Demigods, we are about to embark on a massive quest. Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 brings the thrills, heart-pounding action, fun, and emotions in another faithful (thank the gods) adaptation of the books.
Percy Jackson And The Olympians Season 2 Review
In 2023, Rick Riordan’s beloved Percy Jackson and the Olympians series was finally given the adaptation it deserved. Sure there had been films before but they butchered the storylines and left fans feeling adrift like Odysseus just trying to find their way back to Camp Half-Blood. Season 1 of the books changed all that. It had the charm and personality of the books, a stellar cast of young talented actors, and Riordan himself was involved with the creative process. Season 1 was almost a one-for-one retelling of The Lightning Thief with all the mythological mayhem you could want. Season 2 ups the ante on all of it, with a thrilling dive into The Sea of Monsters.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 brings the thrills, heart-pounding action, fun, and emotions. Riordan along with co-creator Jonathan E. Steinberg have once again accomplished a Herculean feat with this adaptation. The Sea Of Monsters is a story full of moments that keep you on the edge of your seat. The stakes are higher and everything has grown to reflect that whether it’s the vastness of the sets or the performances of the cast. From the chariot race at Camp Half-Blood to the Ironclad warship and of course all the chaos of Polyphemus’ island, it’s a non-stop dash to the finish for the demigods and those of us watching at home. Season 2 once again captures the excitement I felt when I first read the book and proves book adaptations can be amazing if the right team is involved.
Season 2 picks up roughly one year after the events of Season 1 that saw Percy Jackson (Walker Scobell) return Zeus’ (Lance Reddick) Lightning Bolt with help from his friends Annabeth (Leah Sava’ Jeffries) and Grover (Aryan Simhadri). Now, Grover has gone missing during his quest to find the lost god Pan. Not only that but Camp Half-Blood is threatened when Thalia’s tree, which powers the barrier that protects the camp, is poisoned. Percy, Annabeth, and Percy’s Cyclops half-brother Tyson (Daniel Diemer) must journey to the island of Polyphemus to retrieve the Golden Fleece, the only thing that can heal Thalia’s tree. But they aren’t the only ones after it. Their former friend Luke (Charlie Bushnell) is also searching for it to help Kronos (Nick Boraine).
Just like Season 1, each episode is named after the title of a chapter from the book: “We Hail the Taxi of Eternal Torment,” “Demon Pigeons Attack,” “Clarisse Blows Everything Up,” etc. Those titles alone should tell you that this season is full of action and surprises. Season 2 takes us on a ride to new locations as the campers undertake their quest– well Clarisse (Dior Goodjohn) is anyways. She’s the only one legitimately sanctioned to be out questing even if she’s not prepared for it. Percy, Annabeth, and Tyson meanwhile are kind of winging it. A quest through the Sea of Monsters means grand adventures, fighting, and the chance for the VFX team to show off.
There’s a mix of practical and StageCraft technology (like the one used in The Mandalorian), but overall the world feels expanded and immersive. The chariot race is a big highlight of the season and something fans have been anxiously waiting to see on screen. It was exhilarating to watch and the camera swoops, flies, and cuts around elevating the thrills. Then there is the big Ironclad ship the demigods sail into the Sea of Monsters. It is a massive, practical set that was tilted, drenched, and even dressed with a real cannon. That entry into the Sea is a spiritual successor to the feel of the ship battles in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.
Speaking of that navy battle with Scylla and Charybdis, it takes skill and a budget to make a six-headed creature that hunts you from above and a giant whirlpool kraken that hunts you from the water look imposing and not cartoonish at best or lame at worst. Their designs are impressive and the action centered around them is a pure shot of adrenaline. But I have to give kudos for what was likely the hardest effect for the whole show– Tyson’s eye. Cyclops are notoriously hard to render on screen, the slightest misstep and you’re square in uncanny valley. But Diemer is sweet and gentle, and the team was able to translate the feelings he conveyed in one eye.
Season 1 was more focused on Percy and his perspective on the world (like the books) but Season 2 is just as much Annabeth’s story as it is Percy. Utilizing the Demigod Diaries, the series expands the narrative to include other characters’ POV. In The Sea of Monsters, Annabeth’s backstory is shown which deepens everyone’s understanding of what makes her tick. Jeffries continues to give her an iron will but also allows for a softer, more conflicted version of the character to shine through. Scobell’s charisma and charm is on full display again but he also gets to show a different side of Percy thanks to his relationship with Tyson. Scobell and Diemer have a great dynamic that really drives these brothers during the course of the season. Goodjohn gets a chance to prove that Clarisse is more than just another hotheaded child of Ares, Jason Mantzoukas’ Dionysus is as hilarious as ever, and newcomer Tantalus (Timothy Simons) is perfectly unlikeable.
Verdict
Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 lives up to the standards set by Season 1 and exceeds all expectations. It has all the charm, energy, and heart fans love, bringing us yet another faithful iteration of the beloved series.This is what a book adaptation should be, faithful to the story and vibe while adding to it in ways that make sense. Now that the world has been established, the show is free to push forward like Percy and his friends do on this quest. Bigger action sequences, emotional moments, and chaotic fun galore, The Sea of Monsters is an exhilarating return to the franchise that seems to get better and better as it goes along. Season 3 is already in production and book readers know everything gets even crazier (and sometimes heartbreaking) from here. I know I’m not the only one willing to drop an offering in the campfire for all seven books to be adapted. If the first half of Season 2 is any indication, Disney is prepared to see this journey to the end.
The first two episodes of Percy Jackson and the Olympians premiere Wednesday, December 10 on Disney+.
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