Season 2 of Disney+’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians started with a two episode series premier on Wednesday was an epic Homer would be proud of. Episode 1 ‘I Play Dodgeball with Cannibals’ and episode 2 ‘Demon Pigeons Attack’ bring fun and humour into a darker adventure
The kids have grown up, it’s been two years since Season 1, based on Rick Riordan’s best selling novel ‘The Lightning Thief’ so of course Percy (Walker Scobell), Annabeth Chase (Leah Sava-Jeffries) and Grover (Aryan Simhadri) have grown. Not only are they taller but their acting has matured with them. A key theme of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series is that you watch these characters grow up, by the end of the series they are 16 and traumatised. Demigods have to mature quickly to survive and the gap between seasons 1 and 2 have brought us that maturity. Overall season 2 appears to be darker than season 1, with higher stakes and dangerous battles on the horizon. I would like to make two points before we dive in: Rick Riordan (the original author) is involved with the development and writing of the TV show and there are elements of the books that needed updating but overall season 2 is shaping up to be a fantastic adaptation of Percy Jackson and The Olympians: The Sea of Monsters.
Quick recap for those who are unfamiliar with the show. Percy Jackson and the Olympians follows Percy Jackson, a kid who has just found out he is half god and half mortal. As a son of Poseidon (one of the big three Greek Gods), he’s a ‘forbidden child’, known for their power. Camp Halfblood is a summer camp where kids of the Gods go to train to become heroes and keep them safe from the monsters that hunt them in the mortal realm. Season 1 saw Percy be framed for stealing Zeus’s lightning bolt and the trio Percy, Annabeth and Grover narrowly avoid a war between the Gods. At the end of season 1, it’s revealed that Luke (Charlie Bushnell), a son of Hermes has sided with an enemy of the gods, the Titan of Time, Chronos to take down the Gods, betraying Percy, Annabeth and the Greek Gods and the whole of Camp Halfblood.
Season 2 drops us back in with Percy, one year since the events of season 1. Episode 1, ‘I Play Dodgeball with Cannibals’ introduces Tyson (Daniel Diemer), a cyclops who Sally Jackson (Percy’s Mom) has taken in after meeting him at a homeless shelter. Tyson is a baby cyclops, he’s younger than Percy, but much bigger (still small for a cyclops) and has a childlike wonder and curiosity for the world. In the short moment we join the Jackson breakfast table we see Percy and Sally’s relationship, Sally’s care for everyone monster or otherwise and Tyson’s affinity for tinkering and creating inventions as comes naturally to a cyclops. Tyson is a fan favourite character, while they have made some small changes to the pacing of his storyline, it creates a great dynamic between Percy and Tyson.
Percy is having dreams of Grover alone and in danger. Grover, now qualified, has set off on his search for Pan the God of the Wild who has been missing for hundreds of years. Percy and Tyson get a surprise visit from Annabeth who has had a different dream which was a vision of Camp Halfblood up in flames. Upon arriving at camp, everything is changing. Chiron has been removed as Camp activities director and replaced by Tantalus, played by Timothy Simons. Along with new campers like Chris Rodrigeuz (Andrew Alvarez) and Alison Simms (Beatrice Kitsos) who has sided with Luke. Familiar faces are still at camp in Jason Manzoukas and Dior Goodjohn as Dionysus (Mr. D) and Clarisse La Rue, child of Ares topping off a truly fantastic cast of characters and actors.
This season is shaping up to be a bit darker, full of adventure, monsters and action. From Tyson who’s little face just makes your heart ache for him, to Percy and Annabeth navigating new friendships and letting go of old ones and even empathising with Clarisse, this season is going to be an emotional rollercoaster if the first two episodes are anything to go by. Since the kids are getting older it’s clear they’re taking on way more of the stunts. Episode 2’s chariot race is the perfect example of this, the set pictures showed how enormous the practical set is and every second of that race is worth it the world of Camp Halfblood that they’ve built.
Fans who have been waiting for it, we see Grover in the wedding dress. He rocks it. Despite Grover being away for the time being, Percy and Grover’s friendship is as strong as ever, from postcards sent to Percy as Grover travels across the globe for Pan to the first look at their ‘empathy link’ which is a psychic link between demigod and satyrs that’s really rare but proves their bond. I am also CONVINCED that there are improvised moments here, Grover asking how he looks in the wedding dress and instantly Percy saying ‘beautiful’, has to be some of Walker seeping through a little. It works for Percy so well though. He will also hype up his friend.
Every time you blink while watching season 2 of Percy Jackson there’s an epic adventure moment or an emotion fuelled conversation, even between Percy and Hermes with Lin Manuel Miranda returning as the God of Travellers and Thieves. Rick Riordan’s world is full of life and magic and myths that there is so much for the TV crew to play with in costumes, monster designs and CGI. This TV show isn’t high art, it’s not the next Game of Thrones but it’s high quality entertainment. There’s something for everyone in this TV show, in a world that feels like we are short of family entertainment right now, Percy Jackson season 2 truly is for everyone. There’s even a couple of more adult jokes made by Dionysus and Hermes. Season 2 is looking to be a masterclass in family adventure television. Book lovers will also not be disappointed, trust in Uncle Rick and the updates he’s made, throughout the moments that have changed mostly to match the TV format, there are references to the original scenes you know and love.
Demigods, dive into Season 2, The Sea of Monsters on Disney+ with Percy Jackson and the Olympians.
