Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
Flying horses, scheming Gods, raging monsters, childish bullies, and a camp full of half-Gods playing heroes for glory – “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” packs in quite a bit in its first two episodes, complete with some stunning outdoor backdrops and, well, slightly hard-to-discern special effects (the heavier fantasy scenes take in dimly lit scenes). I haven’t read the books, so it’s impossible to make a “book versus live action adaptation” comparison in this review, but if the first two episode are anything to go by – “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” is a pretty solid children’s fantasy action series.
Created by Rick Riordan and Jonathan E. Steinberg, Disney’s fantasy series “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” stars Walker Scobell as young Percy. In the first episode, Percy is introduced as an asocial student who experiences otherworldly phenomena and is frequently bullied at school. Walker Scobell is immediately likable as the lost and confused kid who often sees supernatural beings, and is left thinking he’s either hallucinating or dealing with serious mental health issues. Charming and relatable, Walker’s portrayal of Percy might evoke thoughts of a pre-teen, blonde version of Timothée Chalamet. Percy’s only friend is Grover Underwood (Aryan Simhadri), who serves as both his best friend and guide.
Comically titled “I Accidentally Vaporize My Pre-Algebra Teacher,” the first episode is fast-paced and swiftly establishes the core premise of the series. Percy’s encounters with supernatural beings become more dangerous, and his mother finally reveals to him that he is the son of a Greek God. Virginia Kull portrays Percy’s mom, Sally Jackson, and she was the only character who didn’t completely slip into her role. When she makes the shocking revelation to Percy about being a half-god, it felt like the actor was holding back laughter. Even though there’s no hint of a smile on her face, it looked like the actor was struggling to believe her lines, not a mother divulging an uncomfortable truth to her young son. The pilot episode is thoroughly entertaining and even includes an unexpected “monster vs Percy” fight. However, it falls short in establishing a poignant mother-son bond.
The cinematography and screenplay shine in episode two, titled “I Become Supreme Lord of the Bathroom,” where the story shifts to Percy’s training with other demi-Gods at a secret camp hidden in a beautiful wild forest. A whole bunch of new characters are introduced, including other young demi-Gods who go on to become either new rivals or allies for Percy. The most promising new characters are Luke (Charlie Bushnell), the son of Hermes and a kind older boy who helps Percy navigate camp politics, and then there’s Annabeth Chase (Leah Jeffries), who is extremely curious about Percy’s potential.
Considering the hilarious episode titles, “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” isn’t as humorous, but it does have a fair share of funny moments. Besides, as far as the action-fantasy theme is concerned, Percy gets to see a lot of violent action within days of his joining the “Half-Blood” camp. The kids at camp actually wear T-shirts labeling them ‘half-blood’, which was a funny little detail.
Episode 2 ends with a major truth bomb for Percy – he finally learns the identity of his father and is thrust into a dangerous quest to prevent an impending war among the Olympians. If you are an action-fantasy fan who also enjoys series and titled aimed at a younger audience, “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” promises to be worth your time.
You can stream the series on Disney Hotstar.
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