Reacting to The Horse and The Infant + Just a Man | EPIC: The Musical

[@kosivakrafts]

yes Odysseus is voiced by the creator. He also has instruments for each character. He put so much into this I'm thrilled to watch you experience this cause it's amazing.

[@Vegetafan1997]

Also gotta remember the Greek gods took sides in the Trojan War. Some will be bitter that their side lost so will find ways to tell Hectors son what happened. Familial ties were a huge part of the culture so it is almost guaranteed that if Odysseus doesn't kill him, he will exact his revenge on his family. Like Zeus said, "The blood on your hands is something you won't lose, all you can choose is whose."

[@SingingSealRiana]

And then He says ITS the will of the gods Like donnot shoot the Messenger, AS If He was Not the fucking ruler of the gods!!! What an ahole. Also Puts weight to how He Things that Odysseus IS Not ready to do it, but does Not give him a real choice anyways . . .what an ahole . . . But the voice IS sooo great

[@disableddragonborn]

@@SingingSealRiana Honestly, it made Ody's fixation of "when does a man become a monster?" late, because he killed a kid. He's already a monster.

[@Borderose]

​​@@disableddragonbornI think that was part of the point. His mercy is an indulgence. And a self-serving delusion. He's still clinging to the idea of being a man of principle because his guilt of killing an innocent forced him to try and come to terms over what he really is: Athena's creature. A warrior of the mind. A monster to anyone who dares to oppose him. Someone who does the dark and necessary to spare everyone he cares about further grief.

[@disableddragonborn]

@@Borderose "the dark and necessary to spare everyone he cares about further grief" is also a delusion. Cruelty is not necessary to protect others from undeserved pain. I wouldn't say he's Athena's creature, he defied and stood up to her. He's Zeus's toy. If he had the backbone he had with Athena in Troy, he'd be perfectly fine. He's a coward who let himself be coerced to murder an infant because of the possibility that the child would grow up and kill him and his family. Even with the culture being that you avenge your family, that's way different from slaughtering loads of people. Odysseus didn't kill Hector, so he had no rational reason to fear retaliation for Hector's death.

[@Borderose]

@@disableddragonborn Astyanax was going to end up conquering Greece. Everyone on the Achaen side was screwed. Odysseus also came up with the Trojan Horse that finally ended Troy. Cruelty is not necessary. Nah. Nah. I can't believe that. I once did. No. I had to learn that the hard way. Sometimes people are stubborn, stubborn beasts who need good sharp lessons. Be soft and they'll exploit your weaknesses--thinking nothing of your kindness.

[@Cherub.Covers]

Man i just realized that when Zeus sings "this is the will of the gods" you can very vaguely hear Athena singing it as well. Dang

[@SingingSealRiana]

Just the BS in that, him saying ITS the will of the gods, imploying dont shoot th Messenger, AS If He was Not the fucking ruler of the gods!!! ITS so insidious

[@AndyJones-t8l]

In case you never get to know, he does drop the baby

[@christianallen8022]

Oof I know this already but every time I am reminded it breaks my heart 🥺

[@whatitdodave]

I reacted to ruthlessness prematurely. In there poisiden mentions he could have ended all this if he had just killed someone. I’m assuming the baby survived?

[@J3SUSL0V3SUS]

No, the baby was the son of Hector, who was referred to in the horse and the infant (kill the brothers of hector). Poseidon is talking about a character you won’t meet until the cyclops saga

[@TheNitpickChick]

@@whatitdodave No, the baby was killed. 😢Poseidon was referring to a character you’ll meet later.

[@ClawedAsh]

@@whatitdodave Different person, you'll see

[@KefkeWren]

The Horse and the Infant is an amazingly hype song, and the last line always gives me chills, but Just a Man...man. You can feel the pain and struggle in every note, the way he has to make the impossible choice between murdering a child, no different than his own son, or risking the deaths of his own family who - as he himself says - he would give _anything_ for. He's just a man, and the choice is too much for him, and no matter what he chooses it will change him. Who's to say what he'll become? That's _powerful_ theming.

