow, potentially with an exceptionally heavy draw-weight. This would mean you would need both high strength but also the knowledge of how the bow should be strung. Elsewhere in The Odyssey, we see that Odysseus is described as having unusual strength and prowess, and he is frequently referred to as god-like—Penelope set the challenge knowing it would be incredibly hard and potentially impossible for any man but her husband.

Tessara Dudley

Yeah I was looking and I also couldn’t find any evidence of that, the person I heard it from could’ve just stated a hypothetical as fact, thats on me for not fact-checking prior

Zavier Raynor

Yes, die was a scream(?) where as no was a barely restrained rage(probably not phrased the best but hopefully my point gets across)

Phoenix Mackenzie

TBF that's wasn't odys doing so, the point remains 🤷🤣

Phoenix Mackenzie

Yeah really was an insta-kill phrase, like dude... No, that's how you shorten your life to none existent

Phoenix Mackenzie

Another comment, if it wasn’t in the odyssey then idk where it came from🤷🏼

Zavier Raynor

Jay really went "you get muddled with subtext? Here have text!" And left no chance of confusion

Phoenix Mackenzie

One thing I really love about Penelope‘s voice in The Challenge compared to in Suffering is that the timber of her voice is different in The Challenge than it is in Suffering, which also alludes to fake Penelope in Suffering being fake Penelope Also, in The Challenge, Penelope says “my husband‘s old bow“ and in Odysseus the suitors say “old king“… Just a super cool little tidbit! It also took me a few listeners to hear it, but in Odysseus, Odysseus locked the weapons room, but then Telemachus came back, saw what was happening, opened the weapons room to arm himself, and forgot to lock the door. Which is why the suitors say that it’s hard to believe that the sharpest of kings left his weapon room unlocked

Kjrsten Schindler

Balling my eyes out this is fine 👍 Seriously tho I'm so glad to see so many people going through the journey of Epic. This community is truly wonderful and I'm glad it brought me to your page and your content :)

Sleepy.novatea

I mean, the birthday parody was funny. But yeah, HTD is worth it as soon as Ody starts getting rid of the suitors.

Kenzie Wing

AHHHHH I was not ready for this finale 😭😭 love it so much! Those final 2 songs shot up to some of my favorites, especially the finale And Anna Lea, with so little relative show time just knocking it out of the park! "Only my husband knew that" has started the waterworks on every rewatch, and then the "waitings" at the end kill me And TEAGAN! So good to hear her come back! And Athenas final conversation with Ody is now my favorite series of lyrics in the show. It's phenomenal. And thank you Mortius for these amazing discussions that I got to look forward to with each of these saga releases ❤️ (And I see you with that Treasure Planet ref at the end)

Tyler Harding

I just think of the birthday parody for HTD, which makes me feel a little better. And I also get an unholy glee from the instant karma that ends the actual song. But I know some people said they were most looking forward to HTD, and that honestly did make me uncomfortable as heck.

Tessara Dudley

Where did you get this from? It’s not in any version of The Odyssey I’ve read—is this from Jorge?

Tessara Dudley

The shroud mentioned in The Challenge is meant to be Laertes’ shroud, since he was getting older—in The Odyssey she gets away with using the shroud as a stalling tactic for 3 years before one of the servants tell the suitors (some of the suitors had seduced and slept with some of the servants at various points while they waited).

Tessara Dudley

One more thing to make it heart wrenching. When you realize at the very end of the last song, that's the first time they've been able to say 'I love you' face to face to each other in 20 years.

August

I watched the premier the other day on the way home, sitting in the backseat. Not the best thing to watch on a drive home I was a little bit of a mess LMAO 😭🤣

Rory💕

Absolutely amazing reaction as always! This whole saga was astounding and the last two songs had me in tears. I can't wait to see where it goes from here.

MandaPanda

the way jorge GROWLS in odysseus is so fucking TERRIFYING god I love it

Teagle Da Beagle

Yeah, from what I remember correctly, the bow was a gift from someone who also made weapons for Heracles.

MildlyPerturbed

I cried so much more with Mortius. He’s absolutely right, this is just the beginning. Not the end ❤️

Olessia Tchijova

I absolutely loved how Jorge incorporated the wedding bed trick from the original poem!

