Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 2 Episode 5 brings us closer to the inevitable showdown with Polyphemus, but it takes Percy and Annabeth on a detour that's not quite as compelling. After Episode 4's shocking ending — which looked certain to be deadly for the show's heroes — "We Check Into C.C.'s Spa and Resort" begins unexpectedly.
FULL SPOILERS ahead for Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 2 Episode 5.
The latest installment opens with Percy waking in a daze, but he's no longer about to drown on the high seas. Instead, he appears to be at a resort, as he and Annabeth soon discover when they meet their new concierge, Hylla. She claims that everyone they were sailing with is dead, but it's obvious from the start that something's off. And in typical Percy Jackson fashion, it leads to another situation Percy and Annabeth need to escape from.
Percy and Annabeth's run-in with Circe is a mixed bag
After regaining their composure, Annabeth and Percy learn that they're at the resort and spa of a woman named C.C., where every guest is currently on a quest. Most appear to be stuck there, as the island resort is surrounded by Sirens. In line with their mythology, the Sirens create illusions based on heroes' fatal flaws. That's why C.C. spends most of her time trying to determine what her guests' weaknesses are.
Like most of Percy Jackson and the Olympians' minor antagonists, C.C. is clearly untrustworthy. Yet Rosemarie DeWitt does an incredible job of making us want to trust her, even as the alarm bells blare. If there's one thing that can be said about the Disney+ series, it's that it knows how to cast, even when it comes to supporting characters.
After seeing all the creatures she keeps nearby, Annabeth eventually pieces together that C.C. is Circe, who's known for turning Odysseus' men into pigs. She brushes off the accusation, but she's evasive enough to suggest she's hiding something.
As C.C. gets to know Percy and Annabeth, she identifies Percy's greatest shortcoming: that he'll do anything for his friends. She guesses that he'll even sacrifice the fate of the world for the people he cares about, teasing the potential fallout of the Great Prophecy. And while I'm glad the Disney+ show is setting it up, I do feel like it's beating that drum a little too often throughout season 2 — particularly since we know prophecies rarely work out as expected.
Even Percy pieces together Circe's true game when he's dwelling on his fatal flaw. He realizes she actually tries to keep her guests at her resort with her, as she's trapped there and doesn't want to be alone. When he calls her out on it, she turns him into a guinea pig, confirming what most will already suspect: she's yet another obstacle for the characters to overcome.
Fortunately, Annabeth also sees through Circe's kind front eventually. When she insists on leaving the resort, she tells Circe she already knows her fatal flaw — pride — hilariously noting that she was proud when she realized it. When Circe is less than enthusiastic about her plan to escape, Annabeth notices the guinea pig that Percy has become, and she puts it all together. She uses the vitamins Hermes gave him as a means of turning him (and all the other animals) back into their natural forms.
Grover and Clarisse's B plot raises the stakes
If viewers suspected they couldn't trust C.C., Grover and Clarisse's B plot confirms as much when the latter wakes up on the shore. Percy and Annabeth aren't the only survivors of Episode 4's ending, but Clarisse is far from the other demigods. The series reveals she's actually on the same island as Grover, and when she's captured by Polyphemus, the two of them try to escape. Unfortunately, their plan to climb out doesn't work, and it gives away Grover's disguise.
Clarisse and Grover attempting to get out of Polyphemus' cave isn't all that interesting, but actually seeing the Cyclops does raise the stakes ahead of the remaining episodes. As we approach the end of Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 2, the characters will need to defeat the villain. If nothing else, Episode 5 drives home how terrifying he is, which ramps up the excitement for later installments.
It also reveals that Polyphemus is more clever than Grover originally gives him credit for. He admits that he already knew who Grover was and about his continued interactions with Percy. He wants the demigod to come rescue the satyr, and they're playing directly into his hand. There aren't many surprises viewers won't see coming in Episode 5, but this is one of them, and it lays the groundwork for a great lead-up to the finale.
Annabeth's arc continues to shine in Percy Jackson and the Olympians
After freeing Circe's animal prisoners, Percy and Annabeth move to sail past the Sirens, tying Percy to the mast while Annabeth plans to use wax to block out their song. Unfortunately, the latter doesn't happen, as Circe steals it from her as they pass the Sirens. While Annabeth sees through the illusions of Percy, Grover, and Luke, the creatures use Athena to get to her. Though she's only on-screen briefly — and not really playing the character — Andra Day is already a promising addition to the show.
In line with her hubris and desire for her mother's approval, Annabeth nearly falls prey to the sirens. Luckily, Percy reaches and saves her just in time, and the two make it off the island. They also realize they're exactly where they need to be to find Grover, promising a greater focus on the main mission come Episode 6.
Verdict
Annabeth and Clarisse continue to be the highlights of Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 2 in Episode 5, with both of them getting even more depth than their book counterparts. The continued exploration of Annabeth as an incredibly clever heroine whose strengths are also her flaws is probably my favorite thing about this season. It helps that Leah Jeffries is killing it in the role.
All the cast continues to shine, including Walker Scobell, who I wish had a bit more to do as Percy. His strongest moments this outing are when he's interacting with and supporting his friends — and that's absolutely fitting for his character. Scobell plays his internal struggle well, too, but the concerns about the Great Prophecy feel overdone. From everything we know about previous prophecies, it feels obvious that whatever scenario Percy is envisioning probably won't be what happens. And even if things do go south, the show doesn't need to tell us this frequently in order to up the tensions.
"We Check Into C.C.'s Spa and Resort" also does a good job of teasing the main threat this season, but that makes it more frustrating that the episode takes us on another side quest. This is true to the books, and thus, not a complaint about the fidelity. But while I'm a big fan of the ways Greek mythology is woven into Rick Riordan's story, it can be frustrating and distracting for the series to keep veering off course. The reveal that new characters aren't trustworthy also happens too often to be anything but predictable. Perhaps that's Percy Jackson and the Olympians' fatal flaw.