A globally loved story, Rick Riordian’s “Percy Jackson & the Olympians” was first released as a fantasy book series in 2005. Since then, Riordian wrote five other series, along with having the first two books of the original series adapted into movies and allowing for the first book to be turned into a Broadway musical.
In December 2019, Riordian pitched the idea of a new TV show, and was officially picked up by Disney+ in May of 2020, with Riordian as a producer.
When cast, the leading trio, played by Walker Scobell, Leah Jeffries and Aryan Simhadri, received a lot of backlash, as some thought that because they didn’t look like the original characters, they wouldn’t do a great job. In particular, Jeffries, who plays Annabeth Chase, received hateful comments because she was black, instead of a blonde white girl. However, even from the beginning, Riordian defended Jeffries casting, which gave many fans higher hopes for the series.
On Dec. 19, 2023, the first two episodes were released, and the remaining six episodes of the first season will come out weekly on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. CST.
During the first three episodes, viewers are introduced to the main leads, Percy Jackson, Annabeth Chase and Grover Underwood, each of whom has a striking and entertaining personality that makes this show shine. The main storyline follows the three as they are tasked with finding Zeus’ stolen lightning bolt, all while learning more about themselves, their past and the mythical world around them.
As an avid Percy Jackson fan, my high expectations were met. Every part of this show thus far has been a thrilling adventure, with newer details that were never in the books. Not only the three leads, but the entire cast is extremely talented and bring so much passion to the screen. The CGI throughout the show is significant but excellent, adding to the overall viewing experience.
While there were a few small scenes from the book that were missing, the cinematography and cast make this show enthralling to watch. After watching the first three episodes, I would say that this is a show that is worth a watch for anyone, even if they’ve had no prior exposure to the series.
Rating: 9/10