MildlyPerturbed

I work with foster kiddos and have been showing them Epic during our morning transports. While I won’t be able to show them some songs in this saga, I know that “I Can Only Wonder” will be their new favorite song. Seeing them being able to relate to their favorite character (Telemachus) but also being able to see the parents POV, they’re going to love this and it will open the door to some good conversations. Epic has so much meaning for so many different kinds of people :)

Bailey Schmidt

I believe btw that the bow was enchanted by Athena so only Odysseus and his family could use it/ string it, which is why Penelope chose it, an impossible challenge only her real husband could pull off

Zavier Raynor

Who else watched Mortius as soon as Athena's face was shown. I just loved how he reacted to any Athena shown in Odysseus and I Can't Help but Wonder.

AgRoseCrystal

D:

Mortius

I’m sorry but you going kiss kiss kiss at the end going from fanboying to an absolute gremlin going Kiss the man. Has me dying

Galixygal

In the end Ody told Athena what he said he would do in the very beginning - he's traded the world to see his son and wife 🥲

Kristina [Lady Greensleeves33]

I love that Penelope is singing the "For" in "Waiting for you" as Odysseus' theme. The same way his crew sings the "whoa-oh-oh" in Different Beast before singing his name.

Levi Ackerman

We had the same reaction to Telemachus retuning

Blakely W

I like to think that during Hold Them Down, when Antinous says “only the ocean and I will know,” Posideon’s in the Olympus infirmary like “DON’T BRING ME INTO THIS SHIT”

Mafidon

Thank you Mortius for introducing us to this incredible community and this fantastic journey. You have enriched my experience, widened my perspective, and touched my being. Profound gratitude.

Dorothy Rosenberg

Honestly, I was so worried about you reacting to "Hold Them Down”. That’s one of the first things I thought of.

Blakely W

I have been so excited to see yours and Casper's reactions to this - the last two songs killed me, I was an absolute disaster at the end of the livestream, I had to just go to bed afterwards. I know it won't be in a reaction but I highly recommend watching the full livestream at some point just for your own enjoyment.

Alexandra

Yeah, I loved that as well.

Kenzie Wing

was looking for someone to mention the dog

Nathaniel Jameson

Poseidon delivered "die" in an opposite way from Ody delivering "no"?

Anon E. Mouse

I really love the wedding bed part. From the lyrics side I didn't understand it as an actually check if he is really her husband and not an imposter (she recognized him immediately after all and he strung the bow) but as a way to show him he is still her husband no matter what with a clever play of words. And musically I love it because she is not backing off or lowers her voice when he starts to sound aggressive but basically shouts him down. It shows how smart and headstrong she is. It's basically a beautiful way of screaming "You are still my husband! Shut the f up!" :).

Levi Ackerman

I feel the same when I watch his videos, it's amazing...

Kenzie Wing

as always thank you for your reactions <3 you have such a beautiful way with words <3 <3 excited to still see everything you do that comes after this <3 <3

xairin

Though I would argue that they did not at all deliver it in the same way but rather in complete opposite ways lmao

Karoline Bergin

So true! Like...of course, one of the darkest songs is so catchy...

Kenzie Wing

For real! Musically I probably like it the most but the lyrics are so uncomfortable that I kinda feel bad for humming it when its stuck in my head. It's a strange feeling when you want to vibe along but also constantly think "Ew".

Levi Ackerman

Wanna give you a hug right now! This series has been something special and I can’t wait to see more!

SharkMessiah101

I have a similar problem with "Hold them down". Musically I probably like it the most but the lyrics are so uncomfortable that I kinda feel bad for humming it when its stuck in my head. It's a strange feeling when you want to vibe along but also constantly think "Ew".

Levi Ackerman

The "subtle" shade on ppl arguing over subtext SEND me bc that was literally me in this whole "did it happen or not" debate lmao

Karoline Bergin

I think the first one are trumpets not strings but anyway great catch! I didn't notice that.

