There’s something simple and utterly delightful about Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Disney+’s adaptation of Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson book series. It’s the rare show that works on two levels – it’s clearly aimed primarily at a younger audience, but it also has more than enough interesting beats and fun casting choices to keep adults (or, adult book fans) more than entertained. I was lukewarm on season one and only managed to get caught up right before diving into season two – which once again sets Percy (Wyatt Scobell, who got a heck of a lot taller in between seasons) and Annabeth (Leah Sava Jeffries) on a quest into the world of Greek myths and monsters.
But let me back up a bit. When we last left Camp Half-Blood – the summer* camp for demigods – a schism had occurred. Luke (Charlie Bushnell), an estranged son of Hermes, had thrown his lot in with Kronos (the father of Zeus, Hades, and Poseidon, who was believed to be captured and contained in Tartarus but was secretly gaining strength and followers in a bid to overthrow the gods) and was recruiting campers to the cause. Luke tried to get Percy on board – because having a forbidden child of one of Kronos’ children would be enough to turn the tide in his favor – but Percy remained loyal to his (almost always absent) father and the Greek pantheon. Unfortunately for Percy, just because he refused Luke’s overtures once doesn’t mean Luke and his slowly growing army will just go away, and season two sees Percy, Annabeth, and Percy’s new adopted brother of sorts, Tyson (Daniel Diemer), a cyclops, braving the Sea of Monsters to rescue Grover (Aryan Simhadri) and find the Golden Fleece.
*While Percy only comes to camp for the summer, other campers – like Clarisse (Dior Goodjohn), a daughter of Ares who gets a heck of a lot more to do in season two – spend the entire year there. So, when Luke’s actions create a threat to the safety of camp as a whole, many of the campers have a lot more skin in the game in trying to save their actual home than someone like Percy who only comes for a single season. An important thing to remember when watching season two, as what Camp Half-Blood means to different demigods is an interesting through line to follow.
As someone who hasn’t read the books, but who has a deep love and appreciation of Greek mythology, I had an absolute blast watching season two. The bones of the series aren’t all that different from any other hero’s journey tale – the hero (Percy) must surround himself with those he trusts (Grover and Annabeth – and now, Tyson) to go on a quest to not only accomplish his goal but to also learn something about himself in the process. Season one was about Percy learning about where he came from – his father, reckoning with the fact that his dad does care for him and it’s that care that means he cannot be with him most of the time, and creating a found family with Annabeth and Grover when he least expected to. Season two is about understanding the world he is now a part of. Trusting his allies and being willing to extend that trust to others, knowing it might backfire. But, perhaps most interestingly, season two isn’t all about Percy. We get to see some crucial flashbacks into Annabeth’s time as a young child on the run with Luke and the much discussed, but previously never seen, Thalia (who was turned into a tree by her father, Zeus, while trying to protect Annabeth and Luke from an attack on the border of camp). We also get some time with Clarisse, an antagonist to Percy in season one who, unsurprisingly, has a lot of her own daddy issues to work through – turns out having Ares for a father isn’t all puppies and rainbows.
Shows that rely on young talent – the majority of the central cast here are teenagers, with a smattering of twenty-somethings – can be hit or miss. After all, child actors aren’t expected to be as polished in their craft as adults who go into the business (and the adult actors here – including the addition of Timothy Simons as the perfect casting for Tantalus – are stellar all around). It’s more a reliance on their innocence, their ability to react and play pretend, than actual talent. So, as they age, there can be some growing pains in their trying to understand the more nuanced work required for more adult sequences (see the mixed bag over at Stranger Things). Fortunately, the young actors here are pretty great. It helps that they’re dealing with some pretty wild story lines that allow for larger emotional beats and don’t require a ton of nuance (getting chased by CGI monsters is easier to act than dealing with the emotionally devastating loss of a family member), but these teens are more than up for the challenge. And Scobell does well with Percy’s blend of light arrogance (you survive one quest and you think you have all the answers) and genuine desire to help his friends. Jeffries is asked to do some emotional heavy lifting throughout the early part of the season and acquits herself well.
Fans of the books and the first season will whole-heartedly enjoy season two. There’s action, there’s adventure, there’s a heck of a lot of fun callbacks to Greek mythology (especially “The Odyssey”, which looks to be having quite the moment in the next year in terms of Hollywood retellings). Sure, the CGI is a bit wonky at times and the monsters aren’t all that great looking. But the story is engaging, there are some cool moments, and the characters are a heck of a lot of fun to watch. The additions of Tyson and Clarisse into the main arc helps provide some new character beats as well. Percy Jackson could have been a mess. But Disney, Riordan, and the rest of the cast and crew have managed to put together a fun, engaging, hero’s journey. It’s definitely worth a watch.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians season two premieres on December 10 on Disney+. Four of the eight episodes were provided for review.
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