Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 2 Episode 6 shifts its focus back to the main story on the heels of Percy and Annabeth's detour to C.C.'s Spa and Resort in Episode 5. "Nobody Gets the Fleece" does a good job of moving the plot forward in compelling ways, paying off the tensions of the last five episodes while establishing greater stakes ahead of the remaining two.
FULL SPOILERS ahead for Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 2 Episode 6.
This week's episode opens with a bang, revealing that Tyson is still alive after Clarisse's ship exploded. Unfortunately, it follows this happy revelation with Percy's most ominous dream yet: Camp Half-Blood destroyed, with a person in a cloak approaching him. But while he initially believes it's Kronos, it's actually Thalia beneath the dark hood. I must admit, I appreciate how the series is having Thalia haunt the narrative — a fitting choice since season 2 revolves around restoring her tree.
After these brief scenes, Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 2 brings all its storylines crashing together on Polyphemus' island. What starts as an entertaining attempt to save Grover takes a much darker turn, promising big things in season 2's penultimate episode and finale.
The demigods finally take on Polyphemus in Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 2 Episode 6
After Percy wakes from his disturbing dream, he and Annabeth spend the rest of "Nobody Gets the Fleece" attempting to rescue Grover and Clarisse. With Episode 5 revealing that Polyphemus is already onto Percy and Grover, we know their plan is destined to fail. This won't stop viewers from rooting for the pair as they cover themselves with wool and attempt to blend in with the Cyclops' flock of sheep. (That whole sequence is hilarious and lightens an otherwise tense episode.)
Polyphemus is a mixed bag, and in a lot of ways, I feel like the series' version of the villain is an improvement on his book counterpart. He's more clever than he's given credit for, which makes him a more fearsome foe. However, the monologuing at the beginning of this installment isn't necessary. It feels a bit like mustache-twirling, and he's far more intimidating when he's doing something active, like chasing after Annabeth or fighting Tyson.
Because, yes, Percy and Annabeth walk directly into Polyphemus' trap — and it doesn't take long for the villain to derail their plan to save Grover. While Percy and Annabeth are trying to reach the satyr and Clarisse, the Cyclops runs at them. It's only thanks to Annabeth's Yankees cap that she's able to escape. Invisibility has its perks, but unfortunately, Percy has none.
In fact, our hero is left dangling from a rope when Polyphemus appears, and he winds up trapped alongside Grover and Clarisse. The trio has no hope of getting past Polyphemus, but thanks to Annabeth, they're at least given some time to try.
Tyson and Annabeth remain the MVPs of Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 2
Annabeth continues to have one of the best arcs in Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 2, which highlights her greatest strength yet again in "Nobody Gets the Fleece." Annabeth is clever, and it's how she manages to distract Polyphemus for so long. Their back-and-forth is a fun way to raise tensions, and her reference to Odysseus' encounter with the Cyclops is a nice touch. (It also gives the title its excellent hidden meaning.)
While Annabeth buys her friends time, Luke also arrives on Polyphemus' island in search of the Golden Fleece. He finds the fake one dangling above the Cyclops' cave, while Grover manages to sniff out the real one — which is deeper inside of it — in the villain's absence. Unfortunately, Polyphemus realizes his mistake and abandons his quarrel with Annabeth. He puts a stop to Percy, Grover, and Clarisse's attempt to escape with the object. And, when Annabeth cuts his heel to intervene, he knocks her out.
And that's where the other MVP of this week's chapter comes in: Tyson arrives just in time to prevent Polyphemus from attacking the other demigods. The Cyclops tries to reason with him, as he doesn't want to hurt another "monster." Yet Tyson chooses Percy over one of his own. I really appreciate how the Disney+ series is steadily weaving in a larger conversation about the way monsters are treated. It paints the feud between them and demigods as more nuanced, and I'm excited to see where it goes.
When Tyson refuses to budge, he and Polyphemus get into a physical fight that ends with Tyson tackling the villain off a cliff. This leaves Percy and the others still trapped — and incapable of helping an unconscious and unmoving Annabeth mere feet away.
Percy's big choice pays off the series' Great Prophecy fears
With Annabeth shaping up to be one of Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 2's strongest characters, viewers will be as worried as Percy towards the end of "Nobody Gets the Fleece." Her bloody, unconscious condition makes it clear that she's in dire straits, and Luke confirms as much when he arrives outside the cave and finds her.
This leads to the most compelling part of this week's episode: Percy making a choice to sacrifice the greater mission in order to save Annabeth. Realizing only the Golden Fleece can save her, he hands it to Luke — despite protests from Clarisse. It's precisely the sort of decision everyone's been worrying about all season, and Percy proves Circe right in this moment: his weakness is loyalty to his friends.
To Luke's credit, he readily helps Annabeth, despite being on opposing sides. But the episode's ending leaves both Annabeth and the Golden Fleece in his possession, which can only mean trouble heading into the final episodes.
Fortunately, Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 2 Episode 6 gives our heroes one small win before the credits roll: the bracelet Tyson finds underwater, presumably from Poseidon, summons a group of hippocampi. This means they'll at least be capable of chasing Luke down. Whether that confrontation goes in their favor is another story.
Verdict
This week's chapter of Percy Jackson and the Olympians doesn't leave much to critique; there are a few awkward bits of dialogue, including Polyphemus' monologue, but these are easy to ignore once the episode takes off. There's so much great payoff in "Nobody Gets the Fleece," and we're not even in the finale yet. The strength of this chapter bodes well for season 2's ending.
Percy and Luke's agreement to save Annabeth is probably my favorite part of this installment, and both Walker Scobell and Charlie Bushnell play it well. It's nice to see the series leaning into Percy's fatal flaw. His decision here makes the other characters' concerns about the Great Prophecy feel far more pressing. It also makes Percy more relatable and raw, which aren't qualities all fantasy heroes benefit from.
I appreciate how much the Disney+ show is doing to humanize Luke, as it makes for a far more interesting villain. His call to Annabeth and immediate willingness to come to her aid prove that he's not evil all the way through — even if I'm not banking on him coming around. His humanity makes the series' central conflict that much more devastating though. You'll desperately want these characters to work it out, even knowing they're too far past that.
The entire encounter with Polyphemus feels fittingly high stakes and gripping, and I appreciate that he isn't the final threat the heroes must contend with. The only thing that feels a tad too easy is Grover finding the Golden Fleece. However, I suppose the group immediately losing the object makes up for that. I'm excited to see how Percy's choice changes their dynamic as they pursue it. And if the tensions and action are already ramping up in Episode 6, I have a feeling the finale will pack an even bigger punch.