[@christopherking4607]

10:50 Seeing the mother turn around and try to run to her baby sent literal chills down my spine I

[@Lyriccenter1034]

Helennnn😢😢

[@SilverGallowglass]

@@Lyriccenter1034 Andromache, wife to Hector and mother of Astyanax (the infant) After the war she was taken by Neoptolemus (the Neo mentioned in the "The Horse and the Infant" and son of Achilles (Achilles who was the one who killed her husband)) as his concubine

[@mothman8652]

The last like of The Horse and the Infant is kinda the thesis for the musical: "the blood on your hands is something you can't loose. all you can choose is whose". Odysseus struggles with that the whole musical, trying to keep his hands clean.

[@disableddragonborn]

I love that this animatic depicts "Little Ajax" as a kid. Ajax the Lesser was a soldier meant to stay back in case he's needed.

[@mercan9834]

For “open arms” and and “warrior of the mind”, I suggest watching mircsy’s animatics back to back since they connect pretty good. Also watching “polyphemus” and “survive” at the same video would be great since they are like the continuation of the same song.

[@alixmalone19]

Notice in Just A Man he says "Forgive me" 3 times. I like to believe he says it each time to a different person/group. One time to the gods, since you know, killing an innocent baby is a frowned upon action. One time to the baby, and by extension Telemachus, because once again, killing an innocent baby is frowned upon and also because as he says he thinks of his own son when he sees the baby. And one more time to the mother and Penelope...oh I love pain 😀

[@user-bc1kl3xf39e]

Just wait, my guy... *ITS GETS SO MUCH BETTER*

[@WhiteCresentKnight]

This musical wise he’s drops the baby, but in some versions he tells one of his friends his problems and they just stab the baby for him

[@xano2921]

I mean, we don't precisely know, in some depictions Astianax is thrown from the wall

[@bluebay1031]

​@xano2921 That's basically what OP said?

[@IamWalkingDead1]

Glad you are enjoying these. Epic the Musical is special on an extra level because the Odyssey was originally a Greek epic, meaning it was a play/song told to families. But most know it now as a book. So it being made into a musical brings it back to its epic (ha) roots

[@Internetrando01]

The ending of Just a Man always gets me bawling

[@SingingSealRiana]

I Love how He aknowlages, that being Just a men dies Not mean you cant also BE a Monster . . . All true monsters are human after all. How relatable you are does Not make Up for what you did, at a certain Point, No Motivation or reason works AS an excuse anymore, some Things nothing makes Up for

[@DellizarSlit]

cliff hanger like that baby

[@olivierdubreuil-gagnon2201]

If you know the myths, well… Scamandrius/Astyanax is dropped from the wall.

[@kazumatsubasa7612]

The Circi saga was released today. Oh you are gonna LOVE this series. Especially when you get to Polyphemus.

[@TheNitpickChick]

I’m really glad you’re starting from the beginning, and also that you combined these two songs together, as they’re definitely meant to be listened to back to back. ❤ All of the songs currently out for EPIC are absolutely amazing, so I’m really excited to see you react to the rest of them! 😁 There’s 4 sagas, or sections, out currently, and each saga has 4-5 songs in it. There’s the Troy Saga, the Cyclops Saga, the Ocean Saga, and the Circe Saga just dropped today! So it’s a great time to get into everything. 😊

[@disableddragonborn]

It's painful watching you be hopeful thinking he's gonna spare the kid. You aren't ready. 😭

[@Charming_Charlien]

I’m just a man speaks to my soul, and my brain as the heavy beats come in with his soft duets.

