Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 2 raises the stakes in Episode 7, delivering an action-packed installment with great emotional payoff — and laying the groundwork for an even bigger finale. "I Go Down With the Ship" opens ominously, but its 35-minute run is full of hope. It sees the show's heroes coming together and brings them a step closer to saving Camp Half-Blood. However, like any good penultimate episode, it teases more obstacles before they get there.
FULL SPOILERS ahead for Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 2 Episode 7.
Thalia is a big focus of this week's installment, which makes sense as we approach the group's return to camp (and thus, their attempt to revive the her tree). On the heels of Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 2 Episode 6, getting Annabeth and the Golden Fleece back are also priorities. Percy and Clarisse succeed at securing both, but the demigods have to work for it. And judging by the preview for next week's finale, they'll have more on their plate once they get back to camp. Indeed, things look as chaotic there as they are on Luke's ship.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 2 revealed just how much the Golden Fleece can help Thalia
This week's chapter of Percy Jackson and the Olympians opens with another dream, this time from Annabeth. In it, viewers are treated to a glimpse of how Thalia ended up as a tree in the first place. The episode shows her defending her friends from the Furies before transitioning to Chiron's announcement that she's become a "new form of life." Luke's unhappy, but a younger Annabeth stares on — and what happens next is what's really interesting.
The tree begins to glow, and Thalia speaks to Annabeth, with the memory crossing into prophetic dream territory. As a tree, Thalia says, "Hey, kid. Let's get out of here. We take care of our own." And although that's cryptic, even for fans of Rick Riordan's books, Annabeth seems to get the message loud and clear.
After all, she later tells Luke that she believes the Golden Fleece can help Thalia more drastically than they originally thought. If she's right, the fleece won't just revive the tree and the camp's protections. Instead, it has the power to bring Thalia back to life fully. Understandably, it's a prospect that appeals to Annabeth, who has spent the entire outing reflecting on her grief.
Of course, it also raises uncomfortable questions about Percy's dream in earlier in season 2. With Thalia appearing in the dark cloak instead of Kronos — and seemingly ushering in all the damage he sees — her return could be a double-edged sword. But that's a problem for the finale.
Percy & Clarisse shine in "I Go Down With the Ship"
While the possibility of Thalia's return looms large over "I Go Down With the Ship," the majority of this installment is spent rescuing Annabeth and the Golden Fleece. Naturally, Percy and Clarisse disagree on how to handle their mission. Eager to complete her quest, Clarisse wants to focus on the Fleece. And endlessly loyal, Percy is more determined to see his friend to safety. As Percy so astutely tells Annabeth, "You're my priority, and the Fleece was hers."
Their back-and-forth is a good representation of the inner struggle Percy will eventually face, at least if the Great Prophecy is anything to go by: save the world or save your world. The series keeps finding clever new ways to infuse this conflict into season 2, and this is one of the best examples yet.
After Clarisse and Percy argue, they both infiltrate Luke's cruise ship separately, set on achieving their respective goals. What's really fun is that they both end up doing the opposite of what they planned. It's a great way to showcase their growth over the last six episodes, and it allows both Walker Scobell and Dior Goodjohn to shine.
Upon hearing Luke and Annabeth talking about the Fleece, Percy rushes to take it off the sarcophagus, desperate to dodge the destiny everyone believes is unavoidable for him. Meanwhile, Clarisse overhears Alison and the other demigods' plan to kill Annabeth and goes to her aid, despite it taking her further from her goal. (As a separate note, kudos to Beatrice Kitsos for making Alison so dang unlikable.)
The unexpected shift in dynamic allows us to witness new sides of these characters, and it results in great action at the end of "I Go Down With the Ship." Percy's swordfight with Luke is intense and well done, though Clarisse's showdown with Alison and her friends is even better. ("Five against one, huh? My kind of odds" is officially my favorite line of this season.)
After a fight — and a mild heart attack between Percy getting stabbed and me realizing the Fleece can heal him — the trio makes it back to the top of the ship with Annabeth and the magical object. And Clarisse's getaway comes in the form of a character Percy Jackson fans have been waiting for.
Blackjack is in the building!
In the midst of all that happens during "I Go Down With the Ship," Percy Jackson and the Olympians finally introduces Blackjack, the Pegasus Percy befriends in the books. He's trapped on Luke's ship at the beginning of the episode, and Percy frees him. The creature repays the kindness by giving Clarisse and the Golden Fleece a ride back to Camp Half-Blood.
The scene reveals none of the sass or charm that makes Blackjack a fan-favorite, but there's time for that later. And we get plenty of comic relief as Tyson and Grover attempt to find the rest of them a ride home, eventually calling Sally Jackson, whose exasperation is as hilarious as the expression of the nearby deli worker who overhears the whole thing. With help from Sally, all of our heroes make it off the Princess Andromeda intact. Unfortunately, they're not out of the woods yet.
Kronos is more daunting than ever after Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 2's latest episode
Clarisse may be headed toward a triumphant return to Camp Half-Blood, but the threat of Kronos is clearer than ever as Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 2 Episode 7 comes to a close. Luke rails at the Titan for hiding the truth about Thalia from him — and his response paints him as a fearsome villain. Not only does he easily cause Luke pain, even in his current form, but he demands the demigod prove his loyalty yet again.
He tells him, "The time for your mercy is over," as the series switches back and forth between Luke's suffering and Kronos' followers approaching the camp. And as the Titan demands that he "burn camp to the ground" and "kill the son of Poseidon," it's hard to feel optimistic heading into Percy Jackson and the Olympians' season 2 finale.
Verdict
Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 2's penultimate episode is everything you could ask for in the lead-up to a finale. It's got the sort of action and suspense that don't usually arrive until the last installment — yet, judging by the preview, its also steadily building to something bigger. Next week's episode looks to include a larger-scale battle, marking an exciting first for the Disney+ series.
And "I Go Down With the Ship" sets the stakes for that battle well, presenting both Percy and Luke with difficult choices. Percy seems uncertain about whether bringing Thalia back is a good idea, while Luke will need to turn his back on his fellow demigods for good in order to appease Kronos. There are likely downsides for both of them, regardless of what they choose. And with Kronos gaining power, it's unlikely anyone is leaving Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 2's finale as a winner.
In addition to maintaining a good momentum into the finale, Episode 7 does a lot of great character work — and it doesn't slow down or lean into melodrama to do it. Percy and Clarisse are the best examples, but Annabeth and Luke also stand out. And this installment balances the serious plot and character beats with the right amount of comedic relief, keeping its commitment to the books.
All in all, "I Go Down With the Ship" feels like the most focused chapter of the season thus far, and it bodes well for the series' future. It sets up an epic finale and a promising plot going forward, and it does it without losing audiences in the process.