“Look, I didn’t want to be a half-blood.” These words strike excitement in the hearts of every fan, young and old. So naturally, when plans for a Percy Jackson and the Olympians show were announced, people were thrilled. After a few casting controversies, mainly focused on the appearance of the actors versus their book-accurate descriptions, the show was released to much excitement.
Percy Jackson and The Olympians: The Lightning Thief follows the story of 12-year-old Percy Jackson, who learns that his estranged father is Poseidon, the Greek god of water. He then has to go on a quest to return a stolen weapon to Zeus, the Greek god of lightning and king of the gods.
Following a fascinating premiere, the first two episodes were released on Disney+ on Dec. 19, hours earlier than promised. The show was immediately highly praised by fans, with many people discussing the impressive casting and contrasting the show with the notoriously underwhelming movies.
The casting in particular was exciting, with many fans saying the main trio must have been taken straight out of the books. Walker Scobell (Percy Jackson), Leah Sava Jefferies (Annabeth Chase), and Aryan Simhadri (Grover Underwood) have a rare talent for actors so young with a chemistry and understanding of themselves that truly brings their characters to life.
While the actors don’t look exactly like their fictional counterparts, all thoughts of previous renditions leave your mind the second they appear on screen. Walker Scobell has a way of captivating audiences with his quick humor and sarcasm while still displaying the true emotion that Percy needs to develop as a character. Leah Sava Jefferies nails Annabeth in the head with her wit and intellect, quickly becoming a fan-favorite. Aryan Simhadri gives Grover a depth he rarely earns and has easily the funniest lines on the show.
While the plot of the show did vary from the books, many fans argue that it adds more depth to the characters. The show changed some plot points, such as needing to get a ride from Hermes in the Lotus Casino or having the entrance to the Underworld in Crusty’s shop. They also made the main trio a lot smarter, so they knew what was happening when they were going into a scene, which changed the trajectory of the story and made the exposition a lot faster.
One favorite character who was done absolute justice by the show was Sally Jackson (Virginia Kull). Sally has been loved since the beginning, and the show has only increased that love. The show not only developed her character but also her relationships with Percy and Poseidon, giving her a depth that hasn’t been explored previously. She acts as a guide to Percy, and we constantly see flashbacks to moments when she acted as a mentor and helped him through his struggles. Sally’s struggles are also shown throughout the show, as we see her trying to raise Percy by herself and find solace in Poseidon.
The show brought old fans back to the world of Percy Jackson and pulled in new fans who had never read the books. While the first Percy Jackson book was released in 2005, it has only gained popularity over the years, with two movies, the show, and new books being released constantly, with the most recent one being in 2023 and plans for more confirmed.
Season two of the show has been confirmed, focusing on the second book in the series, Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Sea of Monsters. In the meantime, hold fast. Brave the storm.
