Season 2 of Percy Jackson and the Olympians achieves a heroic quest of television glory

Growing up reading Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians series in elementary school gave me incredible reading adventures about demigod teens saving the world. 

After the film series starring Logan Lerman was cancelled, I didn’t think Riordan’s stories would ever see another adaptation.

Fast forward to now, Percy Jackson and the Olympians finally succeeded on the TV screen, having completed its second installment.

Season 2 follows the son of Poseidon, Percy Jackson, fellow demigod Annabeth Chase, and Percy’s Cyclops brother Tyson on a new quest into a perilous ocean called the Sea of Monsters. They’ll need to rescue their satyr friend Grover, find the Golden Fleece to save their home Camp Half-Blood, and maybe stop the titan king, Kronos, from destroying the world.

The cast remains a strong group of actors that, with well-written scripts that preserve the storytelling spirit of Riordan’s books, honour his characters and their energetic mythical universe. Walker Scobell, Leah Sava Jeffries, and Aryan Simhadri, who star as Percy, Annabeth, and Grover respectively, continue to have perfect chemistry together. 

The three leads build endearing dynamics for their characters as a group of believably tight-knit friends. You find yourself rooting for Percy and his friends as they use their powers and quick thinking to figure out how to solve threats as a team.

Among the supporting characters, Clarisse La Rue, daughter of the god of war, Ares, played by Dior Goodjohn, had a surprisingly compelling arc. Initially an antagonist in Season 1, Clarisse stood out this time around, as she learned how to trust and work with others, rather than just solving things with a spear.

Season 2 also has exciting action scenes thanks to brilliant fight choreography, which highlights each hero and villain’s unique combat styles. A chariot race sequence is a thrilling standout in the show, with real galloping horses and incredibly executed stunt work.

Another takeaway is the show’s change in tone by presenting Season 2 as a fun seafaring adventure. Characters’ swash-buckling, frightening encounters with marine behemoths in rainstorm-swept oceans, plus a mythical treasure gives the series a cool Pirates of the Caribbean vibe. 

Percy Jackson and the Olympians does an excellent job in continuing the books’ central theme about family legacy and understanding your roots. Season 2 explores the complex relationships between gods and their demigod kids to convey the equally complex bonds parents share with their children. 

Brotherhood is a new avenue to further drive the show’s family theme through the dynamic between Percy and Tyson, played by Daniel Diemer. Their wholesome scenes together dive into how sibling relationships are bound by loyalty and friendship. As a bonus, Tyson got way better treatment as Percy’s brother compared to the subpar film adaptation.

Aside from family, the show also deals with prophecy as Percy and company experience self-doubt and fears in the face of hard choices and surprising truths on their quest. 

The series doesn’t hold back in its mature take about the difficult decision-making we have to grapple with when navigating life’s uncertainties and ambiguities, whether it’s the grey areas of prophecy or everyday life as we grow up.

As far as flaws go, the show could’ve extended the action set pieces for either the Sea of Monsters or chariot race sequences. These stages of the story were visually impressive, but they only last for a single episode each before moving onto the next plot point. Instead, these scenes could’ve been told across multiple episodes to be even more immersive.

With Percy Jackson and the Olympians having two remarkably successful seasons so far, I have no doubt the series will go the distance and continue adapting the rest of Riordan’s iconic book series for TV. 

If you’re looking for a show mixing Greek mythology with modern day culture, then Percy Jackson and the Olympians is the answer. What are you waiting for? It’s time for your next quest.

Season 2 was released in an eight-episode run that premiered Dec. 10, with the finale airing on Jan. 21. The series is available to stream on Disney+.