[@ἈσπὶςἈχιλλῆος]

Indeed, experience would be the answer, considering how Odysseus will experience so many tribulations until the song “Monster” when he finally realized that he must become the monster to get home. Every Saga has something new to add on to the answer, so “Just a Man” basically set up the journey ahead for Odysseus. In fact that’s why I love “Just a Man” so much.

[@glamourweaver]

At the same time, this version of the narrative I’d argue is more about Odysseus’ denial of who he has always been rather than someone he becomes - because… he drops the baby at the beginning of the story. So his rejection of being a monster for such a stretch after that is about the resulting denial as he refuses to really accept what he did. As interpret it in that light, the role of the gods here is are the forces of truth battering him with he actually is. The voice of Zeus telling him to do what he absolutely believed he needed to do but it’s externalized so he can indulge his sense that he wouldn’t do it. Poseidon condemning him for not doing the things he wishes he had. As at least one prominent mythology KZbinr has said “the Greeks were less concerned with what was good than what was true” and the gods reflect that in all their petty cruelties being a direct reflection of humanity and the realities of the natural world. The Monster isn’t who Odysseus must become - it’s who he stops lying to himself that he wasn’t already when he orchestrated the mass rape and pillaging of a city.

[@sassyghost_8]

I can’t wait until you get to the Cyclops Saga (second album) I really think you’ll like the sound production and music for Polyphemus. Chills.

[@Epic_Halfblood]

I don’t think he’ll be ready for what Survive has 😭

[@sassyghost_8]

@@Epic_Halfblood I wasn’t ready for that. 😭 The end of that song sounds so gruesome and haunting.

[@Bunny26839]

Just so’s ya know. Yes, Odysseus did kill that baby. He dropped him from the wall.

[@HollywoodandWine101]

“He took him in” … about that 😅

[@DarkInd_Equinox]

By the way Gigi created the first animatic you watched, and it's not in that playlist, but they created another one that ties to the horse and the infant with "just a man" Amythist Aries has a playlist that's has it in chronological order and that has continued animatics if you wanna continue listening to epic 👍

[@TheGuvane]

Cami is a legend making you a playlist for these songs cause they are truly epic

[@introverticallychallenged4689]

I don't know how, but from Helluva Boss to Epic you're hitting ALL my current faves! I've been following Epic since 2022ish and can't WAIT for you to enjoy the ride!

[@whatitdodave]

It’s mostly from comment suggestions haha. But most of them are misses. I’m glad this one hit because I’m enjoying it a lot!

[@vanilla6326]

Yeah, the Trojan war’s story is super messed up. Epic basically covers the Odyssey which yeah, starts with Odysseus having to drop a baby off a wall or else it’ll grow up to be vengeful and destroy everything he spent 12 yrs at war to protect

[@chakattailswisher]

Please keep reacting to the EPIC musical! It's just so wonderful! I, literally, tear up when I hear a lot of these songs because they're just so powerful emotionally.

[@Animefan24]

The circe saga was realsed today. Defiently starting from the beginning is a good idea

[@_TinyTitan]

These 2 songs (Horse & the Infant+Just a Man) sort of foreshadows the whole saga. He does drop the baby.. And is then taunted for it by Poseidon in RUTHLESS….🫢 and finally comes to understand & reconcile w/ it all in MONSTER. 🫣 But that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

[@Shyress]

Maybe I missed it as a non native english speaker but where in Ruthless does he taunt him about the baby? Or did I just miss soemthing completely?

