Warning: This article contains spoilers for Netflix’s Kaos.
By making Riddy unhappy in the relationship and ready to leave Orpheus, Netflix’sKaosmakes the tale of Orpheus and Eurydice tragic and impactful in an entirely different way.Kaosweaves together numerous Greek myths, including the minotaur, Caeneus, Dionysus, Hades and Persephone’s relationship, Zeus' affairs, Ariadne, and Orpheus and Eurydice’s relationship. Eurydice and Orpheus, the classic mythologycharacters inKaos, are central to the plot.
Eurydice – called Riddy – is one of the humans withZeus' prophecy inKaos. However, the show makes a significant deviation when it comes to the characterization of Riddy, redefining what’s considered one of the most tragic romances ever.Rather than being happily in love, Eurydice wants to leave Orpheus at the time of her death.She has fallen out of love with him. This has significant implications for the characters and plot ofKaos.
Riddy Feels The Pressure Of Being A Muse
Orpheus Idolizes Riddy Despite It Making Her Uncomfortable
Based on the interactions between Orpheus and Riddy inKaosepisode 1, it’s unsurprising that she wants to leave him. Though Orpheus says he loves Riddy, his behavior toward her inKaoslooks much more like idolization, objectification, and possessiveness. He only talks about her in terms of how she benefits him. Orpheus cares about her involvement in his song, his poster, and his music career.Riddy doesn’t like the public attention that he gives her, but he doesn’t care.
Even though she expresses her discomfort at the public attention, asking him to love her more quietly, Orpheus refuses to respect her boundaries and wishes. He even proceeds to give a speech onstage about how much he loves her, stating the following:
“Controversially, I’m starting with something completely new. It’s for the person who – uh – who completes me. Saves me repeatedly. She hates it when I say that, but it’s true. She’s here somewhere. Riddy! I love you with all my heart.”
Due to the veneration of public declarations of love, this speech could seem sweet and romantic to some viewers. However, looking at this from the perspective of Riddy, her boyfriend professes his love for her onstage even though she told him it made her uncomfortable. He speaks only about how she benefits him – completing him and saving him. Orpheus is even calling her out by name in front of everyone.Kaosmakes it obvious that this isn’t the first time he’s held her up on a pedestal, and she seems to be feeling this pressure.
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Riddy Is Stifled By Her Relationship With Orpheus
The Relationship Dampened Riddy’s Personality
On her own, Riddy becomes more vibrant, animated, and vocal about her thoughts.
InKaos, Riddy’s idolization by Orpheus contributes to the second reason why she wants to leave – she lost herself while in the relationship.When interacting with Orpheus, Riddy’s personality and self-expression are dulled. She’s under immense pressure to be what Orpheus wants her to be. This is a stark contrast to her behavior after her death. On her own, Riddy becomes more vibrant, animated, and vocal about her thoughts. She’s also this way around Caeneus, showing that the problem is her relationship with Orpheus.
Riddy Wanting To Leave Isn’t The Only Change Kaos Makes To The Greek Myth
Kaos Changes Orpheus And Eurydice’s Myth
WhileKaosgets many parts of Greek mythology right, the show twists the Orpheus and Eurydice myth in a few different ways. In addition to giving Riddy a voice in her story, this interpretation of the myth reveals how unhappy the woman is in the relationship. However, this isn’t the only change to the classic myth.Rather than dying from an asp bite, Riddy is hit by a bus, though the truck was for a company called Serpent Solutions – an Easter egg for Greek mythology fans.
Kaos' Charon Gold Coin Explained: Why Riddy Was Trapped In The Afterlife
Netflix’s Kaos cleverly incorporates Ancient Greek mythology into the story, such as Riddy getting trapped without her gold coin in the Afterlife.
Additionally, Riddy has no desire to be saved from the Underworld, especially not by Orpheus. She’s deeply angry about him taking her coin and stranding her there, which only furthers her desire to leave him. She’d rather stay with Caeneus in the afterlife. The only reason she makes the journey back is that Medusa forces her to leave, wanting to make the prophecy come true.
The last and most significant change to the story is the fact thatRiddy actually makes it back to the land of the living. In the myth, she and Orpheus can only make it back if he walks in front, she walks in the back, and he doesn’t turn around to look at her. Tragically, Orpheus glances behind him at the last moment, causing her to go back to the underworld permanently. InKaos, she is snuck out of the Underworld without permission from Hades, and she becomes a prophet upon returning to the land of the living. Only time will tell what that will look like for the woman.
