Atlantis S1E7 - "The Rules of Engagement" Recap

The time has come to formally announce Ariadne and Heptarian's engagement. She is less than pleased, though he is trying with all his might to charm her. Pasiphae tells him that she will come around but it doesn't matter even if she doesn't. She believes Ariadne has no friends or allies, nor does she have the strength to defy the will of her father.

Hercules comes home letting them know about the Pancratium - a brutal tournament and celebration at which free food and drink will be provided. Pythagoras warns him to keep quiet and tries to play it off as something Jason wouldn't be interested in. But eventually they've no choice but to admit that it's happening to celebrate Ariadne and Heptarian's engagement. Jason is heart-broken and the next morning, he gives a message to Medusa to give to Korrina who delivers it to Ariadne. Pasiphae catches them and insists on seeing the note.  She takes Korrina captive to punish her and insists to Ariadne that she break things off. She goes to meet Jason that night and though he finally begins to confess his feelings to her, she stops him. She bends under the pressure of Pasiphae's wrath and says that they cannot be together. She tells him that if he truly loves her, he mustn't make things any harder. He gives her his necklace and tells her not to forget him. Ariadne returns to the palace, crying and heartbroken, and is met by Pasiphae who promises to release Korrina.

Jason remains more determined than ever to win Ariadne's love and enters the Pancratium to prove his worth. Pasiphae and Heptarian are less than pleased by his determination. Pythagoras and Hercules also find his entering to be foolish since it's very dangerous and Heptarian remains undefeated. They agree to help him train and teach him to be prepared for opponents who will cheat and play dirty. Pasiphae purchases some poison that will kill someone so gradually that suspicion will be avoided.

The tournament begins and Heptarian proves to be a brutal and effective competitor. The crowd boos him when he kills his opponent despite having already won. The King takes notice of the crowd's low opinion of his actions. Jason wins his first bout by drawing first blood. Pythagoras warns that Jason got lucky and needs to think before he acts if he expects to win. He heads home with an injured shoulder and Medusa visits with ingredients requested by Pythagoras who attempts to treat him until Hercules points out that the herbs will not work. As it turns out, his shoulder is dislocated and he pops in back in.

At the palace, Pasiphae warns him Heptarian to not lose over the crowd and that his actions during the competition were unnecessary. Ariadne runs into them while they are conspiring and she says that she wouldn't miss the next day's competition for the world. We then see that Pasiphae has begun poisoning the King. Hercules and Medusa begin to mend their relationship as Hercules confides in her that Jason is special and the man Hercules always boasted that he was in his glory days. He says that it is his duty to protect Jason and ensure that he stays that way.

The Pancratium continues and though Heptarian still plays dirty by knocking sand into his opponent's eyes, he heeds Pasiphae's advice by showing mercy on his opponents and simply winning by shedding by blood instead of by killing them. Ariadne appears concerned when Jason competes, despite the fact that he wins and appears to be improving. She visits him between bouts and tells him that it is madness for him to compete and that she won't think any less of him if he stops fighting. But he is determined to keep his oath, despite the fact that she has revealed how much she does care for him. Heptarian kills his next opponent and the crowd is less than pleased. Hercules coaches Jason for his next bout much like one would see in a boxing film. Though Jason is knocked down, he gets back up. Things aren't looking good for him, but he manages to win and gain more popularity with the crowd. As to be expected, it finally comes down to Heptarian and Jason, who will fight the next day.

Pythagoras warns Jason that he cannot win, as Heptarian is Poseidon's servant. But the next day when fighting, Jason manages to get the upperhand on Heptarian. He has the opportunity to kill him but doesn't take it, instead throwing his knife to the ground. Heptarian grabs the knife and sneaks up behind Jason, causing the crowd to erupt in a chorus of "boo"s. Jason tells him that if he kills him, the crowd will hate him forever, and Heptarian drops the knife and raises Jason's arm up. He tells Jason that he's lucky but that luck won't last forever.

Ariadne visits Jason and returns his necklace to him, though she admits she'd like to keep it more than anything. She thanks him and he asks why, stating that he has achieved and changed nothing. She says that he has given her strength and she kisses him before heading off. She approaches her father while he is with Pasiphae and Heptarian. She tells him she cannot marry Heptarian as the gods have made their will clear. Given Heptarian's experience in battle and his still managing to be beaten by "some boy," clearly only the gods could have been responsible. The King asks if this is sincerely what she believes, and she says that it is. He says that they must bow to a wisdom "greater than ours." Pasiphae tries to object, but the King says that only a fool would disobey the will of the gods. Heptarian follows after the King to try to change his mind, and Pasiphae attempts to threaten Ariadne yet again. This time however, Ariadne is taking no punches. She tells Pasiphae she's not afraid of her or anyone anymore. Pasiphae is less than pleased. Later, Ariadne learns that Korrina has been found dead and Pasiphae snidely remarks that she is said to have taken her own life. The battle between these two has clearly only just begun.

Atlantis airs on Saturdays on BBC One.