SERIES REVIEW – When Disney announced that it would be making a second run at the Percy Jackson novels, fans were rightly sceptical. Riding the wave of YA-inspired films that hit cinemas in the wake of Harry Potter and Twilight, two heavily abridged films based on Rick Riordan’s modern-day adventures of Greek gods and demigods in the 2010s were also met with a lukewarm reception. But as more and more information about the new Disney+ Percy Jackson series emerged, and as Riordan became heavily involved (he is listed as writer, creator and executive producer alongside Jon Steinberg), hope began to dawn. It very much looks like those hopes were justified.

The long-form TV series allows Riordan and his collaborators to respect the spirit and subtleties of the novels, while adding fresh elements that only this new medium can afford. The new Percy Jackson and the Olympians makes the most of the extra playing time; eight episodes, averaging 40 minutes each, allow the story of The Lightning Thief to come to life, giving time to develop relationships with the supporting characters while also allowing viewers to explore some very serious themes of power, justice and belonging. The premiere does a particularly effective and tactful job of telling us all about Percy (Walker Scobell), his situation at school, his friend Grover (Aryan Simhadri) and his home life before plunging them all into a world of myths and monsters.

Great visuals

The premiere, “I Accidentally Evaporate My Pre-Algebra Teacher,” also establishes a visual tone that persists throughout the first four episodes. It looks amazing: with dramatic lighting, stark shadows juxtaposed with a predominantly gold and blue colour palette in the first episode, Muppets Most Wanted director James Bobin gives the series a unique and dreamlike look that exceeds the expectations of previous Disney+ shows. Some of this is lost in the later episodes, but the CG, of which there is quite a lot thanks to the magical creatures, is well done throughout. Only in the dream sequences per episode is the use of LED-screen backgrounds – the so-called Volume, popularised by Mandalorian – conspicuous, which detracts from the quality.

However much of an improvement on their big-screen predecessors, these episodes do not escape without their own pacing problems. Episode 2 tries to incorporate a meaningful training sequence from the book into the playtime, which is a sensible decision within the framework of the series, but it pushes some elements into the background. Characters such as Chiron (Glynn Turman) and Dionysus (Jason Mantzoukas) don’t get the attention they deserve. Rather than playing Obi-Wan opposite Percy’s Luke, the duo (who seem to be the only adults running a camp full of super-powered orphans) become rather unpolished supporting characters whose sole purpose is to drive the plot to the next step.

Here, the kids are in the foreground

The subdued role of the adults, however, seems more a thoughtful decision than a glaring omission, that the audience should care more about Percy’s supporting cast, especially Grover and Annabeth (Leah Sava Jeffries), who join Percy in his coming-of-age, and even some of his companions who get little or no screen time in the film. Episode 4 also suffers a bit, but rather than cram too much story into it, “Falling to My Death” spends too much time loitering in one place, our protagonists spending most of the episode locked in a train talking about the action ahead. We get a bit more characterisation along the way, but much of this feels like unnecessary dialogue-filled storytelling, especially when the previous episode delivers the best show-don’t-tell of the series so far. However, it sends us into the second half of the season with a solid cliffhanger.

However, one thing is clear from all the talk: the natural charisma and likeability of Scobell, Simhadri and Jeffries. It’s not necessarily in the quality of their acting – many of the more serious moments feel stiff and unbelievable. It’s when they and the show shine, when they get to act like children. They come across as true teenagers (more accurately, Generation Z teenagers) – a credit to the actors, as well as their cast and the updated dialogue they are given. It’s a refreshing contrast to the teens played by adults elsewhere on TV (look, Riverdale). Their immaturity and sense of humor are believable, and the stakes seem even higher when viewed through their eyes.

A viable franchise, for younger people

In another sign that this franchise is strong enough to finally work as an adaptation for the second time, Percy Jackson and the Olympians explores the moral issues originally raised by the books, often turning classic myths on their head. A pertinent line from the first episode runs through the third, as we see Percy and Annabeth grappling with the idea that not all monsters are what they seem, and that parents are not infallible. These are the kinds of lessons that made the books great for young readers, and here they do the same for young viewers.

-Gergely Herpai (BadSector)-