Jupiter's Legacy Title Explained: What It Really Means
Netflix's subversive new superhero series Jupiter's Legacy doesn't feature any characters called Jupiter - so why does it have that title? While the TV show certainly focuses on the theme of legacy, and even takes a brief trip to the planet Jupiter, the title is primarily an ode to Roman mythology.
Based on the comic of the same name by Mark Millar and Frank Quitely and developed for TV by Steven DeKnight, Jupiter's Legacy stars Josh Duhamel as Sheldon Sampson a.k.a. The Utopian. An idealistic superhero who has been using his powers to fight crime for almost a century, Sheldon's rigid parenting style and high expectations have negatively impacted his two children in different ways. Chloe (Elena Kampouris) ignores her gifts in favor of being a party girl and model, while Brandon (Andrew Horton) emotionally buckles under the pressure to become the next Utopian, and fears that he'll never be strong enough.
In Roman mythology, Jupiter became king of the gods after overthrowing his father, Saturn. This was an act of revenge after Saturn, fearing that one of his children would one day rise up and defeat him, began eating his children - including Neptune, Juno, and Pluto. Saturn was forced to vomit up the children he had eaten after being defeated by Jupiter, and they formed the Roman pantheon of gods with Jupiter as their leader. In Jupiter's Legacy, Sheldon's white beard and hair are strongly evocative of artistic depictions of Jupiter, and the other superheroes in the Union of Justice serve as a parallel to the Roman pantheon.
The title of Jupiter's Legacy evokes the idea that superheroes are modern-day gods, and that the Utopian is king among them. Taking into consideration Jupiter's defeat of Saturn, the title also carries themes of children defying their fathers, which certainly fits with both the show and the comics that it's based on. Speaking to CBR in 2013, Millar explained why he chose the title Jupiter's Legacy:
"I like the idea of doing something that feels more mythological. Something that felt like it was part of something gigantic. It does tap in to myths to some degree in story terms, but I'm also trying to contemporize those ideas as much as possible and blend classic themes and very old story structures with modern imagery. Superhero stories tend to have a fairly well-worn structure, but I wanted this to have a very grand, operatic series of beats and really get a sense of escalation in an almost Wagnerian fashion. There's lots of 'Hamlet' in it. There's a lot of father/son things going on with it."
Because the younger superheroes in Jupiter's Legacy have inherited powers from their parents, the superhero team is very much a family affair, with all of the associated drama, resentment and complications. And while "legacy" usually has positive associations, the show explores the idea that having a god for a father could be more damaging than inspiring.