The romantic dramedy between the gods might be heating up in season three of Lore Olympus. io9 chatted with creator and Eisner winner Rachel Smythe about what’s subsequent for the favored Webtoon weekly appointment launch that leads the charts in digital studying content material and ebook lists.

As we head into 2023 after Lore Olympus’ epic season two conclusion again in August, and are nonetheless within the early months of season three, Smythe shared what she might—and teased some good things up forward.

Sabina Graves, io9: Let’s speak about constructing as much as a very large second between Persephone and Hades after she went full Queen of the Underworld towards Kronos within the season two finale. It’s time for the honeymoon a part of their relationship to start, in a way, as season three picks up. What are you able to share about you plans for that?

Rachel Smythe: At this specific plot line for me, it’s having a heavy emphasis on therapeutic. From Persephone’s perspective, I believe typically there’s this expectation round that revenge plot line. And I completely perceive why individuals actually like revenge within the sense that it’s very cathartic. But for me personally, with this story, I actually need the main target to lie in Persephone rediscovering herself, constructing these relationships and with the ability to reside her life–the escalation of her intimate relationship together with her quickly to be husband, clearly.

I really feel that always sexual relationships are sometimes framed, particularly within the context of romance, as the one level to them is being titillating or erotic. And I’m like, that’s all effective and good. But I believe I believe sexual relationships may also be simply deeply human. It’s one thing many individuals expertise and simply a part of the human expertise. And it may be very comforting to have a look at and perhaps not essentially simply sizzling and spicy. I imply, it may be each! But, you understand, I believe there’s undoubtedly nuance there

io9: I believe that’s so necessary, contemplating the issues that Persephone has been by means of for her to actually establish her company. There’s her boundaries round, not simply her sexual company, however seeing who she is outdoors of what occurred to her, trying outdoors of her relationship together with her mom and with Hades coming again into her life—it’s very actual. I believe Persephone actually reclaiming her energy is one thing that you simply’re actually capturing in a method that’s so relatable.

Smythe: Oh, thanks a lot. I imply, writing a protracted format romance could be fairly troublesome within the sense that, as soon as the primary a pair will get collectively, it’s like, “what is the story going to be?” It’s laborious to know what the stakes are. So I believe earlier than the problem with Hades and Persephone was clearly these characters like one another, what are their boundaries to getting collectively? It was principally that placing some rigidity within the collection.

io9: But now it’s completely different and I actually do get pleasure from like the best way that the story is doled out. There are some episodes which are cliffhanger-y. It’s at all times a pleasure to get that new episode alert. Obviously we all know that they’re on the trail to get married—are we listening to marriage ceremony bells by the tip of this yr or perhaps subsequent yr, if you happen to might say?

Smythe: I believe… I’m not going to say something. Nothing. I promise nothing.

(each giggle)

io9: Ohhhkay, effective.

Smythe: Because typically I’ll have a plan, after which I’ll take a look at it and be like, “You know what—this can get reshuffled.” I cannot over-promise. I don’t assume it’s a spoiler to say that there’s marriage of their future, as a result of that may be a factor that comes up of their story. But it’s similar to a matter of when and the way that’s the attention-grabbing half.

io9: Perfect and legitimate. I’m excited to select up on a whole lot of the opposite characters we haven’t seen for the reason that time leap.

Smythe: Me too. Like a whole lot of stuff to get by means of that.

io9: What are you able to tease concerning the different characters’ storylines and the place we decide up on them? Obviously there’s Hera and Athena and Apollo and Zeus—this hierarchy of energy with them is shifting, and that may affect the primary story.

Smythe: My method with them is identical as earlier than the place Lore Olympus is a multigenerational drama, and it’s a multi-timeline drama. And now we type of get to have a look at the multi-timeline drama from a unique perspective as earlier than. In the start we have been like, “Yes, we’ve got all these characters that have been alive for forever” and have all of this baggage that we slowly get to look again on and luxuriate in it. I like a flashback and flash ahead.

io9: Yes. Tell me extra about flashbacks.

Smythe: Like how are you going to not like a flashback? So good. That’s some good meals. I like it.

io9: It’s like vampires have flashbacks about all of the periods they lived in. I’m watching AMC’s Interview With the Vampire proper now and dwelling for it. I don’t know if you happen to’re watching it– 

Smythe: I’ve not checked in however I’ll.

io9: It’s so good, and it type of jogs my memory of what you’re doing with Lore Olympus with mythology: they completely take Anne Rice’s world and reimagine it in new methods that I used to be like, “Oh, my gosh, we are being fed. This is fantastic.” I believe you’ll love Claudia, particularly, we get her perspective extra pronounced than within the books, and she or he’s additionally not like a six yr previous. She’s 14.

Smythe: Nice! Yes, my method for the time jumps, actually, is to mix them in every time I really feel prefer it’s applicable to the movement—adding within the flashbacks for no matter character. So we’ll get a take a look at what has occurred to every character in that 10-yr hole and what brings them to now. I spent a whole lot of the start of season three type of getting Persephone and Hades re-situated. And now I personally am diving into every character with a sure view, like a little bit of these flashbacks like we’ve had with Hephaestus and we’ve had a decision for Minthe. I’ll preserve entering into that method, and there’ll be one thing for Daphne on her personal. There’s some stuff with Eros and Psyche. We briefly noticed Eros and he alluded to some milestones in his life, but it surely was very transient. And the rationale why is as a result of a whole lot of it’s about Psyche and I would favor for Psyche’s plotline to be shared by her perspective. It is sensible for Eros to be right here, to be speaking to Persephone in that exact chapter, however I don’t need to convey all of the sublimation about Psyche.

io9: Yes, their fantasy is one among my favorites as effectively, so I’m undoubtedly excited to see that arising. So to wrap it up, the vacations are nearing. And I’ve been obsessive about a whole lot of the Lore Olympus merch from Hot Topic and Box Lunch. You’ve seen, I’m guessing, most likely all of it, however what are a few of your favorites?

Smythe: Oh, my goodness. I really type of know rather a lot. I’ve seen some issues the place I’m like, “Oh my gosh, this is so cool.” But I actually don’t know when they may attain the world and into individuals’s palms, as a result of typically merchandise—[with] the character of the world proper now in delivery and factories and sources—could be very contact and go.

io9: Very.

Smythe: Let’s simply wait and see. To converse traditionally, I believe my favourite merchandise that was made was a mini backpack, that Hot Topic had. I used to be like, “Oh, that mini backpack is so cute.” I don’t know if this counts as merchandise, however if you happen to go to Barnes and Noble however they’ve a plastic gift card with Hades and Persephone on it. So you’ll be able to you give a type of little reward playing cards after which load up some ebook {dollars} on it or get some ebook {dollars}. I’m actually into that plastic reward card—I hope I can get one, we don’t have Barnes and Noble in my nation [New Zealand]. I’m hoping somebody will ship me one so I can put it someplace in my house and reminisce about my little ebook {dollars} card. What else? There’s a whole lot of thrilling issues which are occurring for the time being, which I’m simply shaking and need to share them and I can’t. Tright here’s good issues on the best way.

io9: I hope extra in-universe stuff with the manufacturers.

Smythe: Oh sure! I’ve seen a whole lot of these Underworld Con ‘96 hoodies.

io9: I immediately got that for my husband and I was like, “This is for me but you’re carrying it.”

Smythe: Oh—that’s so implausible!

Lore Olympus drops episodes each Saturday on Webtoon.

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