Percy Jackson and the Olympians TV Series Review

Illustration by Rachel Owens

In 2022, fans everywhere were shaken by the announcement that the popular fantasy book series “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” was getting a live action series adaptation streaming on Disney +. Despite not being as die hard of a fan that some Percy Jackson followers seem to be, the books still hold a sentimental part of my youth, which was why I was so excited to view this adaptation. Personally, it did not disappoint. In this spoiler-free article, I will be expressing my opinions on the live action Percy Jackson series, specifically regarding the plot, characters, and vfx/visuals.

Plot

To begin, the plot is relatively loyal to that of the book, with the overarching story being fairly faithful to its source material. However, changes when adapting a book are inevitable. The format from book to screen is a completely different method of storytelling, and with so, it is clear that some changes were made. In my opinion, I either did not notice or mind any of the changes made from the original plot. When disconnected from its original source, the show portrays an immersive and heart-touching story, just as the original books did, and communicates its messages and themes effectively. While it can be understood why some fans may be upset at changes in the plot, I find that, considering the challenge of adapting things onto the screen (with limited time per episode and season), the plot balances faithfulness and originality in a refreshing way.

Characters

What likely is my favorite part of this series is none other than the characters. Bringing these iconic demigods to life was the make or break of this series for many fans, including myself. The actors had a lot to live up to with this iconic trio, and in my opinion, they did an excellent job. It is extremely refreshing to see the roles being played by actors of accurate ages as opposed to 25 year olds in high schooler clothing, and for their age, they did amazing. While at times the dialogue could be a bit cringey, it was never enough to be very notable – after all, they are 15 year olds. The characters all felt very natural and realistic. Even characters that I did not like in the original book, such as Grover, I grew to love seeing them on the screen due to how much more relatable they felt.

VFX/Visuals

What really sealed the deal for me on this series was the visuals. With all of the mythological monsters and sceneries, this book had a lot riding on it when it came to VFX and production design; and it surely delivered. My favorite part was seeing the gorgeous scenery, some of which were mostly CGI, others partially practical sets. The Greek Mythology inspiration was beautifully incorporated into the world around the characters, and it created a place that any viewer would want to be transported to. As someone who was amazed by the adaptation of  Greek Mythology in the original series, seeing it on the screen is an amazing and nostalgic experience.

Overall, I highly enjoyed the live action Percy Jackson series. Even with all the changes, I found that it brought the story to the screen in an extremely gorgeous and satisfactory adaptation fit for all ages. It is important to keep in mind that, at the end of the day, the books are for kids too – not just 20 year olds who read the books as kids. However, even if you do not have the nostalgia of reading the books on the floor of your middle school library, I still recommend this series as an upbeat yet heart-touching story of self discovery.