Disney+ “Percy Jackson and The Olympians” blow FOX films out of the water

Katherine Rosa

She/Her

A&E Editor

2/6/24

This past Tuesday, Disney+ released the season finale of “Percy Jackson and The Olympians”. Not unlike Percy’s trials, the journey to get to this point has been a long one. Since Rick Riordan began releasing the “Percy Jackson and The Olympians” series of books in 2005, fans have long awaited a faithful adaptation to the series. 

Although Chris Columbus – who directed a few of the first Harry Potter movies – adapted the first two Percy Jackson novels into movies in 2010 and 2013 respectively, those yielded a negative response due to their unfaithful depiction of the book’s contents. Now, nearly two decades after its conception, Disney+’s series seems to have finally rewarded fans with a solid adaptation. 

There are many things this series is doing right. For starters, the casting is strong. Walker Scobell (Percy) captures the essence of his character perfectly, which is not easy when said character is so treasured by many. He demonstrates a great understanding of his role, masterfully blending his sharp humor and sarcasm with his bravery and humanity. 

Leah Jeffries (Annabeth), works well beside him, conveying an intelligent young girl with so much to prove. It’s immediately clear that she is a force to be reckoned with, something we did not get with her film predecessor, Alexandra Daddario.

Rounding out the main trio, Aryan Simhardi (Grover) is beyond endearing, simultaneously wise but with a childlike wonder that is essential to the group’s energy. It is clear that he is more than simple comedic relief, he is a fully fleshed individual who is vital to the group. These three actors work off of each other wonderfully. 

While this show is refreshing for fans of the original books, it also works as its own entity to entice a brand-new fanbase. It is super welcoming to unfamiliar audiences, especially young viewers and families. Everything is explained in a viewer-friendly way, but never condescending like many found the original films to be. 

More important than anything else, this series captures the heart of the original. At its core, Percy Jackson is about finding yourself and a sense of belonging when you may feel othered. It’s the idea that if it seems there’s no place for you in this world, it’s because the world isn’t ready for you. This sense of individuality, and the beauty of it, is juxtaposed with the fundamental value of community. People need people, and even if it doesn’t seem like it, you will find your people. The show makes a great effort to effectively convey each of these ideas and succeeds in such. They hone in on it in ways that might be a little on the nose, such as the post-Lotus Casino moment at the end of episode six where the trio explains how easy it is to lose sight of what matters when you are alone, but given the fact that this is a children’s show, this lack of subtly makes sense. 

“Percy Jackson and the Olympians” shows great potential to blossom into an immensely successful and beloved television series if it is to continue in its current direction. It is apparent that the creative team behind this cares deeply about doing it justice, and that’s all a devoted fan can ask for.  The yet unconfirmed second season has the opportunity to solidify the show’s place as a growing phenomenon, and perhaps turn into something we haven’t seen since the Harry Potter franchise.

The “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” television series can currently be streamed on Disney+. It is definitely worth investing a night or two into whether you are a fan of the books or not. It should especially be recommended to those with a taste for action, adventure, and fantasy.