With over 180 million copies sold and an ever-growing fanbase, the bestselling book series “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” was adapted as a series on Disney+ in 2023. The second season just ended, so let’s take a look at whether or not it lived up to the hype.
Before we talk about Season 2, it’s important to discuss how terrible the 2010 and 2013 movie adaptations were (oh gods!). The full-length features changed major plot details, had adults acting as middle-schoolers, and lacked the book’s funny and sarcastic tone. Fans were generally disappointed.
When Disney+ decided to adapt the books into a tv series, the author, Rick Riordan, made it a point to be involved with the screenwriting and creative choices. So, fans were understandably very excited about a more accurate adaptation.
The first season received mixed reviews. Those who loved it felt the directors were able to capture the lighthearted tone of the books while adding details that enhanced the story. Others criticized minor shifts in plot, lack of attention to detail, and the casting.
With the second season finished and the third on the way, my own feelings about the series are mixed. While the show had a lot of potential, I was hoping for something more book-accurate.
The most obvious difference between the series and the books was the more diverse cast. However, contrary to many people’s opinions on this decision, I don’t see it as an issue.
Many complained that the character Annabeth, who was fair-skinned and blonde in the book, was played by Leah Sava Jeffries, a person of color. The change does not take away from her character or the overall plot. In my opinion, having a cast that represents multiple races will always be a plus. Jefferies perfectly embodied Annabeth’s character, letting the character’s level-headed and firm personality shine.
Although it does seem like Walker Scobell as Percy Jackson portrays the character more seriously than the novel’s version, this could also be because reading from his perspective is a different experience. In the novel, Percy’s internal dialogue is filled with sarcastic jokes that are more apparent to the reader, which is hard to incorporate in a third person series. Aryan Simhadri also seemed like a nice fit for Grover, and I personally loved the group’s dynamics.
The series definitely took creative liberties when altering the original storyline of the book, which I didn’t appreciate as much. It seemed to me like the directors followed the loose outline of the books, but rewrote some major parts. I was particularly disappointed by the siren sequence, a scene that develops the relationship between the characters Percy and Annabeth. The details in this part of the book help show Percy’s loyalty and Annebeth’s hubris while setting the scene for their future relationship, but the directors changed that entire part, which was very annoying.
The addition of Alison Simms, daughter of Apollo, was highly unnecessary. The absence of Selina Buergard, daughter of Aphrodite and part of a major plot twist, was a let down as well. Overall, the story got a little too jumbled for my liking.
Still, some scenes, like the battle scene in the finale, were very well done. Extra action was added, making the scene cinematic and engaging to watch. You could clearly see the work the cast put in while watching, and if I hadn’t come in with high expectations, I would have enjoyed the episodes a lot more.
I would rate this show seven stars out of 10. If I was watching it without having read the books, it would be a good series. At the end of the day, it’s well made and I think the cast did a great job. I just don’t think it’s what I would imagine when I think of Percy Jackson and the Olympians. The series feels more like a knock off; not quite Percy Jackson, but the same general idea.
