With over 180 million copies sold, Rick Riordan’s book series “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” is one of the most successful Greek-mythology-inspired franchises, and remains a lasting icon of the mid-2000s fantasy genre.
A TV adaptation of the same name made its two-episode premiere on Dec. 19 (a day earlier than anticipated), and centers around the titular character, Percy Jackson (Walker Scobell), who finds out he is the son of the Greek god of water, Poseidon (Toby Stephens).
The season focuses on the first book in the series, “The Lightning Thief,” which follows Percy, Annabeth Chase (Leah Sava Jeffries), daughter of Athena, and Grover (Aryan Simhadri), a satyr who accompanies them on their quest to find the lightning bolt belonging to Zeus, god of lightning.
“[The series] is one of the first ‘bigger’ books I read as a kid and I think they steered me towards that genre of fantasy and adventure,” Jiya Madan, a sophomore and fan, said. “Honestly, I was really excited [about the announcement for the series] because I found out that it was going to be in collaboration with Rick Riordan, so I believe it’s going to be a lot better than [previous] movie [adaptations].”
Episode One: I Accidentally Vaporize My Pre-Algebra Teacher
In episode one, the audience is introduced to Percy, who attends Yancy Academy, a school for “troubled kids,” where he is attacked by Mrs. Dodds, his teacher who turns into fury, a goddess of vengeance, and gets expelled. Concerned for his safety, his mother reveals his true identity as a demigod and instructs him to go to Camp Half-Blood, a safe residence for demigods like him. While this unfolds, he is attacked by the Minotaur, a human-cow hybrid monster, who kidnaps his mother. By the end of the episode, Percy and Grover, his friend and satyr, manage to make it to the camp.
Scobell’s offhand remarks and quick humor make him perfect for Percy’s character. He is also able to successfully incorporate a sense of gravity in deeper moments, particularly when Percy loses his mother.
Additionally, the soundtrack and stunning cinematography aid in this development as well. For example, the beach scenes set in Montauk, New York give the perfect atmosphere which brings the setting of the book back to life. One notable aspect of the soundtrack is the remake of the song “Riptide,” by Australian singer Vance Joy. The song is a nice homage to the original books, as it references the name of Percy’s sword throughout the series.
Episode Two: I Become Supreme Lord of the Bathroom
In episode two, Percy wakes up in Camp Half-Blood, where news of his victory against the Minotaur quickly spreads throughout the camp. Viewers are introduced to Annabeth, daughter of Athena, who takes a special interest in Percy after believing that he possesses unusual power. Annabeth’s suspicions are confirmed during a game of capture the flag, where Percy is claimed by Poseidon, the sea god and one of the “Big Three,” which also consists of Zeus, king of the gods, and Hades, god of death. Tensions escalate between the three, and as the son of Poseidon, Percy is wrongfully accused of stealing Zeus’ lightning bolt. The episode ends by setting the stage for Percy’s quest to clear his name and prevent a war among the gods by retrieving the magical weapon.
This episode maintains the same mystery as the previous, but with a lighter tone, as Percy explores the camp. Beautiful shots of the surrounding forest and cabins show the level of thought devoted to the worldbuilding of the series itself.
Final Thoughts
Upon the initial announcement of the show, controversy sparked over the casting, which deviated from Riordan’s original character descriptions. Leah Sava Jeffries, who is African American, plays Annabeth, while Aryan Simhadri, Grover’s actor, is South Asian. Personally, I recognize the importance of diversity in adaptations like this, and though I was initially apprehensive about the show’s accuracy to the source material as a whole, I didn’t find an issue at all. The actors did a stellar job of representing the characters at their core.
On the other hand, the biggest flaw in the adaptation is its forced writing.
At moments that require a heavier tone, the dialogue between characters seems too scripted, losing some of the charm that drew many readers into the original book series. This is shown in Percy’s fight with the Minotaur, where his mother sacrifices herself for him. While watching the scene, I felt that he didn’t resist her plan strongly enough, unlike the desperation portrayed in the book.
In other moments, the show tries to force its lackluster humor, creating almost a watered-down version of Percy himself. Ultimately, I believe that this lack of substance may lead to its downfall, by failing to keep viewers of all age groups– not just younger grades– invested in its story.
Regardless, for fans of the original series, or those who are just getting into the show, “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” offers a promising take to a well-loved franchise.
The next six episodes will air weekly on Disney+ starting on Dec. 27.