[@Vegetafan1997]

and at the same time, he is somewhat proven right that this was the right choice. He let Polyphemus live, the equivalent of this child, to Poseidon. Now Poseidon has to respond, not even that he really wants to, but it's the principle. I know who hurt my son so I have to act. Just like this child would feel compelled to exact revenge when he learned the truth if Odysseus sent him away or took him. One hell of a dilemma to be put in

[@_TinyTitan]

@@Shyress the first instance is at the beginning of the song & it’s very nuanced, I’ll come back to this in a min.. The 2nd instance is more upfront: after Poseidon kills hundreds in Odysseus’s fleet he replays the words Odysseus had sung in “I’M JUST A MAN” right before killing the baby. Jay (the creator) said Poseidon is forcing Odysseus to hear this as if it’s being sung by the distorted voices of his now dead companions. I interpret this as Poseidon torturing Odysseus w/ the idea that Ody is the very monster he feared the baby would turn into. Killing Hector’s baby is something that haunts Odysseus, he agonized over it. Zeus tells him the consequences his mercy would have if he spared the bby & Ody sorta understands (as heard in his song) but underneath, he still struggles with the “what ifs” he might’ve been able to control. He kills the baby, but with reluctance. Now fast forward to the beginning of RUTHLESS… Poseidon is taunting Odysseus when he says “you totally could have avoided this if you just killed my son, but NoOOo…” - essentially pointing out Ody’s hypocrisy in how he handled the 2 sons, and explaining why that forced his hand to respond... he is driving home the concept of "mercy has a price." Odysseus chose to maime Poseidon's son instead of following through & killing it. He gave no regard to consequences & he left the cyclops in a position arguably worst than death for it, then told the cyclops to remember him & that experience as a “lesson” - as if he (Odysseus) had the moral high-ground by leaving him in that state. Odysseus isn’t acting out of righteousness there, he is gloating in his intelligence that he outsmarted the creature, wounded it, and managed to escape. Poseidon takes issue with this, calls out the false-righteousness, and taunts him with the knowledge that his crew might have been saved if he had killed the cyclops (Poseidon's son) like he killed the Hector's baby.

[@lisali420]

this is my favourite song of the whole musical so far, the voice, the story, the beat, the change in between with Zeus wow it just thrilled me and I NEEDED to hear immediatly every song and I love every single song of it

[@PencilKing21]

2:00 theres actually a website that used to be around (not sure if it still is) that my 6th grade teacher used a lot called flowcabulary (or flocabulary, not sure which) that was exactly what you're describing. I still remember the bar "like bob Marley, harvesting wheat and barley" and "writing on papyrus in hieroglyphics, that's the Egyptian alphabet I can get with". All of the information in every single one of those videos the teacher showed us is permanently etched into my brain.

[@Saturdad]

Goddamn, man, this whole Infant, and Just a Man...they killed me. I needed to go and hold my kids after😭

[@kriszgamer0013]

The creator of the 'Open Arms' and 'Survive' animatics on your playlist made the main of the Troy and Cyclops saga. Those are very good. The songs they made animatics for are 'Open Arms' , 'Warrior of the Mind' , 'Polyphemus' , 'Survive' and 'My Goodbye'. I recommend you to watch those to keep some consistency at that part.

[@mercan9834]

Yess, her animatics are the best!

[@omalahboo3163]

Odysseus' story started with the Iliad, when he says that the infant is as young as his son the last time he saw him. He saw Telemacus before the war started which was ten years ago at this point.

[@yousif5415]

9:20 HE SAID IT. HE SAID THE THING

[@Missy_Lib]

It’s a shame the remasters aren’t good like the original version. Thank goodness for the animatics people did of the originals

[@Jack-lo5me]

Makes me wish you had watched Ruthlessness when you should have, in order, so you get all the references. I IMPLORE YOU to go back to it later and make another reaction to it, this time knowing all you know.

[@whatitdodave]

I will. But if it wasn’t for that reaction, I would not have stumbled upon this. Ends justifies the means?

[@Jack-lo5me]

@@whatitdodave yeah, I know- I just want you to see how it’s like- a symbolic culmination of all the songs that came before.

