As I wrote in my Episode 3 review of Percy Jackson and the Olympians, the first two episodes of the show moved at a hurtling speed, delivering a vast amount of new information with every installment. Episode 3 was a slower paced, slightly more introspective episode which gave the viewer time to process the story and feel the emotions the characters were feeling. It really leaned into the dynamic of our lead trio: Percy (Walker Scobell), Annabeth (Leah Jeffries), and Grover (Aryan Simhadri). Slowing things down was a risk, but one that paid off.
In Episode 4, "I Plunge to my Death," the producers went with the same blueprint as Episode 3: action happens, but there's a much slower, more introspective tone. This is an inevitability due to the storyline of the book this season is based on, Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief. A lot of the entertainment from the books comes from our access to Percy's internal monologue, whereas in the show, we are outside of Percy's head (except for the odd bit of narration from Scobell).
At this stage in the story, the action is somewhat muted. It is about the road trip and the connections the characters are making to one another, although they do encounter difficulties. Because the meeting with Medusa in Episode was executed so flawlessly, this week's meeting with Echidna (Suzanne Cryer) falls a little bit flat. Cryer is perfectly cast, and the meeting is by no means bad from a writing and acting perspective, but there is a slight feeling of "Well, that's another monster ticked off the list."
However, there is some high intensity stuff in here. Meeting the Chimera is a blisteringly brilliant moment, as is the pivotal moment when Percy falls in the river. That second scene is important for two reasons; first, it's when we all discover that Percy can breathe underwater; being the son of the sea god impacts his life more than he guessed. Secondly, for book fans, it answers years of asking, "How did Percy jump from that landmark into the river, how did he jump that far?!"
The very simple answer is that, being the son of Poseidon and having some command of water, the water itself grabbed him, caught him, and dumped him into the river. When you stop and think about that, it absolutely makes sense, and makes me wonder why we didn't all work that out years ago. Thank you Disney+ for finally answering that question!
The relationships are the shining star in the show
Despite me pointing out a few flaws in this episode, it's important to reiterate how well done it is, and how enjoyable it is to watch.
The casting is at the heart of this success. The trio just works. These actors simply are their characters, and it means highly emotional moments are believable and hard hitting. The ending of Episode 3 showed us how they all have their personal struggles but are choosing to trust one another. Episode 4 reinforces that, with Percy and Annabeth now referring to each other as friends. This may not seem a big deal, but for two characters who have felt ostracized and isolated their whole lives, to be so openly vulnerable with each other speaks volumes about how far they have come.
Scobell and Jeffries just seem to intuitively know how to show both the jokey side of Annabeth and Percy's relationship while also leaning into the deeper, more emotional side. It is a relationship which is fundamental to the Percy Jackson and the Olympians story, so to see its roots so well planted in the first half of season 1 shows how deeply the showrunners understand and care about this story. Simhadri is also crucial as Grover, serving as the bridge between these characters; he has been the protector and friend to both Annabeth and Percy, so he provides some mutual ground for Percy and Annabeth to work out how exactly they work. This could have made Grover a flat character, but Simhadri ensures that he is a shining, three dimensional character in his own right, full of humour and intelligence but also emotion and loyalty.
Godly parents?
This episode gives us a bit of insight into what being the child of a god actually is like when it comes to the relationship (or lack thereof) with your parent. They're small moments, but ones which will ultimately have ramifications across the series: Annabeth's plea for help from her mother, Athena, is ignored, whilst Percy's plea for help from his father, Poseidon, is granted.
Now, on the one hand this could be framed as showing Athena as deeply uncaring and Poseidon as the ultimate, wonderful parent; but on the other hand, it shows how inconsistent the gods are, and why their children are forced to go on these dangerous Quests so frequently. It is a reminder that while the gods are parents, they are still... well, gods. Annabeth is used to being ignored; she almost expects it. Percy, who's only experience of parentage comes from his mother, expects help when he needs it.
Overall, Episode 4 is still highly enjoyable and entertaining, and clearly showcases the showrunners and actors deep care for this story. It can feel almost too slow at times, but the development of the relationships between the characters, as well as their internet journeys, keeps things on track.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians is available to stream on Disney+.
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