Levi Ackerman

Not Mortius going full Treasure Planet at the end 😁 I just wanted to give a big thank you for going on this journey with us, your reactions were always a joy for me, and added a lot to this first chapter of Epic for me. I'm excited for all the things you have planned next and wish you all the best in your endeavors ❤️ Now follows a ramble because I have a lot of emotions: Odysseus and Penelope really are unstoppable force and immovable object respectively. Odysseus did everything he could to return home, "captured wind and sky" never standing still, always counting (or mis-counting 😁 ) the years. While Penelope remained still, waiting. No matter the threats, the storms, the demands. She stood still and proud. For her it didn't matter how long, only that she waited. Hence her question about how long it has been at the very end; the years just passed while she kept their family and the throne safe for Ody's return. Penelope really is, in many ways, the heart of the story, even if we only really see her in the last Saga, because she is Ody's heart. In "Odysseus" he said he build the palace, in "Would you fall in love with me again" he said he build their wedding bed into the olive tree; the roots are still connected to the ground. Meaning he had to build the entire palace around the wedding bed, the symbol of their love: He LITERALLY build his world and home around their love, around his heart, around Penelope.

tiredaf

I'll start with a small correction Mortius: The Odyssey is NOT a tragedy, it's an epic (hence. the name.) Odysseus does, in fact, get a happy ending! Which is very rare for heroes in Greek Mythology; it's a very exclusive club occupied by Odysseus and Perseus and- that's about it. So now that you've heard the whole story, it's time for you to learn about Argos, the very best boy. His story beat isn't that important to the tale, so Jorge simply made him a cameo, but I'm here to tell it to you. So: Argos was Odysseus' hunting dog, a hound of a very special lineage. He was a young dog when Odysseus left for Troy, but it's been 20 years and 20 is positively *ancient* for a dog. The only things keeping him alive at this point is the aforementioned special lineage, and a deep wish to see Odysseus return home. When Odysseus lands on Ithaca, Athena disguises him as an old beggar, so that he can infiltrate the palace unnoticed. No one recognizes him- except Argos, who knows him immediately. With his dearest wish fulfilled, Argos finally lets go, and dies peacefully. So, a heart-wrenching moment late in the story but not much else. Argos' main purpose is basically to act as a physical manifestation of the state of Odysseus' house in his absence: neglected, past its prime, pretty much on its last legs, awaiting its master's return. But, again, not much time to cover that in 40 songs when we have a LOT of other things to cover, so, again, Argos is only a cameo. The "diplomatic mission" Telemachus is on in "Hold Them Down" is a reference to the first four books of The Odyssey (known as The Telemachy) which follows Telemachus as he sneaks away from Ithaca with a small loyal crew to go in search of Odysseus' last whereabouts. The shroud Penelope is weaving is for her father-in-law- he isn't dead, just getting on in years. Re the choir in "Odysseus": in The Odyssey itself, Athena assists in the battle against the suitors by making them lose their wits and sending them into a panic, so it's my personal headcanon that that's what the choir chanting Odysseus' name is- a sourceless, invisible choir manifested by Athena to disorient the suitors and frighten them further. All in all, what a lovely journey this has been. I can't wait to see what comes next!

Beckerini

As someone with anxiety, the tip for overstimulation is much appreciated!

ѕℓєєρу

Definitely go back and watch the entire livestream later. Just watching the cast reactions is a show of its own.

seekerjf

I took Ody's reunion with Athena in a different way. I saw Athena's embrace of empathy as a sort of apology to Ody and her offering him a role in building a world that aligned with his POV before she abandoned him. I think Ody rejects it because he doesn't want to sacrifice another second of his life to building anything for anyone else. He wants his wife and home. That's it.

Anon E. Mouse

If I remember right, Penelope was weaving the burial shroud not for Odysseus, but her father-in-law, Laertes, who had not died yet. She spent 3 years weaving and un-weaving the shroud until she was caught.

Doodlebop

Perfect reaction so wonderful!!!!! You should watch some of the cast reacting to the songs together there were some really fun moments! Also will the ep be on Amazon music?

Shayple

Treasure planet but close enough

TheSuperSonicBlur -

there is something special about experiencing epic the musical alongside you. your excitement, your devastation, and being overwhelmed with emotion. It leaks through the screen and i feel like i get to do the impossible, re-experience epic the musical as if it was the first time. You are a world class creator. Sending lots of love and strength! I am very excited to hear your ep

Asphodel

This was such a good saga -- definitely my favorite-- and so bittersweet. i cried when the saga dropped and when i watched the whole live stream. the cast was so silly but so sincere. there's a moment in would you fall in love with me again that you probably missed because its so gorgeously hidden: when ody is referencing everything he's done while trying to get back home, there are three motifs disguised as he sings. In strings: Left a trail of red on every island – “Ruthlessness is mercy upon ourselves” As I traded friends like objects I could use — “Thunder Bringer” And in piano: Hurt more lives than I can count on my hands — “Drown in your sorrow and fear” from Scylla I just think that’s such a genius detail Jorge added and it sounds so beautiful.

