It’s been a long time since the fantastic first season of Percy Jackson and the Olympians premiered on Disney+ in December 2023. One might assume that the long gap between seasons and expectations higher than Mount Olympus hovering about the Empire State Building might have caused a bit of sophomore slump. After watching the first few episodes of season 2, I can finally reveal that is not the case at all.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 2 is not only a worthy adaptation Rick Riordan’s The Sea of Monsters, the second book of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians book series, but it’s even better than the first season.
Almost every aspect of the second season, which premieres on Disney+ on Wednesday, Dec. 10, is better than the first season. And, again, that’s not to say the first season was bad by any means. There were some obvious challenges adapting The Lightning Thief, but The Sea of Monsters story, while I won’t say better, just feels tighter. It’s paced a little bit better. There’s still the race against the clock that’s present in all of Riordan’s stories, but the story just lends itself to a better pace compared to the first season.
We don’t have to waste as much time getting introduced to this new world as Percy, played by Walker Scobell, experiences it for the first time. In season 2, Percy is still going through a lot of changes, but it’s quick.
The story, for the most part so far, is character-driven. While season 1 felt, at times, like it was checking off plot points from The Lightning Thief to reach the end destination and big reveal, season 2 feels the opposite. It’s relaxed, at least so far, and the story develops naturally based on the choices these characters make.
For those who are unfamiliar with where the story is headed, I’ll keep it brief and spoiler-free. Percy Jackson season 2 explores Percy and Annabeth’s latest adventure to rescue Grover after his mission to find Pan, the God of the Wild, goes wrong. And, there’s also some big trouble back at camp, but we’ll save that conversation for another day.
The cast is even better in Percy Jackson season 2
The cast and just how good they are in these roles is the big takeaway from Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 2 for me. You can just tell that they’ve leveled up from season 1. It reminds me a lot of Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint in the Harry Potter series or, more recently, the Stranger Things gang. As time went on, the performances the young cast delivered improved exponentially.
Scobell is the perfect Percy Jackson. He might not look exactly as I pictured Percy when I started reading the books almost two decades ago, but he’s Percy Jackson through and through. He brings this role to life in a way that I don’t know if anyone else could.
Simhadri is great and hilarious as Grover. Fans will really enjoy the performances and moments we get to spend with Charlie Bushnell, who plays Luke Castellan, and, even more so, Dior Goodjohn, who plays Clarice. This is a big season for Goodjohn as Clarisse, and I know fans are going to love it.
Last but certainly not least, Leah Jeffries, who stars as Annabeth, is the star of the season. Jeffries is bringing an emotional weight to the series that we just don’t see many young actors actually pull off. Annabeth has always been that important figure in this story, but I don’t know if I expected a performance like this. And, this early in the series, too? It’s incredible.
And, you absolutely have to love the myriad of stars playing the Greek Gods. It’s just a fantastic mix of epic performances in a fun series. What more could we ask for?
Season grade: A
Overall, Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 2 is a great sequel to an awesome first season. Everything about this season takes it to another level. The two-year break between seasons was long, but the story doesn't miss a beat.
Yes, there are some key changes from The Sea of Monsters, and that might upset some of the longtime fans, but to me, those changes, which I don't want to spoil right now, work really well to help other parts of the story move more fluidly.
There’s no doubt in my mind that Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 2 is going to be even bigger than the first season. Any worries I had about the season have officially been squashed, and I can’t wait to see what’s next.