After a two-year wait between seasons one and two, demigods can finally rejoice, as Percy Jackson and the Olympians returns to Disney+ with its two-part premiere on December 10. Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 adapts Sea of Monsters, the second novel in author Rick Riordan‘s seven-part saga.
The Disney+ series has a lot riding on it after a woefully unfaithful 2013 film adaptation of the book. That project thoroughly misunderstood its characters and fanbase, resulting in a soulless hodgepodge that lacked the spirit and charm of its source material. The film received a harsh reception from fans, critics, and even the series’ creator. To make matters worse, its critical reception and underperformance at the box office dashed any hopes of further sequels.
Many fans, jaded by the numerous ways the film adaptation went wrong, have approached the upcoming season with skepticism and apprehension, despite Riordan’s involvement as a series co-creator, writer, and executive producer. Thankfully, the Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 Premiere demonstrates the amount of love, care, and intention that went into the series, creating a pair of opening episodes that fans can be proud to support.
‘PJO’ Season 2 Features a Dangerous New Adventure
The Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 Premiere, written by Riordan and Craig Silverstein, is a master class in properly adapting a story to a visual medium, updating it and making calculated changes when necessary, and maintaining the source material’s heart and soul. It’s tense and thrilling, and a start to the season that immediately establishes the story’s tone. The first episode also establishes a new character and their allegiance, while also showcasing the season’s significant budget increase since season one.
The cinematography and James Bobin’s direction are a step above anything seen in the show’s first season. The camera feels more dynamic in the action sequences, and it seems the show is using the polarizing LED screen known as The Volume less. In its place, traditional GCI and physical sets are used more often. As a result, the first two episodes of Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 feel more immersive, and the locations have more weight.
However, the heart and soul of the series remains with the incredibly charismatic trio of Percy Jackson (Walker Scobell), Annabeth Chase (Leah Sava Jeffries), and Grover Underwood (Aryan Simhadri). While their chemistry is the highlight, each of them proves they can carry a scene on their own throughout the first two episodes.
The ‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’ Season 2 Premiere Sets the Stage for an Epic Story
With its smart pacing, clever scene additions, and strong writing, the Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 Premiere is not only a major improvement upon the lackluster films that bear its name, but it’s also a genuinely good television show. The series’ meticulous production design shines in the Camp Half-Blood scenes and other dazzling moments throughout the two episodes, while the CGI looks more convincing than ever.
The humor is still hit-or-miss, but the young actors at the center of the story, especially Jeffries and Simhadri, have settled beautifully into their roles. Their line readings are less stilted and more natural than some of the ones they delivered in Season 1. Bear McCreary returns with a slightly updated version of Percy’s theme, and his score throughout underscores the show’s whimsy and emotional moments perfectly. If this is the level of quality viewers can expect from Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2, fans are in for an adaptation worthy of all the ambrosia on Mount Olympus.
The two-episode Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 Premiere will be streaming exclusively on Disney+ starting December 10. For more Percy Jackson and the Olympians coverage, follow the Agents of Fandom podcast and socials for the latest entertainment news and reviews.