Zep

In the first song, called "the challenge" btw, i think Penelope is talking about the storm that apears in 600 hundred strikes making her hopefull that Ody is about to arribe thats why she sais "Unless.. Ooh could it beee,some kind of sign, that my world is all about to change". love your reaccion an the emotion, i can wait to see you react to the songs with Caper

Luna Ainara Korol

Fun fact (well, moreso sad fact) about Amphinomus. In the actual Odyssey, he's the best behaved of the suitors and tries to dissuade the others from killing Telemachus. Odysseus (disguised as a beggar) notices and tries to make him leave the palace before the slaughter to save him. But Athena makes him stay because she thinks he deserves to die, and Telemachus kills him not knowing Amphinomus tries his best to save him. Plus, he's said to be Penelope's favorite of sorts, since he's pretty much a good and respectful man in a bad environment. A bit sad that he got portrayed in such a bad light in Epic, but oh well.

Jurassic FREAK

Odysseus really greeted the world openly armed!

MildlyPerturbed

At 1:12:50 I think it's keep your friends close, right?

BeanHasArrived

I love how Odysseus hears Eurymachus out until he mentioned “open arms.”

MildlyPerturbed

Gosh, it was so fun seeing your reactions. From the moment I listened to Hold them down and Odysseus I did worry and wonder how you would react. Especially Hold them down... I can't help but wonder is one of my favorite songs in this saga...it also made me really energized. Honestly, Hold them down and Odysseus are also two of my favorite songs. Though, the Penelope part does make me feel a bit icky, Odysseus makes up for it 100%.

Kenzie Wing

[re: song 39] We actually got Odysseus’s acoustic guitar last in “Dangerous”, but yes, it has definitely shown up significantly less as we’ve progressed!

Bennett

Thank you for starting, enjoying and ending this story with us! A new chapter is going to start soon, so I can't feel sad. I do hurt, seeing the sweet cast members crying. I do not hurt, seeing every suitor get squishy-wishied. That was just fun.

Kory Misun

YEEEEEESSSSSSS I've been waiting for someone to call out that him going for the torches is just like scylla 😁

NoBody

There are 9 sagas

Bennett

"He didn't kill anyone on Circe's Island" Elpenor: I died and nobody noticed! I died and nobody cared. 🍷

Takeyia Twitty

iirc ody is the only one strong enough to string it

Phoenix Mackenzie

When you paused during "hold them down" I was litterally screaming at the screen "Its going to get worse!" And was genuinely concerned it was going to trigger you. I hope you're okay. Would you fall in love with me is my favorite of this saga. Ive been listening to it nonstop. I feel like its on par with Just a Man when it comes to ballads. Thank you for these reactions Mortius. Thanks to you and Casper it has deepened my apperciation, not only for Epic, but for all musicals. I look forward to your next reactions. Thank you.

Shay-Thelogicaldreamer

So the shroud was actaully a burial shroud for Odysseus's father Laertes, who has not yet died but is old. She basically used his old age as a "let me finish this so it's done when he does" as an excuse not to remarry yet

Jonathan Fleischer

I paused to show my roommates I was watching your reaction, and I accidentally captured a very funny still frame of you flailing your arms upon seeing telemachus arrive lol.

Syenna Lupfer

Omg that Hamilton reference ( if I remember correctly, I might be wrong ) broke me ;-;

꧁ Gasai Yuno シ ꧂

The song "Odysseus" was originally called King, but was later changed to fit with the other monster songs (Polyphemus, Scylla and Charybdis), where the title of the song is the name of the monster. (If you figure this out later in the reaction sorry, I'm typing this as I watch hehe)

Jurassic FREAK

Telemachus did go on diplomatic missions in the Odyssey. The first four books of the Odyssey are actually sometimes called the Telemachy, as it deals with Telemachus going on diplomatic missions to visit Odysseus’ old war buddies who also fought in the Trojan war (i.e., Nestor, Menelaus, etc.) in order to get some info about where his father is.

