Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 1 Review – Infused with a fresh contemporary spin

Episode Guide

Episode 1 – | Review Score – 3/5
Episode 2 – | Review Score – 4/5
Episode 3 – | Review Score – 4.5/5
Episode 4 – | Review Score – 4.5/5
Episode 5 – | Review Score – 5/5
Episode 6 – | Review Score – 4/5
Episode 7 – | Review Score – 4.5/5
Episode 8 – | Review Score – 4/5

Disney’s mythological fantasy adaptation, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, revolves around Percy, a reserved demigod with mysterious powers. Although Percy Jackson is an excellent student, he has trouble controlling his vivid nightmares and concentrating on his coursework. From what Percy can tell, his pre-algebra professor transforms into a monstrous being and attempts to kill him.

After Percy’s mother finds out, she decides it’s high-time he finds out his true origins and goes to the sole place where he can truly be protected. She enrols Percy in the demigods’ camp, Camp Half-Blood, where he discovers that Poseidon, the god of the sea, is his biological father.

Amid a rapidly developing mystery, Percy seeks the help of two unexpected allies—a satyr and the demigod daughter of Athena—on a mission to reach the Underworld’s gates in the hopes of preventing a catastrophic war among the gods in Mount Olympus.

The show begins by introducing us to Percy and his world and then it slowly builds from here quite effortlessly. After establishing our protagonist’s backstory, we dive headfirst into the plot. The creators have laid a solid groundwork in the initial few episodes for the story so that the tale can unfold without a hitch. Additionally, the show does a fantastic job of drawing you in and holding your attention throughout the episodes. 

Just like the books, the show is fascinating, brimming with mythology and infused with a fresh contemporary spin. Although there are certain changes made to the source material, the subject matter is masterfully executed, and the story comes to life. Additionally, the changes don’t feel forced, and they enhance the plot quite nicely.

That said, a significant critique of the show is that the season seems rushed. Consequently, we have limited access to the characters and their adventures feel shortened, resulting in a significant drop in emotional responses and intensities. Furthermore, you struggled to empathise with the main characters, especially towards the end of the show due to limited exposure to them.

Another criticism is that the characters and their arcs felt rather superficial throughout the season. The characters seemed shallow, making it challenging to form a connection with them. However the overall storyline was excellently executed. Compared to the main characters, some might argue that more empathy can be felt for the guest stars portraying various Greek Gods, which is not typically expected.

As far as the worlds and its presentation goes, the Underworld was both terrifying and masterfully done. The layout of the mythological creatures and the challenges the characters faced there were mind-blowing. On the other hand, in contrast to the jaw-dropping display of the underworld, the portrayal of Mount Olympus fell short of our expectations.

Mount Olympus was significantly less grand and magnificent than the underworld, and we didn’t get nearly as much of a glimpse of it as we had hoped. However, it wasn’t half bad either. Having had our hopes raised by the underworld, this was somewhat disappointing.

Among the guest stars are the terrifying Ares, who, as always, gives a performance that leaves no stone unturned; he is both the most interesting and terrifying god. We also catch a peek of Poseidon, who exudes an air of majesty akin to the sea; his demeanour is calm yet tumultuous, like a storm; and his delivery of dialogue is passionate yet paternal. Additionally, the actor portraying Ares does an outstanding job of bringing the God of War to life on screen.

Another notable characters is Hephaestus. He just appears for a short while, yet he leaves quite an impact. The actress who played Medusa is similarly a show-stopper in episode 3. Her mesmerizing performance left an indelible impression, captivating the audience and evoking empathy for her unfortunate past. Furthermore, the actor playing Hermes truly stands out as well, and he immediately garners your respect and sympathy.

Even though he was a powerful figure, Zeus let us down a little. You could feel a certain amount of discomfort in the delivery of dialogue when interacting with Percy. However, it wasn’t that striking, and that could be subjective. Beyond that, Zeus was also a formidable persona who, without a doubt, left a mark.

As a whole, the first season of Percy Jackson and the Olympians seems to have nailed it on the head in most aspects: a compelling plot, exciting twists, and an excellent reimagining of Greek mythology with a contemporary spin. The plot is further enhanced by the appearance of various mythical characters and Greek gods. However, there are a few issues with the season but aside from some minor quibbles, the season is great fun and should not be missed by anyone after a rip-roaring adventure.

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