Lance Reddick as Zeus in Percy Jackson and the Olympians (Source: Disney+)
!Contains spoilers for Percy Jackson and the Olympians TV show!
“Percy Jackson and the Olympians” recently premiered its season finale, leaving viewers to digest Percy’s much anticipated encounter with Zeus and what it means for the future of the series.
The episode begins with a few flashbacks as Percy prepares to face Ares head on in a fight, a detail I really enjoyed. Through this fight we can see how much Percy has developed as a hero since his encounter with the minotaur in episode one.
This scene in the o book is a particularly pivotal moment, especially considering all the various added pressures on Percy as he nears the end of his quest. Compared to the books, I think the fight with Ares was lacking in the respect that it ended so quickly, but Walker Scobell’s performance as Percy in this scene made up for it.
In my previous review of the series, I mentioned changes that were made. One of the biggest changes is when Percy returns the bolt to Zeus. In the TV series Percy is too late, technically failing the quest. In the book, Percy manages to return it just in time.
I was unsure how to feel about this change, though I think it worked in the series’ favor in the end. At the cost of Percy’s failure to return the bolt on time, we gain a stunning performance from the late Lance Reddick in an intense exchange with Percy.
Reddick makes the scene a stand out moment in the episode, emphasizing the growing concern of Kronos’ potential return. I enjoyed the added moment with Poseidon. I think Poseidon’s “surrender” could have had more impact, but the conversation with Percy that followed was a great detail.
I liked how these interactions lacked the same formality that was shown in the books. I think it added to the feeling of disarray due to the impending “war.”
This series has more of a humanistic approach to how the Gods are portrayed. In the first book, we of course hear how the Gods aren’t good parents and make decisions at the expense of their children; but the series truly shows it.
This is especially prevalent in the scene between Sally Jackson and Poseidon in episode seven, “We Find Out The Truth.” Here, the two share a heart-wrenching exchange in a diner, unable to even look at one another as they reflect.
It is also notable in the added cameo made by Hephaestus in episode five, “A God Buys Us Cheeseburgers” where Annabeth’s speech moved him deeply, leading to him releasing Percy from his trap.
These scenes show how imperfect the gods are and the feelings of regret and pain that are hidden and pushed away among their family. It is a form of generational trauma that is passed onto their children and it ultimately is what leads to the ‘big betrayal’ in the series.
The betrayal reveal is wonderfully done and in some ways I prefer it to the book. In the book, Luke sends a pit scorpion to attack Percy after he discovers Luke’s true intentions. He does not care about Percy and has little remorse when it comes to killing him.
The TV series flips this, and viewers are instead given an emotional confrontation between Luke and Percy. Here, Luke tries to convince Percy to join him, more specifically, to join Kronos.
To me, this was a much better plot line when compared to Luke simply trying to kill Percy and leaving. Percy is incredibly powerful as a forbidden child, proven time and time again throughout just the first book alone. It only makes sense that Kronos would be quick to want him on his side.
On the acting side of things, Charlie Bushnell stood out the most to me in the final episode. His performance during the confrontation between Percy and Luke are what made this scene shine.
Bushnell does a beautiful job portraying the mixed emotions Luke deals with during this scene. I could really feel the internal battle he faces, most especially when it is revealed that Annabeth witnessed everything.
Based on this performance, I think Bushnell has the potential to become a rising star if he plays his cards right. As he continues to develop his skills as an actor, I think he’ll become quite sought after in the next few years.
In terms of writing, the writers and Rick Riordan truly did an amazing job building these characters up and giving them more life.
The only large criticism I had throughout this series was the dialogue; which at times felt lacking. More specifically during moments where the characters seem to know exactly what they’re facing and what to do.
I think a show-not-tell approach would’ve been more entertaining to watch, but I still enjoyed this series nonetheless.
Regardless, if you’re an old fan of the series or completely new, “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” is a series that is definitely worth the watch. It’s not perfect by any means, but the parts that make it good overshadow most of its shortcomings.
Overall, I can see this series becoming a household favorite in the future. This cast is certainly a group to keep an eye on. I have no doubt that they’ll explode in popularity as this series progresses.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians is streaming on Disney+.
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