By Sophia Luckey
Assistant Theme Editor
On Dec. 20, Disney+ released its highly anticipated collaboration with author Rick Riordan of the popular book series Percy Jackson & the Olympians as a TV series under the same name. A new episode was released every week until Jan. 30, captivating both long-time and new fans of the books with this fresh take on the classic YA series.
In the early 2010’s, 1492 Pictures adapted the beloved book series into movies. However, only two of the books were adapted for film because of the poor reception in theatres. Fans criticized the series for straying too far from the books’ original plot. Recreating the story once again was a risky move, but this new adaptation does a much better job at staying true to the series.
The show covers the events of the first book, Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lighting Thief. Walker Scobell plays main character Percy Jackson, who finds out that he is the son of Poseidon. Percy is tasked with a quest to retrieve Zeus’ stolen lighting bolt, alongside his new friends Annabeth Chase and Grover Underwood, played by Leah Sava Jefferies and Ayran Simhadri.
One of the show’s many strengths is its newfound emphasis on Percy’s relationship with his mom Sally. The show beautifully illustrates the mother-son dynamic, something that was not focused on as significantly in the book. This decision not only draws in viewers emotionally, but builds the two’s relationship to add plot complexity.
The casting is yet another highlight of the show. Unlike the movies which cast older actors, the actors’ in the update are true to those of the characters they portray. The three main characters are meant to be twelve-year-olds who are exploring their identities. This search is perfectly depicted by Scobell’s naive and curious acting.
The CGI and cinematography is much improved from the movies. The mythical creatures discussed in the book are brought to life with magical editing, immersing viewers in the world of the Olympians.
Although the show does a superb job at staying true to the original book, naturally, there were some decisions that either didn’t make sense to change or underwhelmed fans. For example, instead of Percy being gifted three pearls to escape the underworld, he is given four. This change had potential to seriously impact the plot, but instead ended up being a pointless alteration that didn’t have purpose.
CEO of The Walt Disney Company Bob Iger recently announced that the series will be renewed for a second season. “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” is available for streaming on Disney+.
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