Percy, Annabeth and Grover face a variety of threats as they begin their quest – here’s our Percy Jackson And The Olympians episode 3 review.
This review contains spoilers for episodes 1 and 2 of Percy Jackson And The Olympians.
In last week’s two-episode premiere, Walker Scobell’s imaginative and likeable Percy Jackson began to figure out where he fits in in a world of demigods and Greek myth. He’s met a variety of interesting people at Camp Half-Blood, and learned that his mother – who he believed was dead – is actually being held captive in the Underworld by Hades. Oh, and he’s also been accused of stealing Zeus’ lightning bolt
Episode three, then, sees him sent on a quest with both an official and personal purpose. Joined by the stoic Annabeth Chase (Leah Sava Jeffries) and his satyr protector Grover (Aryan Simhadri), Percy sets out on a road trip to reclaim Zeus’ stolen lightning bolt and to save his mother. Of course, there are obstacles in their way, physical and otherwise.
As the three set off on the first leg of their journey, Bear McCreary’s fantastical score once again gives the episode a generous dose of magic. That magic quickly evaporates, though, when the reality of Percy’s situation sets in. He and Annabeth aren’t exactly friends, and they couldn’t be less similar if they tried.
Scobell imbues Percy with a determination tinged with bewilderment. He’s resolved to rescue his mother, but is still getting to grips with the magical world he’s been plunged into. Annabeth, on the other hand, has a one track mind. Jeffries has the presence and gravitas to make her character completely no nonsense and unquestionably in charge. Annabeth’s also devoted to her mother, Athena, in a way that Percy can’t quite relate to. Poor Grover is stuck in the middle, and Simhadri is extremely earnest and easy to sympathise with throughout.
The group faces various obstacles on their journey, including multiple mythical creatures in this episode alone. I won’t give away the details, but the episode’s title – We Visit The Garden Gnome Emporium – may give those familiar with the books a clue.
Black Sails’ Jessica Parker Kennedy gives a real standout performance as an unexpectedly mysterious and complex character, which allows the show to delve more into the morality of its world. Where Chiron and Mr D’s intentions were slightly mysterious in the first episodes, here the series begins to question the gods themselves. Are the gods really that good? Are the creatures labelled ‘monsters’ always what they seem? And where do the Demigods fit into it all? These are all interesting ideas that this episode begins to dig into, and it makes the world of Percy Jackson And The Olympians all the more fascinating.
There are also some good lessons on friendship to be learned from this episode. As Percy and Annabeth butt heads and find that they have very different goals, they discover throughout this instalment that they need to look past their differences and support each other if they’re to succeed.
This episode very much builds on the promise of the first two. It provides action, adventure, and mystery while also telling a very grounded tale through its leading trio. Percy Jackson And The Olympians is fast becoming a must-watch series.
Episode three of Percy Jackson And The Olympians is streaming on Disney+ on 27th December, with future episodes streaming weekly.
