Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 2, Episode 3 spends most of its run on the water, with "We Board the Princess Andromeda" moving three separate missions to find the Golden Fleece forward. With most of our characters setting sail towards the same destination, it's no surprise their paths are already converging. And it leads to some wonderfully tense encounters during this week's installment.
While "We Board the Princess Andromeda" feels like the weakest addition to season 2 so far, that's really not saying much — particularly after a chapter as strong as Percy Jackson season 2, Episode 2. Despite a few shortcomings, this week's episode still features great character moments, big revelations for the larger story, and a smart choice when it comes to expanding on the books.
FULL SPOILERS ahead for Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 2 Episode 3.
Daughter of Ares
"We Board the Princess Andromeda" takes full advantage of the Disney+ show's ability to jump outside of Percy's perspective, opening with a scene we only hear about in the books: Clarisse visiting the Oracle. It's par for the course when a demigod embarks on a quest, but seeing it from Clarisse's point of view allows us to understand Ares' daughter better.
I'm continuously impressed at how the series expands on the source material, as it knows exactly what to flesh out. We come to appreciate Clarisse in Rick Riordan's books, too. However, from this week's installment, I can tell that Dior Goodjohn is going to sell us on her much faster.
Clarisse's meeting with the Oracle is as eerie as you'd expect — though her cutting the woman's head off is a hilarious touch. The demigod leaves with another cryptic prophecy to decipher. The good news? Apparently, she'll find what she seeks and make it her own. However, there's also something about despairing for her life and being entombed in stone. As if that's not ominous enough, there's an unfinished bit about failure as well.
We may not know the end of Clarisse's prophecy yet, but she seems shaken when she sets off. She also makes the curious choice to go it alone rather than choose quest mates. Fortunately, Ares steps in to provide help and transportation.
That's right, Adam Copeland's Ares returns in "We Board the Princess Andromeda," and he's as entertaining as ever in the role. It's fun to see a new dynamic between a camper and their god parent, as we've only witnessed Percy's awkward relationship with Poseidon and Luke's hatred of Hermes thus far. This is yet another benefit of spending half of Episode 3 in Clarisse's POV.
Ares provides his daughter with a warship he raised from the bottom of the sea, as well as line officers he raised from the grave. The former gives me hope that we'll see some on-the-water action sequences in the near future. The line officers, who are indebted to Ares after being defeated in battle, seem less useful — but perhaps they'll step up their game after Clarisse's rousing speech at the end of this installment.
All aboard the Princess Andromeda
While Clarisse's storyline makes up a portion of Episode 3, the majority of this week's installment follows Percy, Annabeth, and Tyson as they board the Princess Andromeda. Hermes guides them towards the cruise ship as they leave Camp Half-Blood, and it quickly becomes apparent why. After a run-in with Alison Simms — the same demigod who attacked Grover in Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 2's premiere — the group realizes that the ship is under Luke's control.
And it doesn't take long for the trio to find themselves face-to-face with him, despite their attempts to avoid an encounter. Their reunion is understandably tense, and the actors do an incredible job of ramping up the emotions. Charlie Bushnell and Leah Sava Jeffries give especially memorable performances, fully conveying the extent of betrayal and anger simmering between Luke and Annabeth.
Bushnell also makes Luke more sympathetic, as he's clearly reluctant to harm or kill demigods in his quest to destroy Olympus. I also appreciated his sentiment about monsters, as he makes a fair point: they are children of the gods, and not all of them should be feared or mistreated; just look at Tyson. Luke's complexity is hitting far harder in the Disney+ show. It's demonstrating how to make a villain understandable and relatable, even as they make bad choices. This approach makes me think Luke's narrative will be even more gutting than it is in the books, and I'm not sure I'm ready for it.
During the group's conversation, Luke also shows Percy and Annabeth the sarcophagus where he's gathering Kronos' "essence," revealing that the Titans are already awakening. According to him, the demigods joining Kronos are also making him stronger. And the Golden Fleece will finish the job, accelerating his recovery and allowing him to fully enter the fray. Percy appears to be hearing Kronos already, which raises additional concerns — especially after learning the details of the Great Prophecy.
The Great Prophecy
There's a lot of exposition dropped throughout Luke's meeting with Percy and Annabeth, and one couldn't be faulted with calling this episode a bit slow in that regard. We do get important information, though, and not just about Luke's plan. He also brings up the Great Prophecy, insisting that Percy deserves to know the truth. Honestly, I'm glad someone went there, as the tensions between Percy and Annabeth were starting to feel a bit overdone. However, Luke isn't the one who spills the beans in the end.
And as Annabeth points out, it's possible Kronos isn't telling Luke the true nature of the Great Prophecy. "It's prophecy, the words are never clear" is the best line from this installment, and with it, Annabeth sums up the entire series in one go. It's a well-placed reminder, especially with Clarisse's prophecy and Percy's greater destiny hanging in the balance.
After Annabeth and Luke argue over the prophecy, and Luke attempts to recruit Percy again, the group escapes thanks to a distraction from Tyson. Once again, Percy's brother proves he's season 2's MVP. It's sweet that he prioritizes Annabeth and Percy over the sense of belonging he gets from other monsters, and it makes me love him even more.
Once the trio is safely off the cruise ship, Annabeth finally tells Percy about the Great Prophecy — and it's... honestly not as bad as everyone makes it out to be. According to her, it predicts that a child of the Big Three will become a weapon by age 16. Evidently, they'll have the ability to either save the age of the gods or destroy it. Admittedly, those are big stakes, but I'm not sure why everyone assumes Percy will do the latter.
Verdict
Percy Jackson season 2, Episode 3 continues to build on the strengths of the first two installments, but it does feel like a lull after the season's strong opening. Crucial things are revealed this week, but it's because the characters spend a lot of time standing around and talking. Ares' reappearance is great, though, and the entire vibe of the Princess Andromeda is fun. (It feels reminiscent of season 1's casino adventure.) However, I don't know that this is an episode I'd jump to revisit.
There are a few impressive emotional beats, which highlight how much Percy Jackson's stars are stepping it up this season. Bushnell is the standout, but Jeffries, Goodjohn, Daniel Diemer, and Walker Scobell all do a great job with the material they're given.
I also had a few minor complaints about Episode 3, starting with the dragged-out tensions and miscommunications between Percy and Annabeth. I'm all for drama when it's done well, but the whole secret storyline feels shoehorned in without a reason. Additionally, while most of Percy Jackson and the Olympians' jokes land, the "streaming wars" bit feels so out of place that it left me rolling my eyes a little.
Percy's insistence that Luke can't be saved is also a bit off-putting, despite it being true to the books. I think I would have preferred to see him come to that conclusion more gradually, as he gives up on Luke so quickly after the other demigod's betrayal. At the very least, that puts a more believable strain on Percy and Annabeth's friendship.