The first season of Percy Jackson and the Olympians on Disney+ has surpassed expectations. Based on Rick Riordan’s best-selling novels about a young boy who discovers he's the son of the ancient Greek god Poseidon, the series is a near-perfect adaptation of the acclaimed source material that a generation has grown up with.
The TV show, created by Jonathan E. Steinberg and Rick Riordan, has been praised by critics and fans of the books alike. It has incredible production values and earnestly tells a story about a teenager with the fate on the world on his shoulders, all without taking itself too seriously.
After comparing each episode with the book and analyzing all the differences, today we are ranking all episodes from fine (there really wasn’t a bad one) to perfect. And because it’s unfair to pit these episodes against each other, I will mention my favorite bit for each episode.
Now, ranking these episodes was no easy feat, because I think all episodes in the first season of Percy Jackson and the Olympians were amazing. None deserves to dwell in Tartarus, not even in Fields of Punishment nor Damnation. Let’s start midway, on THE FIELDS OF ASPHODEL:
Least favorite: Episode 7, “We Find Out The Truth, Sort Of”
The reason why Episode 7 was my least favorite of the season is that it doesn’t stand on its own narratively. Structurally, something is off; not much of what happens in the first half of the episode is substantial. The flashbacks to a younger Percy with his mother, albeit beautiful, slow down the pace and delay what needs to happen.
It’s as if when the writers’ room decided how to break down the plot of the book in eight episodes, they knew exactly how they wanted to start and to end the penultimate episode, but not what to put in between. One thing I didn’t appreciate was how, possibly to add more conflict, Annabeth abruptly left the Underworld, where she, Percy and Grover were currently exploring hoping to find Zeus' stolen master bolt. There was little explanation and no consequences, creating a small plot hole. Was the regret that rooted her in the Fields of Asphodel triggered by Cerberus reminding her of her father? If so, I’m not sure viewers were equipped to clasp the subtlety of that reasoning, especially those who haven’t read the book. And what exactly did Annabeth do as she waited for Percy and Grover to come back?
While the episode could have functioned without it, I did love the final flashback where Percy’s parents share a moment of quiet frustration. In a moment of weakness, Sally Jackson summons Poseidon who appears not as an almighty god, but as a man helpless to support his family. I found this introduction to Poseidon quite refreshing, and a lovely way to subvert expectations.
We're not done with the fields of Asphodel. Click the button below for the rest of the rankings:
Runner up: Episode 4, “I Plunge To My Death”
I don’t have a problem with Episode 4; it’s placed as my second least favorite of the season merely because it inspired less enthusiasm than the others. The sequences with Echidna and the Chimera are well-executed, but they could just as easily not have taken place, in the grand scheme of things. This episode marks one more stop on Percy’s quest, but the only element of significance to the overall plot arrives in the last couple of minutes.
I was not disappointed by anything in this episode; rather, I was disappointed at the lack of something from the book that should’ve been in this episode. The show could have given Grover the opportunity to mention his environmental mission to save the planet from pollution. I’m sad that this aspect, so important to one of the main characters in the book and so relevant today, was brushed off and barely mentioned at all during the season.
Despite this, Episode 4 wasn’t bad at all. One thing I absolutely adored was how Percy tricked Annabeth into thinking he would leave her behind on St. Louis’ Gateway Arch, and pushed her into the elevator with Grover, forcing both of his friends away from danger.
Out of the Woods: Episode 6 “We Take A Zebra To Vegas”
The Lotus Casino episode is slightly weak in terms of narrative, but we shall let that pass because it gave us Lin-Manuel Miranda as Hermes, who's hanging out at the Lotus casino. In this episode, our heroes waste the few precious days remaining on their world-saving quest after breathing in the air at the casino, which causes them to forget who they are and what they're doing. Truth be told, I would’ve preferred for the teenagers to eat the lotus as they do in the book, in a show of mortal weakness.
What’s uncanny is that, in a place that is meant for people to forget themselves, Percy, Annabeth, and Grover spend their seemingly short stay at the Lotus dwelling on the past and strategizing about the future. For Percy and Annabeth, it doesn’t feel like so much time is passing, nor for us watching them. We’re just asked to believe it. I know the excellent minds behind the show could’ve done better here.
The bit I appreciated the most was the interactions between Annabeth and Hermes when they talked about Hermes' son Luke, whom our heroes had met before at Camp Half-Blood, where all the sons and daughters of gods train to use their powers. Also, Annabeth believing she could pickpocket the god of thieves and him being a good sport and humoring her was fun.
Next up, let's take a look at the episodes that deserve to dwell on the ELYSIUM PLAINS:
Starting Strong: Episode 1 “I Accidentally Vaporize My Pre-Algebra Teacher”
The series premiere could have set up the whole show for failure, but instead it builds a solid foundation for everything to follow. Words uttered in this episode will echo in our brains throughout the entire season, and I believe, the show.
