Percy Jackson Season 2 Episode 3 Recap & Review: Cruising For a Bruising

Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 Episode 3 wastes no time tightening the screws on its young heroes, picking up right where the two-part premiere left off. The episode, titled “We Board the Princess Andromeda,” instantly feels bigger and bolder than what came before it, moving Percy (Walker Scobell), Annabeth (Leah Sava Jeffries), and Tyson (Daniel Diemer) out of the relative safety of Camp Half-Blood and into a story that’s darker, sharper, and far more emotionally loaded than its book counterpart ever allowed.

What the Disney+ series continues to nail, and PJO Season 2 Episode 3 doubles down on, is its commitment to highlighting and expanding upon perspectives beyond Percy’s singular point of view, fleshing out characters who were once confined to the margins and giving them space to breathe.

The episode’s strongest swing comes from the seamless introduction of a brand-new “B” plot following Clarisse (Dior Goodjohn) as she heads out on her own quest for the Golden Fleece. While Percy, Annabeth, and Tyson’s infiltration of the Princess Andromeda escalates the mystery surrounding Luke (Charlie Bushnell) and his betrayal in season one, the episode weaves in fresh revelations that complicate his betrayal and raise a sharp moral dilemma that forces viewers to question their own perspectives.

By tightening its dual narratives and elevating the emotional stakes, Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 Episode 3 not only advances the season’s core conflict but also makes a compelling case for why this adaptation continues to thrive when it expands beyond the page.

All Aboard the Princess Andromeda

Percy, Annabeth, and Tyson board the Princess Andromeda, the same cruise ship Percy glimpsed during his conversation with Hermes (Lin-Manuel Miranda) in the season premiere. Percy and Annabeth share a rare moment of vulnerability, discussing the secret Annabeth can’t yet reveal and agreeing on a code word should Percy ever veer toward darkness.

Tyson tells them that he can smell monsters on board, and it isn’t long before the trio spots the Laistrygonian Giants, first seen in the Percy Jackson Season 2 premiere. They also cross paths with new antagonist Alison Simms (Beatrice Kitsos), whom Percy recognizes from Grover’s (Aryan Simhadri) empathy link. After knocking her overboard, they go through her bag, finding a Kronos-branded key card that exposes the ship’s true owner: Luke.

The discovery divides Percy and Annabeth on how to handle Luke’s growing threat. Their attempt to confront him in the Admiralty Suite results in Tyson’s capture, forcing Percy and Annabeth into a tense conversation with their former friend. Luke reveals Kronos’ coffin, outlining how every disillusioned demigod strengthens the Titan, and Annabeth deduces that Luke orchestrated the Golden Fleece quest from the start.

He reveals that Thalia (Tamara Smart) hated her godly father, Zeus (Courtney B. Vance), arguing against the gods’ callous, dismissive treatment of their children. When the trio is taken below deck, they find Tyson working alongside monsters on a bomb he’s secretly rigged for their escape. The explosion buys them just enough time to flee, leading to a quiet, heartbreaking moment on the raft where Annabeth finally reveals that the Great Prophecy ties a child of Zeus, Poseidon, or Hades to either Olympus’ salvation or destruction.

Clarisse’s Quest Expands the Scope of Percy Jackson Season 2

While Percy and company clash with Luke, Clarisse embarks on her own mission in Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 Episode 3 after receiving an ominous prophecy from the Oracle. Her father, Ares (Adam Copeland), gifts her an ironclad warship and a crew of undead soldiers—along with a threat disguised as tough love. Clarisse’s struggle to command warriors who don’t respect her gives the character a surprising emotional dimension that fans didn’t get in author Rick Riordan‘s novel.

By levelling with her crew about their shared insecurities, Clarisse earns their trust and reframes the quest as a path to the desirable Fields of Elysium in the underworld rather than a condemnation to the Fields of Punishment. But as her confidence rises, she discovers that Percy’s coordinates were intentionally wrong, sending her into uncharted waters and deepening her animosity toward the son of Poseidon.

Percy Jackson Season 2 Episode 3 Is the Series’ Best Yet

PJO Season 2 Episode 3 continues the visual momentum established in the premiere, with director Jason Ensler and his cinematographers stitching together dynamic, kinetic shots that make Percy Jackson Season 2 feel richer and more lived-in than Season 1. Tamara Becher-Wilkinson‘s script thoughtfully merges book material with new storylines designed for television, even if the mid-episode Kronos exposition feels a bit heavy-handed.

Walker Scobell delivers his strongest performance yet, grounding Percy in sincerity and emotional nuance. His early conversation with Jeffries’ Annabeth is a standout, beautifully foreshadowing where their relationship is headed in future seasons. Goodjohn shines as Clarisse, peeling back the character’s bravado to reveal fear, longing, and a heartbreaking need for parental approval. Meanwhile, Copeland is clearly having a blast chewing up the scenery as Ares. His interpretation of the god of war is blunt, cruel, and wildly effective in small doses, reinforcing Luke’s argument about the gods’ failings as parents.

However, the episode’s MVP is Daniel Diemer. His take on Tyson is tender, wounded, and genuinely funny, imbuing the character with a warmth and sweetness that elevates every scene he’s in and will no doubt make him a fan favorite. Between its performances, writing, and direction, Percy Jackson Season 2 Episode 3 stands tall as the show’s most compelling chapter yet, setting up a thrilling, danger-filled descent into the Sea of Monsters in Episode 4.

New episodes of Percy Jackson and the Olympians stream every Wednesday on Disney+. For more Percy Jackson and the Olympians coverage, follow the Agents of Fandom podcast and socials for the latest entertainment news and reviews.