Who are the Fates in Netflix’s Kaos? The characters, decoded

Warning: spoilers for Kaos ahead!

Does anyone else have a core memory of discovering Greek mythology as a child and becoming instantly obsessed? Now is our time. Netflix’s Kaos is one of the most-hyped fantasy series we’ve come across in a while, re-telling the histrionic stories of the Greek gods and goddesses – with a modern-day twist.

That’s right. Kaos explores the story of Zeus (played by Jeff Goldblum – need we say more?) as he essentially navigates a mid-life crisis on discovering a forehead wrinkle – been there. Turns out it could be more than just a wrinkle; it could be a ‘line’. Why is this significant? Well, the Fates – who we’ll get to – prophesied that “A line appears, the order wanes, the family falls and kaos reigns.”

In the Netflix series, Zeus descends into a frenzied paranoia that the entire world, led by his fellow gods and goddesses, is plotting his demise. The results are, well, kaotic. So let’s dive deeper into the Fates characters, shall we?

Who are the Fates in Greek mythology?

In Greek mythology, the three Fates – or the three Moirai – were the goddesses of destiny. While they pulled the strings of humans’ lives, they were also thought to be feared by fellow gods and goddesses, including the big one: Zeus, AKA King of the Immortals.

The Fates are three sisters: Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos. While the academic literature in this area is heavy (to say the least), the Fates are considered to be fatherless daughters of Nyx, the Greek goddess of the night. However, some interpretations state that Zeus himself was the father of the Fates. Are you keeping up? Here’s a deeper dive into the three Fates in Greek mythology…

Clotho: The youngest of the three sisters, Clotho’s name means ‘spinner’. She spins the thread of life.

Lachesis: Bringing middle-child energy, Lachesis measures the thread of life spun by Clotho.

Atropos: Probably suffering from eldest-daughter syndrome, Atropos cuts the thread spun and measured by her sisters. Teamwork makes the dream work, eh?

Who are the Fates in Netflix’s Kaos?

In Netflix’s Kaos, the Fates have the critical job of progressing people into the underworld, a supernatural realm populated entirely by dead people. Atropos is played by Sam Buttery, Lachesis by Suzy Eddie Izzard, and Clotho by Ché.

Our first encounter with the Fates comes in episode two, when Orpheus (Killian Scott) and Dionysus (Nabhaan Rizwan) travel to the Cave Bar, AKA the entrance to the underworld, in an attempt to rescue Riddy (Aurora Perrineau), who is stuck down there.

For more from Glamour UK’s Lucy Morgan, follow her on Instagram @lucyalexxandra.