PERCY JACKSON AND THE OLYMPIANS: Season One

PERCY JACKSON AND THE OLYMPIANS is a 2023 live action fantasy adventure series on Disney+. It is based on a book series for teenagers. In Episodes Three to Eight, Percy and his two friends embark on a dangerous question from New York to California. A thief has stolen Zeus’ Master Bolt and framed the crime on the Greek god Poseidon, Percy’s father. Percy must retrieve the stolen magical weapon and clear his father’s name. Eventually, the demigod protagonists discover that an ancient menace is plotting his revenge against the Olympian gods. Can the heroes save the world in time?

After winning the “capture the flag” game in Episode Two, Percy and his new demigod allies receive troubling news. Someone has stolen Zeus’ Master Bolt and hid it on the west coast of the United States. The lightning thief’s identity is unknown, but Zeus accuses his sea-bound brother, Poseidon, of the theft. In a desperate attempt to plead innocence, Poseidon publicly claims Percy as his son. Percy has no choice but to prove his father’s innocence.

Meanwhile, the advisors at Camp Half Blood offer Percy a quest, to retrieve Zeus’ magical weapon before he declares war against Poseidon. Percy, his satyr companion Grover, and his Athena-born friend, Annabeth, begin their journey to the Western United States. The rest of Season One focuses on the trio’s encounters with the various gods and their monsters. At the same time, the trio learns that the ‘lightning thief’ is working for a grand conspiracy. Will Percy be able to clear his father’s name in time?

The first two episodes of PERCY JACKSON were a great set up for season one. They established the characters, the conflict, and the world building well. However, the bulk of season one goes in a different direction. Episodes Three through Eight deal with Percy and his two companions fighting monsters across the numerous American cities. Can the remainder of season one match that high bar?

[SOME SPOILERS FOLLOW] In Episode Three, “We Visit the Garden Gnome Emporium,” Percy Jackson, Grover Underwood, and Annabeth Chase fumble in the woods of New Jersey. The trio encounters a fury monster and Medusa herself. Medusa tries to persuade Percy that the Olympian gods don’t care about their children. Using Annabeth’s wits, the demigod team decapitates Medusa’s head and sends it back to the gods.

In Episode Four, “I Plunge to My Death,” the demigods visit the Gateway Arch in Saint Louis, Missouri. The trio discusses whether the quest is worth the trouble. The trio hides at the top of the Arch but are ambushed by Echidna and her chimera monster. Percy drops out of the structure but is saved by creatures within the Mississippi River.

In Episode Five, “A God Buys Us Cheeseburgers,” the trio regroups and run away from the local police. After the battle at the Arch, the mortal police branded the three teens as wanted suspects. Ares, the god of war, offers the demigods a hint to the Master Bolt’s location. However, Ares makes Percy and Annabeth complete a challenge before he gives them the hint.

In Episode Six, “We Take a Zebra to Vegas,” Percy and his companions are driven to the Lotus Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. They investigate Hermes regarding the circumstances of the Lightning Thief. However, the trio soon realizes that time moves faster in the casino versus the outside world. Days have passed since they entered the place. The trio eventually gets a lead pointing them toward Santa Monica, California. The group carjack Hermes’ magical taxi and teleport to the Golden State.

However, Poseidon’s sea monster orders Percy to abandon his quest. The quest deadline has passed. Zeus is preparing for war against Poseidon. Despite the call to return to Camp Half Blood, the demigods continue their search.

In Episode Seven, “We Find Out the Truth, Sort of,” Percy and his two friends slip into Hades’ domain, the Underworld. The trio meets up with Hades, who’s holding Percy’s mother as a captive. Hades will release Sally Jackson, only on the condition that Percy does a specific favor. Afterward, the trio recovers Zeus’ lightning weapon, but learn the actual thief wasn’t Hades but another Greek god. Percy then challenges the thief to a sword fight.

In Episode Eight, “The Prophecy Comes True,” the thief retreats from Percy but marks him as his number one enemy. Percy completes Hades’ favor and frees his mother from the Underworld. Days later, Percy travels to Mount Olympus in Manhattan, New York, and returns the magic weapon to Zeus. Zeus is tempted to smite the demigod, but Poseidon intervenes and concedes his honor to the lightning god. Zeus calls off the war. Poseidon tells Percy he’s proud of his achievements and sends him back to Camp Half-Blood.

Back at camp, the demigods celebrate Team Percy’s victory. However, Percy discovers there’s another person behind the theft of Zeus’ magical bolt. He also learns that the person was working for Kronos, the father of Zeus, who’s plotting revenge against Zeus and the Olympian gods.

The final six episodes of PERCY JACKSON AND THE OLYMPIANS: Season One are well made and entertaining. However, the series has a mixed pagan worldview. For example, the series promotes some moral, redemptive values such as bravery, self-sacrifice and questioning the authority of the Greek deities. On the flipside, the main cast openly discusses false theological ideas from Ancient Greece. For instance, they visit the Underworld, talk about their fate and openly pray to their divine parents from Mount Olympus. Lastly, the fight scenes in PERCY JACKSON AND THE OLYMPIANS: Season One feature intense sword combat, monsters getting stabbed, and one god character losing golden blood onscreen. Thus, the season sometimes pushes what’s acceptable under its official TV-PG rating. So, MOVIEGUIDE® advises extreme caution.