I went into Season 1 of Percy Jackson and the Olympians relatively blind, having not read the books nor seen the movies. But I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the series. It’s yet another captivating show with teenagers at the centre that draws you into a magical, mythical world. This one is dangerous, of course, and when Percy (Walker Scobell) begins to recognize his powers, he and his friends go on a mission to fight off mythical creatures, monsters, and gods. Season 2, which comes two years after the first, picks up a year after the story left off, and it’s just as wondrous as the first.
Note: This review is based on Episodes 1-4 of Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2.
The Story Picks Up a Year Later
David Bukach / Disney
In the inaugural season, demigod Percy Jackson heads out on a quest to find Zeus’ (the late Lance Reddick in Season 1, Courtney B. Vance in Season 2) thunderbolt. Zeus believes Percy stole it from him, and though he didn’t, he’s set on finding it and returning it to the powerful god. Once he achieves this mission, order is restored to Olympus and Percy can get back to his regular life. Or as regular as it can be for a demigod kid.
In Season 2, Percy and Annabeth (Leah Sava Jeffries) are on the hunt for Luke (Charlie Bushnell), who they discover in Season 1 has been secretly working with Kronos. They also need to find Grover (Aryan Simhadri), who has gone missing but keeps appearing to Percy in dreams. This journey takes them into the Sea of Monsters in search of the Golden Fleece, putting Percy right in his element in the water. He is the son of Poseidon, after all.
Tales of Greek Mythology Come to Life
Disney+
If you haven’t read the Percy Jackson books or aren’t knowledgeable about Greek mythology, you might find yourself a bit confused while watching the show. There are a lot of gods, a lot of demigods, powers, and dueling factions to consider. It’s certainly a different experience for someone like me, who isn’t familiar with the stories, versus my 13-year-old, who has read all the books, knows what’s coming and who everyone is, and understands the nuances.
Nonetheless, Season 2 has the same sweet tone as Season 1. We follow Percy and Annabeth who reconnect for another year at Camp Half-Bood. But they don’t last long there before another quest comes calling. This season, there’s the addition of a new main character in Tyson (Daniel Diemer), a Cyclops that Percy’s mother has apparently taken in. It’s later revealed that Tyson is actually (spoiler alert), Percy’s half-brother adding another dimension to the story. Â
David Bukach / Disney
With so many interesting characters who fit the stereotypes of traditional high school life, Percy Jackson and the Olympians blends a traditional coming-of-age story with fantasy and action. It’s like a book come to life on screen. (As my son tells me, there’s a lot of things they get right and some aspects where they take creative license). Speaking of watching with my son, it’s a wonderful show to enjoy with the entire family, one that might actually influence your kids to check out the books (if they haven’t already) and experience the stories in another way.
David Bukach / Disney
Clarisse (Dior Goodjohn) gets a larger role this season as the resident bully who is ripe for a redemption arc (again, bear with me since I haven’t read the books). Tyson is a lovely representation of the awkward kid who doesn’t fit in, but quickly proves his value and worth. The eye is unsettling, but it’s pretty impressively done via advanced CGI. Also joining this season is Timothy Simons as King Tantalus, son of Zeus who is now working as the new activities director at camp. He has been cursed with eternal hunger and thirst, and the constant temptation yet inability to satiate himself plagues him for life. Not surprisingly, he’s an evil, angry person, the mythical representation of that mean teacher the kids loathe. All the returning main characters do a wonderful job as well, a wonderfully cast series with actors who possess talent miles beyond their years.
David Bukach / Disney
Percy is more mature this time around, the byproduct of actor Scobell having grown up in the two years since Season 1. He’s noticeably a good foot taller, but it fits for the age, despite the actual passage of time between seasons being twice as long as the fictional time in the show. His maturity isn’t just due to the actor’s aging, but also because Percy has gained confidence after having accomplished the seeming impossible in Season 1. Annabeth is harder, stronger now, too, coming into her own and recognizing her responsibilities. Overall, the plot is darker, the stakes higher because now these kids are on the radar of many enemies, not to mention a former friend who is backing the wrong side.
David Bukach / Disney
Along with an exploration of Greek mythology, Percy Jackson and the Olympians is an entertaining, action-packed story about friendship, coming-of-age, building confidence, exploring morality, and standing up for what you believe it. If you’re looking for a series that will convince you tweens or teens to actually sit with you in the living room and watch something together (until Stranger Things is back with new episodes, that is), this series fits the bill.