MildlyPerturbed

Eurymachus's "old king, forgive us instead, so that no more blood is shed..." Has the same energy as Ody's entreaty to Poseidon in Ruthlessness. Also, Ody delivered his "No" in exactly the same way as Stephen "Die." Meaning? ODY IS A GOD NOW

Anon E. Mouse

We love you Mortius! That line you gave about how this musical will rattle the stars, that was an amazing line. I'm glad I got to watch it along with you, this project altered my brain chemistry, and I'm ready to see where it goes. I also ordered one of the sweaters. The details and the description of the sweater is exciting

Lukas The Spider Fanatic

My God, the breath of fresh air you take after hearing Antinous get absolutely destroyed before his song is even over, nothing like it.

Ryan Torres

So, one thing I desperately want, because in the original Myth Odysseus does in fact participate in the same challenge Penelope set up, the shooting through the axes. (Something you'll now realize is referenced everywhere!) I want in one of these animatics for Hold Them Down to see Odysseus string, draw and shoot the bow through the axes, just as Antious gets in front of them at the end. Just because it'd be incredible to visually see. And is my HC for where the shot came from since we never see the axes proper.

River

1:31:31 you cannot do this to me Mortius! That's illegal. You can't just say that after everything!

TheSuperSonicBlur -

It's not the End. It's just the Beginning!! <3

EchoCookie

“It goes so hard, which is a shame because I hate it” is basically how I’d describe Hold Them Down

Jason Ringhofer

i have been patiently waiting for this reaction!

Jesse Dueitt

The bow, if I remember right, was like a 500lb draw strength bow or somethin like that. Ridiculously hard to pull and string

Sky Rederick

Me casually sitting here watching Mortius get the ick after only 1 line, knowing full well what's about to happen

Jeremy Sellers

Ok who is now crying too???!!

Luna

Madysen

It deserves something hopefully it get the reconization it gets.

Jp3711nc

Telemachus went to several places to find out what happened to Odysseus. He visited several of the greek kings including Meneleus and Nestor

Jaden Alexander

Gigi Spin shot to cap it off

Trey Matthews

Me watching Mortius slowly go insane, especially in I Can't Help But Wonder, listening to the Ithaca saga while I cry 🥲

Oceanna Denham

Spoilers for the original Odyssey... these are mostly my thoughts as you react, so you get a text reaction to your reaction. Also, apologies for mutiple edits, Patreon's habit of taking a 'return' as 'post' when I'm not done is annoying. The weaving trick is from the original Odyssey, and yes, its intended to be a burial shroud- specifically for Odysseus' father, Laertes. She kept the suitors at bay for years with the unweaving trick, before a disloyal maid told the suitors about it. (Connection to Athena, known for crafts in general and weaving specifically...) The bow is considered to be a different design (recurve, if I remember right) that needed a different technique to string, so the suitors were always going to fail. Telemachus does go visiting other islands in the original, and the suitors do indeed plot to kill him on his return. My theory for Epic is that he's off training with Athena. Yeah, just when you thought you couldn't hate Antinous more... And it only gets worse! He absolutely deserves the arrow. Ody to the suitors: You a-holes ain't got nothin' on Poseidon. Too bad for you, you've made me just as mad. Yup, because Ody's now the monster, in the same position as Polyphemus- he's come to his house to find it full of criminals. I love the Scylla strategy reference, too! (I mean, Hermes said, remember every trick...) Eurymachus is a named character in the Odyssey, and is noted as being the best of all the suitors- he's given a chance to leave the palace before Ody goes off, declines, and so is killed with the rest, just like in Epic. I honestly could do an entire video of my own about how his opening line ("Old king, our leader is dead") sets him up for failure before he even opens his mouth... even leaving aside that the phrase "open arms" is probably as triggering for Ody as it is for Casper at this point. I could do another three videos on Athena and Ody's interactions, honestly, its so short but there's so much depth! For now, let it be noted just that she honors his request to fulfill an emotional need (seeing his wife) and defers her own desires, something she never would have done when we first met her. I loved the very indirect reference to her original song ("I know we'll change the world, for we are the warriors of the mind") though. Penelope's wedding bed trick is almost straight from the Odyssey as well, and is one of the things that has always shown me that she really is Ody's perfect match- she pulled one over on him in a verbal conflict and won an argument with him! No one else does, not without some form of overpowering divine might that let them just smash him. But Penelope does, and doesn't back down from his anger one bit. Ody is her husband, and no one gets to take that away, not even him! Thank you for your wonderful reactions!

