Percy Jackson & The Olympians: Maybe Lighting Can Strike Twice!

Percy Jackson and The Olympians has pulled off a feat of…dare I say it? Mythological proportions. After the poor performance of the first adaptation, so bad that even the series author has decried it for years, it seems redemption and kleos (Greek for glory) have finally arrived. With a stacked cast, incredible effects, both practical and VFX and additions that make the story-already well rounded by Riordan-feel like something both familiar and refreshingly new all at the same time. As an original reader (in my youth when it was originally released) and as a mom reading the series with her ADHD superpowered kid, this show hits all the right spots!

Walker Scobell was born to play Percy Jackson. He’s got the wit, the snark and the utter disdain for the Olympian gods down. Tie that in with his perfect portrayal of Percy’s devotion and love for his mother, Sally, and he shines in every scene that he’s in. His fear, anger and childlike enthusiasm make it easy for both kids and adults to fall in love with his character. Over the course of the first two episodes, his journey from regular kid (with a nice mix of dyslexia, ADHD and some behavioral troubles) to demigod is both well paced and believable. 

In the same vein, Leah Sava Jefferies as Annabeth Chase is incredible. The “fears” that she might not be able to properly portray Annabeth (rooted in the always present fandom racism) are proven ungrounded as soon as she appears on the screen. Leah’s Annabeth knows that the  world is just a giant chessboard, and she’s always six steps ahead of the game and plotting her seventh. She might not always let you in on the plan, but just know that she’s ready for action at all times. Annabeth is confident (with a small hint of cocky), self-assured and full of love for those she claims as friends. 

Aryan Simhadri’s Grover Underwood is tender and protective, nervous and courageous all at once. His tiny satyr horns (which he picks at in nervous habit) are nearly hidden by his curly hair, but his heart is big, bright and open. Even in situations where it might be easy to give up, Grover manages to find the courage to keep going. When they share screen time, in any pairing, this group- a new “golden trio” if you will-have a chemistry that is undeniable and hard to look away from. I absolutely can not wait to see more of them together on screen, I know they’ll stun.

Lest you think the kids are the only stars of the show, all of the adult actors give performances that live up to my expectations from the books and mythology. Timothy Odmunson’s Dionysus is perfectly irreverent with just a touch of “don’t push me too far”, Virginia Kull as Sally Jackson is perfection-the perfect embodiment of a mother who only wants the best for her child-and will do whatever it takes to make sure they have it and Glynn Turman’s Chiron is exactly what you’d expect a seasoned hero’s coach to be. They may be the “supporting” cast, but they give their all in every scene-which I’m sure pushes our young heroes to greatness. 

Each episode (aptly named after chapter titles from Percy Jackson and The Lightning Thief-which this season of the series is adapting) covers about five chapters of the book and yet nothing seems rushed, lost or confused. Although it’s not a word for word adaptation, nothing of import is left on the page and in fact, the added moments (sometimes exposition, sometimes backstory) will be beneficial to both book readers and new fans alike. Fan-favorite scenes from the books (like Percy’s claiming, the fight with minotaur and Annabeth’s iconic first words) are central to the plot and yet, I was almost more excited to see new tidbits added to the story that I’ve already read a hundred times over. It provided a refresh of the story in a way that kept true to the original content, Rick Riordan can be proud. 

In the first two episodes: “I Accidentally Vaporize My Algebra” and “I Become Supreme Lord of the Bathroom” Percy learns some family history, has his first run-ins with monsters, loses one parent and gains another. They’re fun filled, quirky, at times emotionally charged and clever episodes that kids of all ages will be able to relate to. I can’t wait to see what happens next-and share those moments with y’all!! Percy Jackson and The Olympians is a perfect holiday show to watch with your family-kids and adults alike!

Let me know what y’all are most excited to see in this season of Percy Jackson and The Olympians!

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