As somebody who grew up studying Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians, watching the first season of the Disney+ collection felt like coming residence. After two disappointing movie variations, right here was a present that higher captured the spirit (and, you realize, fundamental plot) of The Lightning Thief, full with a captivating younger forged.
Nonetheless, because the season progressed, my cozy nostalgia at revisiting Camp Half-Blood butted up towards some rising frustrations. Lots of the adaptation modifications from e book to display screen labored nicely, like fleshing out the views of facet characters like Sally Jackson (Virginia Krull). Others, like having our heroes miss the Summer time Solstice deadline for his or her quest, did not land, feeling extra like arbitrary modifications than a significant rewrite of an already nice story. Visually, too, the collection proved underwhelming, filled with murky, static pictures. Why wasn’t this epic story of heroes and monsters extra imaginatively executed?
These frustrations sadly proceed to rear their heads in Season 2 of Percy Jackson and the Olympians. As soon as once more, the modifications from e book to indicate are a blended bag, and as soon as once more, the present usually lacks a defining visible spark. But the occasional high-energy motion sequence and pleasant interaction between Camp Half-Blood’s heroes provides hope that it isn’t all tough waters forward.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 heads to the Sea of Monsters.
Walker Scobell and Leah Sava Jeffries in “Percy Jackson and the Olympians.”
Credit score: Disney / David Bukach
Season 2 of Percy Jackson and the Olympians adapts Riordan’s The Sea of Monsters, which implies you may guess on some critical nautical motion. However earlier than we head out to sea, we’re off to Camp Half-Blood with Percy (Walker Scobell) and Annabeth (Leah Sava Jeffries), the place issues have taken a flip for the worst.
An assault from Kronos supporter Luke (Charlie Bushnell) has left Camp Half-Blood’s defensive barrier failing, which means it is solely a matter of time earlier than monsters break by means of and bloodbath each demigod within the space. Camp’s solely hope? A quest to search out the Golden Fleece, at present hidden within the Sea of Monsters (aka the Bermuda Triangle). Coincidentally, that is additionally the place Grover (Aryan Simhadri) has run into bother on his seek for Pan. With a visit to the Sea of Monsters, Percy can kill two Stymphalian birds with one stone and save each camp and his finest buddy.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians switches up the books, with blended outcomes.
Aryan Simhadri in “Percy Jackson and the Olympians.”
Credit score: Disney / David Bukach
Percy Jackson and the Olympians‘ path to Percy’s quest is continuously muddled, shifting e book occasions and character allegiances round to the purpose that I want I hadn’t reread The Sea of Monsters forward of time, as I stored getting so distracted by the modifications. Once more, most of the modifications work. Some early pressure and mistrust between Percy and Annabeth provides new layers to their friendship. Elsewhere, the collection delves deeper into the attitude of Clarisse (Dior Goodjohn), daughter of Ares (Adam Copeland), who steps into a frightening management function of her personal.
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With that, Percy Jackson and the Olympians continues to broaden its world and provides extra of its younger forged time to shine. Early questing arguments between Percy, Clarisse, and Annabeth crackle with teasing and banter, a welcome antidote to a lot of the darker dialogue concerning the Greek gods and the Nice Prophecy that may determine their destiny. Whereas these are undeniably core components of Percy’s story, they usually threaten to eclipse that Percy Jackson and the Olympians can be — crucially! — enjoyable, one thing the present often appears to neglect.
Take the Laistrygonian giants Percy faces in episode 1, for instance. In The Sea of Monsters, they initially current as guests from Detroit, albeit with names like Cranium Eater and Joe Bob. Their disguise supplies equal components silliness and pressure, as Percy realizes that he is as soon as once more dealing with monsters who should not what they appear. Within the collection, although, there isn’t any pretense, no disguise. The Laistrygonians are already in full large kind when Percy crosses paths with them, robbing us of the enjoyable of seeing figures from Greek fable remixed into the true world — once more, a core a part of the attraction of the collection!
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Percy Jackson and the Olympians deserves to look higher.
The shortage of enjoyable extends to the general visible model of Percy Jackson and the Olympians as nicely. Why, in a narrative the place myths are actual, is the world so visually bland? Backgrounds are sometimes washed out and unfocused, and most pictures place their topics smack-dab within the middle, making a monotony that pushes towards the imaginative high quality of the story itself.
Fortunately, there are moments that break freed from this blandness. A Camp Half-Blood chariot race makes for a dynamic set piece, full with superbly crafted chariots and stable action-driven character beats. A later encounter with the monster Scylla expertly dials up the strain and boasts some spectacular water results. It is a formidable welcome to the Sea of Monsters, one which I hope the season can stay as much as within the later episodes that weren’t screened for critics.
Regardless of all its flaws, Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 nonetheless happy my itch for extra demigods, taking me proper again to the primary time I curled up and devoured The Sea of Monsters. However nostalgia can solely get you up to now, and whereas Percy Jackson and the Olympians has all the weather it must be good, what I actually need from it’s to be nice.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 premieres Dec. 10 on Disney+.
