It was the most eagerly awaited series of late 2023 on Disney+, and the first big-budget non-Marvel, non-Star Wars on the streaming platform. Fans of Rick Riordan 's literary saga were eagerly awaiting the adaptation, following the failure of the first two films with Logan Lerman in the title role. This time, the writer is at the helm of this adaptation, and the least we can say is that thespirit of the book is faithfully retranscribed.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians has been a hit, with over 20 million views, and a second season is planned, following the Greek demigods into the heart of the terrible Sea of Monsters. The cast includes Walker Scobell, Leah Jeffries and Aryan Simhadri as Percy, Annabeth and Grover, the three heroes, as well as more familiar faces such as Lance Reddick, who sadly passed away and will have to be recast as Zeus, and Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Our verdict
If you're already a fan of the famous literary saga, there's no doubt that this new series, directed by Rick Riordan himself, will win you over! Unlike the two films released in 2010 and 2013, which the author has said he hates, Percy Jackson and the Olympians is very faithful to the books and packed with references, a real treat for those who have read the whole thing. Some scenes appear to be copies, down to the last word, and you can easily feel the writer's touch, just in the choice of actors, whom he selected for their correspondence with the characters.
On the other hand, the episodes can be criticized for their brevity, with only 30 minutes or so per episode, giving the impression of not being able to deepen the scenes. As a result, the dialogue between the characters - particularly at the beginning of the season - is sometimes conventional and lacking in naturalness, although this improves in the second half, when the young actors seem to convey their emotions better on screen. All in all, there's an impression of rush, which should be less noticeable in the next season.
As for the fight scenes, they lack technicality and visual impact on the viewer, but we mustn't forget that the actors are young and will have time to improve. It's worth noting that Percy fights a god more easily than one of his comrades! The special effects also deserve a mention, with some impressive, high-quality monsters, from minotaurs to harpies. In short, this is a series that will undoubtedly appeal to fans of the novels, as well as to younger viewers, but let's hope for a change of pace in the next season!
Disney+: new films and series for February 2024
Attention Disney+ holders! With February just around the corner, it's time for the platform to unveil its calendar of film and series releases for the month ahead. What can we expect in terms of new releases this February? [Read more]
Disney+: new films and series for February 2024