[@VulkanLordOfTheDrakes]

🎶WE Are Just Men🎶

[@akkimylo3286]

I'm so happy you're reacting to the whole thing! Can't wait for the upcoming videos! Jorge deserves more recognition

[@sultaiftw3589]

the illiad and odyssey were both actually both meant to be sung/recited and taught accordingly. like the ancient greeks, and later the ancient romans, called the illiad and odyssey epic POETRY

[@tsukiko6569]

Fun fact you only hear the acoustic guitar in Odysseus’ softer moments or “moments of weakness”

[@popho7763]

Man had the exact same reaction as me at the end of just a man

[@disableddragonborn]

If fate is real, free will isn't. Fate means our "choices" have no effect on the end results.

[@glamourweaver]

You don’t have to call him “Little Ajax” anymore Odysseus. “Big Ajax” is already dead at this point. He can just be Ajax.

[@lowstamina_arts]

This is just the beginning of the journey! It’s only gets better from here!

[@dragonsman4733]

2:23 thats what they do with homeschooling, learnt most of the times tables by memorising it in song form. Horrible histories does this as well, making historical recountings into memorable songs.

[@WizRedDeath]

Agreed, I remember majority of lessons from music like EPIC, Hamilton, Hadestown, etc. Hamilton really helped in US History and Gov

[@skydancer9198]

Seriously these animators have been caring this musical sprinting to the finish line.

[@akihikosakurai4013]

We NEED this to get made into an animated musical like the prince of Egypt. I'd kill to see epic in theaters

[@SeidrSnowsong]

Gods that would be genuinely incredible.

[@CAS14th]

Seeing the natural growth of the musical has been special, I’m glad it introduced me to your channel and can’t wait to see more reactions

[@disableddragonborn]

When I listen to "Ruthlessness", every time I hear "You fight to save lives, but won't kill," I just think "Where's Zeus when you need him? He can attest that Odysseus DOES kill, seeing as he got him to commit infanticide!"

[@ActuallyAnxious]

I absolutely love this musical!! And the animatics! Me and my friends have been recreating it in one of our favorite games. This musical rocks! One of my other favorites is "Keep your friends close" and I'd love to see you react to it!

[@LadyGreensleeves33]

Ahh, I'm so excited. The Circe saga just dropped and hit 1,000,000 listens on iTunes in one night. This is going to be 'Epic' 😂 Yes, the writer, composer, and creator Jorge is Odysseus. He did everything from the ground up including casting all the other parts. He has been recording the whole process for several years online.

[@disableddragonborn]

Jorge did a video of misheard Epic lyrics, and now I can only hear "When does a cabbage become a meteor" instead of comet.

[@Anton-hs7lt]

2:20 actually in my school, we did plays of all the mythologies and major myths (child friendly versions clearly). I definitely remember ALOT of the mythology we went through thanks to it. greek, roman, egyptian, nordic, finnish. point is, it DEFINITELY helps. most people in class liked it alot. (im from europe so europw-focused sorry to all the asian and american myths i have no idea about

[@ElysianLys]

Yes yes yes, I love your insight and I'm so happy you decided to head back to the beginning! If 500 likes is what it takes each time, I want to get your perspective on the entire tale so far!

[@LongfusedbombasticBarbarian]

Love it came out 7 hours ago at 492 likes ae I'm writing this furiously pysched to keep this going

[@Foofle]

This musical is literally so 🔥 I absolutely adore every single song for this musical I’m so glad more people are reacting and experiencing it

[@renees2424]

truly two of the best songs to open a musical with, really sets the tone for how tragic the story is, thanks so much for reacting!!

[@disableddragonborn]

The singer for Zeus is Luke Holt, btw.

[@SingingSealRiana]

I love how I am just a man changes ist meaning in the song from how can I be expected to do this, how could I do this, I just want to go home and all thsoe gods and supernatural whims are tughing at me to . . . .i am just a human i will act selfish in the end

[@2873surabi]

You'll definitely get the most enjoyment out of this musical if you listen to them in order, so I would do Full speed Ahead and Open Arms next.

