Disney+
Spoiler warnings for episodes 1-3.
Fans of Rick Riordan’s beloved book series “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” have been eagerly awaiting its Disney+ television adaptation since the show was announced in 2020. The book series was previously made into a movie series in 2010, but was scrapped after the second installment due to poor ratings—with the second film receiving a rotten tomatoes score of just 42%—and being condemned by Riordan himself for a failure to stay accurate to the books. Since then, the PJO fan base has been hoping for a do-over that does its source material justice. On Dec. 20, 2023, the series piloted its first two episodes, with the new episodes released each Tuesday at 6 pm.
So far, with three of eight planned episodes out, it appears that the newly released PJO show is well on its way to becoming an entertaining, action-packed series that brings Riordan’s beloved characters and worlds to life, giving fans the book-accurate adaptation they’ve been waiting for.
The show kicks off with Episode 1, “I Accidentally Vaporize My Pre-Algebra Teacher,” in which 12-year-old protagonist Percy Jackson discovers he is a demigod, or the offspring of a human and a Greek god. Percy is whisked away from his life in New York City and sent to Camp Half-Blood, a forest-encompassed haven where demigods are protected from the mythological monsters that hunt them.
This pilot episode does a fantastic job of introducing new and old fans alike to the exciting, dangerous world of Greek mythology. The Greek myths are full of countless gods, monsters, legends and prophecies that could easily become overwhelming, but the show delivers information in small, manageable doses, as if viewers are learning about this new world right alongside Percy. The introduction of new information does make the pacing of the first episode slightly slow, but the world-building and character development that takes place make it all worth it.
This pilot episode does a fantastic job of introducing new and old fans alike to the exciting, dangerous world of Greek mythology
Speaking of character development, within just the first few minutes of the show, Percy immediately becomes the witty, lovable character fans know and adore from the book series. Walker Scobell flawlessly portrays Percy’s characteristic humor and sass, even in life-threatening situations. Additionally, viewers get to hear Percy’s internal monologue pulled directly from the book, demonstrating this adaptation’s clear intent to stay true to its source material.
Another character the show successfully brings to life is Sally Jackson (Virginia Kull), Percy’s mother. In young adult books and films, the main characters’ parents are commonly deceased or absent, likely because the absence of parental figures makes it easier for writers to portray their young characters as independent and heroic. The PJO books challenge this stereotype by portraying Sally as a strong, loving mother who would sacrifice anything for her son. The relationship between Sally and Percy was brought to life so beautifully by Kull and Scobell, another way in which the show remains true to the books.
In Episode 2, “I Become Supreme Lord of the Bathroom,” viewers are introduced to more supporting characters through an epic game of Capture the Flag. Among those are Clarisse (Dior Goodjohn), the daughter of the Greek god of war Ares who despises and torments Percy; Luke (Charlie Bushnell), the son of the Greek god of travelers Hermes, who takes Percy in and helps him adjust to this new, confusing world; and Annabeth (Leah Jeffries), daughter of Athena, the goddess of wisdom, who is cold toward Percy but has begrudging curiosity and respect for him nonetheless. Characters from episode 1 are also developed further, such as Grover (Aryan Simhadri), Percy’s satyr protector and friend, and Chiron (Glynn Turman), Percy’s centaur mentor and former teacher. The actors all put on terrific performances, and it feels as if each character walked straight out of Riordan’s books and onto the screen.
Furthermore, the Capture the Flag game not only provides opportunities for character development and intense action sequences, but also allows the development of Percy’s half-blood powers, as viewers learn which god he is descended from.
In episode 3, “We Visit the Garden Gnome Emporium,” Percy, Annabeth and Grover are recruited to go on an epic quest to retrieve a stolen mythological object: The King of the Gods Zeus’s lightning bolt. As they begin their journey, the trio encounters Medusa, a gorgon cursed by Athena to turn anyone she looks at into stone. Medusa’s depiction in this adaptation is particularly interesting, as it challenges the one-dimensional narrative that Medusa is nothing more than a heartless monster. As Medusa tells her story, viewers are compelled to feel sympathy for her and question what really makes someone a monster.
All in all, these three episodes have left viewers hungry for more, as they eagerly wait to see where Percy’s story goes next. This adaptation is proving to do the book series justice, with its stunning casting, world-building and overall wit, charm and humor
As they continue on their quest, the dynamic between Percy, Annabeth and Grover develops beautifully. The formerly divided trio begins to become more of a team, and the ice slowly melts between Percy and Annabeth as they set their differences aside in order to face the challenges ahead.
All in all, these three episodes have left viewers hungry for more, as they eagerly wait to see where Percy’s story goes next. This adaptation is proving to do the book series justice, with its stunning casting, world-building and overall wit, charm and humor. Additionally, its complex portrayal of Greek gods and monsters puts an interesting twist on Greek mythology, revealing that the stories are never as black and white as they may seem. Although the adventure has only just begun, it’s safe to say that the PJO show is off to a thrilling start.
