If you’ve been on TikTok, you’ve probably heard of “Epic: The Musical.” Written and produced by Jorge Rivera-Herrans, “Epic” loosely adapts Homer’s “The Odyssey,” following Odysseus’s journey home to Ithaca following the Trojan War. The “Epic” musical is divided into two acts.
As Act One recently concluded, it would be fun to go through all five sagas and pick out my favorite track. Let’s get into it!
1. “Warrior of the Mind”
Performed by Jorge and Teagan Earley, “Warrior of the Mind” tells the story of how Odysseus met the Goddess Athena, how she came to mentor him, and her reminding him of his purpose. As the final track of “The Troy Saga,” what makes “Warrior of the Mind” so memorable is how upbeat and lively it is. Considering the dark and somber tones of the upcoming sagas, having something so energetic come beforehand is a nice way of keeping us hyped up moving into the next saga. This track also helps set up the internal conflict in Odysseus, between logic and emotion, that will influence him in the next saga.
2. “Survive”
The second track of “The Cyclops Saga,” “Survive” tells the story of Odysseus and his men’s battle against the Cyclops, Polyphemus. This song is just an emotional rollercoaster. Odysseus’s determination as he rallies his men is ever-present in the song’s first half. But then there’s a massive tonal shift as Polyphemus begins mercilessly killing them, the determination turning to dread. The way he turns Odysseus’s rallying cry into a promise of death is just haunting and it causes this track to leave a lasting impression.
3. “Ruthlessness”
Performed primarily by Steven Rodriguez, “Ruthlessness” is the final track of “The Ocean Saga.” It details Odysseus and his crew’s encounter with the sea god Poseidon. In the song, Poseidon takes revenge on Odysseus for blinding his son, Polyphemus, then leaving him alive in an act of so-called “mercy.” Poseidon spends the entire number pointing out the hypocrisy of Odysseus’s actions, and that, if he truly cared about being merciful, he would have put Polyphemus out of his misery. Even Odysseus’s narrow escape, which can come off as goofy and out of nowhere, doesn’t feel like a win; it only comes after the death of most of his remaining crew.
4. “Puppeteer”
The first song of “The Circe Saga,” this song serves as the introduction for the saga’s titular character. It tells how she lured part of Odysseus’s crew into her palace and turned them into pigs. As the first track for the saga, “Puppeteer” does an excellent job of both introducing Circe and setting up the core conflict of this arc. Also, Talya Sindel does an excellent job voicing the sorceress. As soon as she begins singing, you can tell there’s something off about Circe. At the same time, you can understand her allure and see how Odysseus’s crew so easily fell for her trap.
5. “No Longer You”
While “The Underworld” is probably the best song of this saga, I have a soft spot for “No Longer You.”. The second track from “The Underworld Saga,” this song tells of Odysseus’s visit to the prophet, Tiresias, hoping to learn of a way to get home. Instead, Tiresias tells him of his inevitable downfall, though he leaves the details vague. This song acts as a perfect transition leading into the second act. In it, Tiresias essentially lays out the events of the rest of the musical, but Odysseus cannot realize that he will be his undoing. It’s a very clever way of both foreshadowing the next act and the change in Odysseus’s character.
Are you excited for Act Two of “Epic?” What’s your favorite song from the musical? Let us know in the comments below!
Image via album cover art
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