Should You Stream The New ‘Percy Jackson’ TV Series?

Gather ‘round, half-bloods, for the Percy Jackson and the Olympians TV series might be an adaptation worthy of the gods! Let’s dive into the show’s cast, plot, our first impressions review, and more.

Spark joy into your watchlist with this series. (Photo from: @disneyplussg)

Percy Jackson and the Olympians TV series trailer

Percy Jackson’s world of Greek myths, magic, and monsters is based on the books by Rick Riordan. The first set of books was published from 2005 to 2009 and has been well-loved by multiple generations of kids who enjoyed its adventures and relatable characters. The new series by Disney+ is adapted from the first book, The Lightning Thief.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians TV series: cast, plot, and more

Percy (Walker Scobell) is the demigod son of Poseidon and a mortal woman named Sally (Virginia Kull). After realising that she could no longer keep him safe from monsters coming at him in the mortal world, she risks her own life to bring him to a haven called Camp Half-Blood.

At this safe sanctuary shrouded by the “Mist” from the eyes of ordinary human beings, Percy comes to grips with the truth about himself, the Greek gods, and other mythical creatures. For example, his teacher Mr. Brunner is actually the famed centaur Chiron (Glynn Turman) who trained the likes of Hercules and Achilles, while the Camp Director is the god Dionysus (Jason Mantzoukas) who had just been punished by Zeus.

Without giving him much time to process everything, Percy must go on a quest to stop a war from breaking out among the “Big Three” gods Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades. He’s joined by two companions, a satyr named Grover (Aryan Simhadri) and a fellow demigod Annabeth, a daughter of Athena (Leah Sava Jeffries).

Percy Jackson and the Olympians review

We’ve been holding out for a long time for a faithful adaptation after being disappointed by the movies (which even the author despised) in the past. So will this one hit the mark?

Only two episodes of the series have been released as of writing, so here are our first impressions.

The good

Percy Jackson and the Olympians is a more accurate depiction of the books compared to the movies. Compared to the failed adaptations, Rick Riordan is on board this time around. He’s the show’s writer and executive producer and was also involved in the casting process.

If you’re a fan of his stories, you can breathe a sigh of relief as you’ll finally see your favourite characters and scenes come to life. Sometimes, you might find yourself thinking, “That’s just how I imagined it.” You can expect to get hit by waves of nostalgia and remember the time when you were first sucked into Percy’s extraordinary world.

The show also stars actual kids which makes it meaningful not only for the OG readers but for younger viewers too who are grappling with situations like being an outcast, fitting in, and growing up.

The not-so-good

There are times in the show when the scenes feel too rushed and sometimes a bit slow. It might feel confusing if you haven’t read the book or if it’s been a long time since you last read it. This uneven nature as well as the not-so-glamorous CGI effects of the series might make it difficult to pull in new viewers into the “Riordanverse”.

But we’re only two episodes in, so there’s definitely room for the show to improve. For now, it’s a worthwhile addition to your watchlist and will be the perfect gift to your fantasy-loving, curious, and imaginative inner self.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians: episode schedule and where to watch in Singapore

You can now stream the series on Disney+. Season 1 has eight episodes, and one episode will be released every Tuesday till 30 January 2024.

(Cover photos from: @disneyplussg, @percyseries)