In a matter of minutes, we meet Percy Jackson and understand his place in the world through the microcosmos of his boarding school. First episodes often run the risk of getting too carried away with world-building, but “I Accidentally Vaporize My Pre-Algebra Teacher” is a perfect example of showing and not telling. The first episode of Percy Jackson and the Olympians somehow sets the tone and cleverly delivers exposition while jumping right into the action. We get to know who Percy Jackson and the other lead characters, what they stand for and what they believe in.
And any scene revolving around Percy's mother Sally Jackson is a scene I want to play in a loop forever. Actor Virginia Kull does an excellent job with this role throughout the series.
Following Suit: Episode 2 “I Become Supreme Lord of the Bathroom”
Episode 2 is the aftermath. This marks the true beginning of the hero’s quest, once he becomes aware of the world around him. This episode has the difficult task of introducing Camp Half-Blood, a myriad of locations, characters, their histories and dynamics. It established and then upturned the order of things within 40 minutes.
This episode finds room for comedy within tragedy and delivers constant stream of information without feeling like a lore dump. It’s the perfect second episode every fantasy show wishes it had.
My favorite bit is Percy, already hero-worshipping his new friend Luke and hoping he will join Percy in disliking Annabeth, has the record set straight for him. “Whose side are you on, anyway?” Percy asks Luke. “Oh, hers. Always. She’s my little sister.”
We're climbing the ladder. These next episodes hail from the ISLES OF THE BLESSED:
Paradise Lost: Episode 3, “We Visit the Garden Gnome Emporium”
The season’s third episode involves the first real danger our heroes encounter when they meet Medusa. Above all, it’s a lesson in perspective. The episode investigates the common concept of monstrosity. What is the source of evil: nature, nurture or narrative? This, more than any other moment in Percy's quest, is a fundamental step in his Bildungsroman, aka his coming-of-age story. Annabeth’s too, although she’s not yet fully ready to listen.
Medusa is not a cautionary tale for Annabeth and Percy, but a red flag that their parents are not perfect. Their abuses have caused unimaginable pain, the consequence of which now come to visit their children. It’s telling that Percy’s mother taught him to unpack systems and question prejudices, so much so that Percy is willing to listen to Medusa and give her the benefit of the doubt.
I will never not praise the delicate yet direct way in which the writers chose to address — and not dismiss — that Medusa is a victim of rape. The story only works by acknowledging the full picture, and I don’t take the bravery for granted.
There is not a single negative thing to say about this episode.
Paradise Regained: Episode 5, “A God Buys Us Cheeseburgers”
Episode 5 is the turning point of the season. Not for Percy (who has stayed quite skeptical about the quest and yet sacrifices himself for it again and again), but for Annabeth. Annabeth, who has grown up so intertwined with the toxicity of the gods that she doesn’t know any different wa to be, realizes thanks to Percy that there is a better way to navigate their world.
After her own mother has virtually sent Annabeth into multiple death traps, it’s only thanks to Percy (and his mother) that her world of blind faith is upended. It’s poetic how the god Hephaestus — cast away by his own mother — sees himself in Annabeth and is the first god to truly acknowledge her, to see her and to answer her plea.
There is now a crack in Annabeth’s life, a before and an after. She’s no longer sure she wants to belong to the collective she has longed for her entire life because they don’t deserve her respect, nor done anything to earn her love. This realization could fester if left unchecked. It could lead to a self-destructive rebellion or even a revolution to take down Olympus. But Annabeth has Percy, and Percy has Annabeth (and his mother’s teachings), so they go off to save the world.
Favorite line? Impossible to choose this episode. Possibly, “You’re a good kid, Annabeth.”
Finally, THE WINNER:
At the top of Olympus: Episode 8, “The Prophecy Comes True”
What can be said about utter perfection? The season finale comes full circle by opening with the same line that the premiere did, this time spoken by Luke, who has been exactly where Percy is. Luke, casting a long shadow, is his dark mirror, representing what Percy might become.
Everything in the last episode is balanced and counter-weighed, thematically, narratively, emotionally, even visually and chromatically. All scenes act as a mirror and foil to each other. Percy fights Ares with swords and Zeus with words; he wins against the former and loses with the latter, and he is aided by his father finally manifesting as the literal deus ex machina he is, who appeals to Zeus’ pride. In the woods, Percy gets the best of Luke during a training session in daylight but loses in nighttime when his life is on the line. He is saved by Annabeth, who appeals to Luke’s conscience. I could go on listing the perfect symmetry of all the scenes in the finale.
The world is headed toward doom, but there is a sense of hope in the air, of spring even on the last day of summer. Our heroes know who they’re up against now, and they’ve discovered who they want to be and what role they want to play in the world. The final hug the trio share right in front of Thalia’s tree symbolizes a promise far more significant than they can imagine.
Episode 8 is a tough act to follow. Season 2 will need to step up its game to stay on par. We can’t do anything but congratulate and thank the cast and crew for such a wonderful first season, and hope there are many more in store for us to enjoy.
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