Alex

Those sweaters are on sale until near the end of January, they are a limited time thing though so get them soon

Becca

Apparently, for Hold Them Down, Odysseus' bow apparently had a draw strength of 400 pounds according to myth, so it was barely possible for most people to string it

Zane C

From my understanding, while yes Odysseus is just built different. The bow itself is tricky. It was a gift to him and iirc is a recurve bow which was not commonly known of in that area/time so you have to treat the wood to enable it to bend to be strung and then the wood sets like that, causing the string draw to need incredible strength to pull back and fire but providing super powerful shots because of it. And the 12 axes thing was a party trick Odysseus would perform at banquets and such. So it’s three pronged, both a test of skill to aim that well, strength to draw the bow back with enough power to make the distance, but most importantly cunning to realize the only way to bend the bow to string it would be to treat it with oil

Anthony

Checked to see if someone said it and no one has yet, but Eurymachus was actually one of the key suitors! He was basically the co-leader beside Antinous, so him claiming "Our leader is dead, we're no threat, just let us go" was him lying out of his ass.

Ashes2Ash

Fun fact! The reason none of the suitors could string the bow is because ody used a beast of a recurve bow (which wasn’t the common bow type in Greece) and only ody could string it

Megan Smith

The bow was special i think 🤔

Clarissa

Oh yeah, them not being able to string the bow is the point. Odysseus and Telemachus is the original odyssey were the only ones who knew how, and Penelope knew that. She’s fucking with them because she has faith that Odysseus will be home soon.

Scorpius27

Also, in the Odyssey, only Odysseus could string the bow. Telemachus came close during the challenge, but Odysseus (in a beggar disguise) told him not to. He and Telemachus had their reunion before the suitor slaughter.

MildlyPerturbed

Penelope no longer has to unravel her hard work at the end of each day because she doesn’t have to worry about the suitors anymore

Danielle T.

I think in the Challenge, the storm that Penelope is referring to is the one during 600 strike. Since the KYFC storm happened 10 years ago.

MildlyPerturbed

In the Odyssey, the funeral shroud was for Odysseus’ father Laertes (who is still alive and he and Odysseus have their own reunion in the poem). She’s just making the shroud in preparation for his death, as he’s become very depressed after his wife died and his son didn’t return from war. She’s been weaving and undoing the shroud for three years, since the suitors first appeared in the palace.

MildlyPerturbed

So according to the original story, you can think of stringing the bow like lifting Mjolnr. They cannot string it for any other reason than they are not worthy.

TheSuperSonicBlur -

In the og myth it's the same challenge. No one was able to even get close to stringing the bow until Odysseus, under a disguise, strung the bow and made the shot with ease

Latedozer

Let the tears begin

Ducks Hunt jj

so i'm not the only one that wanted them to kiss good

Thomas-jay Whitton

Looking forward to when I can return to watch this but I know it'll be so good! Doing a similar thing to OAR in waiting to watch the livestream with my friend first but the music is a masterpiece and it's been a pleasure going through this journey with your channel!

Alex Gukgak

Ahhhhhh!!!! Its here!

Syenna Lupfer

One last time..full speed ahead, friends 💜

DragonTamer200

The viola (I think that's her instrument?) that plays during Penelope's part of Hold Em Down sounds like Odysseus' Nooooo in Keep Your Friends Close

Snoozey Bear

It’s been an incredible ride, happy to be here to see the end of this chapter with you guys.

Scorpius27

I've literally just started it but I had to hop in here and say that snippet of your EP sounds so cool! I haven't actually had the chance to follow your progress on it very closely but that one snippet has already made me plan to presave on spotify after this. Very excited!

Usagisama

Hi friend. Sending lots of love and strength to you. This saga is a ride. Also super excited for your ep Edit: I'm crying again😭😭😭

Stephanie Haskett

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh! It's here!!!!! 😭

Imara121

One more time. Here we go.

KuroiRathian

LET'S GOOOOOOO

Bad Wolf

EEEEK It's happening everyone, STAY CALM 🥹♥️✨

꧁ Gasai Yuno シ ꧂

😭😭 LETS GOOOOO

Blobsessed

Haven't even finished this. But love that snippet of your EP.

Kenzie Wing

Let's finish this out captain!

Parrow89

Alright lets do this

Klaudia Cameron

AHHHHHH ITS TIME for pain and horror

MJ

Oh boy, here comes the crying!

Beckett’s Bricks and Broadway

Lets go!

Latedozer