[@fnfailer2476]

GIGI the animator for the horse and the infant has a playlist thats pretty complete for a solid portion of the songs that have been released. There was a new saga released yesterday

[@alexdefoc6919]

One word : MORE

[@nutmeg418]

YAAAS I love to see you get turned on to something I'm OBSESSED WITH ❤❤❤

[@anyathepanther7977]

If i was Odysseus, i would have taken the Boy to in to raise him. But i am not a Greek and i doubt a Baby would have survived the Journey back than.

[@licilicky]

I love Epic the Musical but your analysis and reactions are so much fun to watch. Keep it up man!

[@DinoandGalaxy]

Honestly if I were a high school teacher teaching the odyssey I would have them read a portion then listen to the song and make clear the differences in the two

[@lop90ful1]

I love this, this reaction tseries to this amazing series is also amazing.

[@prometheus3498]

This Musical really is Epic.

[@tabsters2735]

Love your energy with this! Your commentary is so philosophical ❤

[@whatitdodave]

Thank you so much 🤗

[@danylonazarov]

Awesome reaction. Always happy when you react to something i know, because i can connect to what you say. So, with Circe saga coming out today, i guess we are going to rattle through them Also, yeah, author himself sings as Odysseus. Dude is... Well, he is real dude, all i can say

[@crescentrose2389]

Love this series can't wait for more!

[@disableddragonborn]

Notice the viola with "Penelope". It's her motif and will be heard in other songs. Jorge is equal only to Lin-Manuel Miranda in terms of musical and lyrical genius.

[@trisha6613]

YAY! THANKS SO MUCH

[@geoxuchiha9293]

I like how everyone in the comment section just LECTURING the man on EPIC lmao

[@christopherking4607]

Bro you gotta check out the other songs I’m sure you’ll love the cyclops saga (the next album)

[@Nosleep-e8s]

Love to see your reaction, its really fun to watch

[@_TinyTitan]

You are so lovely! 🤗 Lovin your reaction videos & attention/appreciation for the different voices & levels of detail put into these songs and compositions. 🥰 Subscribed. 🫶🏽

[@LTcreed]

This is the type of stuff that Kratos killed Zeus over/jking. Lol

[@fleischsalat318]

I just found you and let me say: Thank you so much Dave (I assume that is your name). Finally someone reacting to this masterpiece in the right order, after they found out about it. ❤❤🤗 Be blessed my dear

[@themoonlit-wolf3773]

FUCK YEAH IN ORDER POG

[@BronzeJester2356]

You loved this, you’re gonna go crazy for the rest of

[@Epic_Halfblood]

If Jorge has us in a chokehold, he’ll have Dave in a chokehold too. There’s no escape 😂

[@oceanapearl3503]

A musical that is epic. Badum tsss

[@reddragon2767]

I cant wait for you to here the rest

[@BrittanyArtPoetry]

To be fair in the context of Greek mythology you can’t change your fate. Not saying that’s true, only that it’s true in this universe.

[@themoonlit-wolf3773]

Please dear sir, can we have more epic reactions?

[@popul7192]

See all the other onesss

[@razependragon7472]

Thx for the reaction

[@disableddragonborn]

Just so you know, the playlist you have for this is not in order. "Full Speed Ahead"/"Open Arms" is set right before this in the playlist.

[@user-dg2rb5wf9vv]

I feel like if anything was taught in song everyone would be GENIUSES. Unless you're tone deaf,so I guess not everyone. Actually lyrics exist so, I guess my point still stands. Anyways my point aside, THIS MUSICAL HAS NOTHING TO SLEEP ON

[@michellewest4796]

Whats the difference between Odysseus and Voldemort? Odysseus killed the baby prophecied to kill him.

[@Darkendrain]

eyyyy more epic

[@hectornonayurbusiness2631]

Leave my brothers alone

[@Caleb-x7j]

Can we plz get the playlist

[@unamedone420]

You should definitely react to aron frasher-nash