Many people know of and have read the Percy Jackson and the Olympians book series. It tells the story of the titular character going on high-risk adventures. These experiences often had him contend with beasts and figures from Greek mythology. These literary works’ popularity spawned a franchise, including the highly-praised Disney+ streaming series. The first Percy Jackson novel, The Lightning Thief, inspired the events of Season One. But what can we expect to see as Season Two adapts the second installment?
Diving into the Percy Jackson Franchise
Written by Rick Riordan, the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series currently encompasses seven books. They star Percy Jackson, a youth whose life turns upside-down after a monster attack. He’s soon taken to a unique summer camp where he discovers he’s a demigod. More precisely, Percy is the son of Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea. Every book in the set showcases a different adventure he and his friends must take. It eventually leads to a battle against Kronos, the king of the Titans.
The Percy Jackson books proved to be quite popular with countless readers. They were on par with series like Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings. And, like them, it was a matter of time until they spawned films. 20th Century Fox intended to create five Percy Jackson movies but only made two. They ended due to horrendous creative changes from the novels and Riordan’s disapproval of them. Things went quiet for the franchise afterward until Disney revived it into a new show.
A Shocking Season One
On December 19, 2023, Percy Jackson and the Olympians debuted on Disney+. The first season recounted the events of the first novel, The Lightning Thief. Percy’s story begins after a Fury attacks him during a school trip. His mother soon reveals he’s a demigod and needs to relocate him for safety. Percy’s best friend Grover, now revealed to be a satyr, joins them. During the trip, a Minotaur attacks them, and Percy slays it.
Percy finds himself at Camp Half-Blood, a haven where demigods can learn their powers. He eventually learns that his father is Poseidon and he’s his only child. Things turn when others suspect Percy of stealing Zeus’ prized weapon, the master bolt. A war between Zeus and Poseidon will occur unless Percy returns the bolt. He, Grover, and their new companion, Annabeth, set out on this quest. They plan to confront the only other suspect: Hades, God of the Underworld.
Season Two on the Way
Percy Jackson fans and critics have praised this show for being a faithful adaption. The cat’s performance and the world-building are considered major high points. Many agreed that the descriptive dialogue and pacing issues sadly hold it back. Nevertheless, this new Disney+ show is a vast improvement over the 2010 film. It’s even ranked as Disney’s most-watched series of 2024, thanks to high viewing numbers. This success eventually led to the program receiving the green light for Season Two.
The newest arc will retell the events of a book like Season One did. In this case, it will be the second Percy Jackson installment, The Sea of Monsters. It’s the tale where Percy ventures to find his missing friend, Grover. The journey leads to the legendary Golden Fleece needed to repair Camp Half-Blood’s barrier. Stars Walker Scobell, Leah Sava Jeffries, and Aryan Simhadri will reprise their protagonist roles. Joining them will be Rosemarie DeWitt as Circe/C.C. and Daniel Diemer as Tyson.
Final Thoughts
The Percy Jackson and the Olympians show sounds incredible and worth watching. I’ve only seen the movies, but I’m interested in how the series differs. It’ll also be intriguing to see what scenes from the books that the films omitted. I have zero doubts that Season Two will be as fantastic as its predecessor. Everything will be fine if it continues to adhere to the source material. There’s no precise release date, though the next arc should premiere this December.
