Warning: SPOILERS ahead for Netflix’s Kaos.Jeff Goldblum’s Zeus is petty and cruel in Netflix’s Kaos, and his worst inclinations come out when he loses his watch early in the season. Zeus’ watch winds up playing a significant role in his story, but the true meaning behind the object may not be clear to those watching Netflix’s show. After all, there’s a lot to take in during Kaos’ first season — from Zeus’ mysterious prophecy to the complicated relationships between the Greek gods. There are also numerous Easter eggs to pick up on. With so much to pay attention to, Zeus’ watch initially seems like a small concern.
However, while Zeus believes his watch will help him avoid his fate, it may actually be the thing that kicks off his downfall. We learn where Zeus’ watch comes from early on, and its background is likely why the Greek god is so attached to it. Ironically, his refusal to accept a new watch from his son, Dionysus — and his revelation that Dionysus trades his watch to help a mortal — is what turns the other gods against him at the ending of Kaos. The watch is a reminder that Zeus’ priorities aren’t in order and that prophecies appear to be unavoidable.
Kaos Reveals That Zeus’ Watch Is A Lucky Talisman From Hercules
It’s Why He Doesn’t Care About Dionysus’ Watch In The Premiere
When Dionysus gifts his father a new watch during Kaos premiere, Zeus tells his son that he already has one. He goes on to reveal that his watch is from their “good friend Hercules” and that it serves as a lucky talisman of sorts. Despite Dionysus urging him to try on the new watch, Zeus seems totally nonplussed by the object. He only cares for Hercules’ watch, and this leads Dionysus to steal it. Zeus loses his mind when it goes missing, and he even starts killing his own servants.
It’s comical how attached Zeus seems to be to the watch, as he hardly notices when Dionysus switches it with a similar one under the guise of finding it. Zeus wears the new watch for the rest of the season, before he visits the Fates and realizes what Dionysus has done. It seems strange that Zeus cares for the object, especially when he insists the gods shouldn’t be concerned with human attachments. However, the backstory he gives the watch makes sense of the importance he places on it.
The True Reason Zeus Cares About His Watch In The Netflix Series
He Believes Its Luck Will Stop His Prophecy From Coming True
The fact that Zeus’ watch from Hercules is supposed to be a lucky talisman is likely the reason he values it so much — even if he never looks closely at the object. With Zeus so anxious over his prophecy throughout Kaos, he’s likely counting on the watch’s luck to help him escape it. It’s obvious that Zeus will take any help he can get, as he’s desperate to remain immortal and powerful. The watch disappears at the worst time for him, as he’s also dealing with signs of aging and increased defiance from mortals.
It’s not about how the watch looks or its physical value; Zeus just wants to stop his prophecy from coming to fruition.
Zeus may even correlate these occurrences with the loss of his watch, making him more desperate to get it back. It’s not about how the watch looks or its physical value; Zeus just wants to stop his prophecy from coming to fruition. This makes it more hilarious that the watch will likely be his downfall. Dionysus using it to help Orpheus get Riddy back from the Underworld marks a turning point for Zeus, as does the god’s discovery of his son’s betrayal.
How The Watch Impacts Kaos Season 1’s Story
Zeus’ Treatment Of Dionysus Is Ultimately His Downfall
Zeus’ watch seems like a small part of Kaos, but it winds up having a huge impact on the god’s story. Zeus’ initial mistreatment of Dionysus is why the watch disappears in the first place — and it’s precisely what sets his prophecy in motion. If Zeus had gracefully accepted Dionysus’ gift, his son would never have stolen his lucky talisman. Then he wouldn’t have been able to barter with the Fates or help Riddy escape from the Underworld. And it looks like this act of defiance will be what costs Zeus his mortal followers if Kaos returns for season 2.
In addition to Dionysus kick-starting the events that will destroy the Nothing, Zeus’ reaction to his son’s betrayal turns the other gods against him. When Zeus discovers the Fates have his watch, he confronts his family about their deceptions. He tells them he’s going to ration their Meander, and he even kills the cat his son has grown attached to. There’s no telling what Dionysus will do after this, but Hera is already gathering “the troops.” Without realizing it, Zeus sets off the chain of events that will bring him down in Kaos — and it all leads back to the watch.
