In the underworld, they face a series of deadly challenges in specialized “houses” — a dark house, a cold house, a house of fire, a house of jaguars, a house of bats.

Through cleverness, they survive most of these challenges, though Hunahpu’s head is removed by a bat in one episode and temporarily replaced with a squash until it can be restored.

The twins ultimately triumph in the underworld ball game, fake their own deaths, are killed and disposed of in water, and are reborn as traveling performers who entertain the underworld lords with miraculous feats — including cutting themselves and restoring themselves whole.

When the lords of the underworld ask to receive the same treatment, the twins kill them without restoring them, completing their victory.