Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 Review – Episodes 1 & 2
It’s been quite the journey to see where Percy Jackson and the Olympians would go given its incredibly dedicated fanbase. What first began as a little quest to save Olympus from war has now become a grand adventure that hardcore fans adore and new viewers enjoy. Now, the Disney+ series has made its way back to our screens once again with a somewhat darker, yet deeper adaptation of Rick Riordan’s second book: The Sea of Monsters. What comes out of Season 2, in its first two episodes, is not just a fun and faithful return, but also an intriguing exploration of heroism and understanding.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 picks up a year after the events of Season 1, where Kronos has been brewing a plan to topple Olympus. Percy (Walker Scobell) has a new school life and brother, who turns out to be a Cyclops, Tyson (Daniel Diemer). When Grover (Aryan Simhadri) is captured by the imposing Polyphemus and Thalia’s Tree is attacked by Luke (Charlie Bushnell), Percy must reunite with Annabeth (Leah Sava Jeffries) to save Camp Half-Blood. However, in their way is Clarisse (Dior Goodjohn), who’s sent on her own quest for the Golden Fleece.
What is extremely prominent in these two episodes is that the brotherhood between Percy and Tyson really emphasizes that shared empathy. While this bond can only be explored on so many levels through the book, which is not to discount Riordan’s great writing, the way that Percy and Tyson interact showcases a level of depth that shows how mature it is. There’s a specific instance with the two in the second episode that does a great job on building that dynamic while also highlighting Tyson’s know-how to Percy in a shy, yet sweet way.
It doesn’t try to degrade Tyson’s youthfulness, but rather use him as an emotional fortification between Percy and Annabeth. The brotherly chemistry that Scobell and Diemer share in these scenes, as well as in some other ones in the near future, brings that dynamic from the book nicely. When the show ties this bond with what Percy and Annabeth put each other through, the dive into the “Percabeth” relationship takes a unique turn.
Percy Jackson Season 2 probably shifts around Annabeth, narrative-wise, the most. She doesn’t show as much of that worry about Tyson, outside Episode 1, and her reasoning for holding Percy back from questing is much more character-driven. She cares deeply about Percy, but she also cares about the bigger picture and protecting Percy from that. The way that this slowly causes them to diverge in their relationship can prove interesting if it digs deeper into Percy’s dedication to do what’s right.
However, in the more calmer, conversational moments between Percy and Annabeth, the dialogue they share lends itself to fortify those commonalities they have. The conversations they share are tied back to Annabeth’s time with Luke and Thalia before Camp Half-Blood, but they’re laid out in a way that pulls on all the strings. There’s a scene in particular when Annabeth tries to get her mind off things that truly sticks out for how emotional it gets. Annabeth doesn’t want Percy to go through what Thalia had to go through, but it’s also because of how another prophecy that ties the entire series together plays a role here. That further establishing of Annabeth’s relationship with Thalia and Luke nails home how more intense the stakes are in terms of “Percabeth” as a whole.
There’s also a slow, but gradual emphasis on Clarisse getting more complex, which already feels so in Episode 1. However, by Episode 2 and the impending chariot race, placed by the cunning Tantalus (Timothy Simons), the show also purposefully opens up Clarisse’s character, particularly when Chris, a son of Hermes, comes into play. It’s a brief moment played up to test the waters, both for the characters and the viewers’ perceptions, but it does its job in creating that empathy nicely. Albeit, Clarisse is still self-centered, but in a way that’s much more narratively-driven than previously.
Season 2 also keeps itself faithful to Luke and Grover’s involvement early on, which only shows here and there. Though both are also narratively-driven, Grover has a little more prominence, which is all thanks to the shared dreams (or “empathy links”) he has with Percy. While it’s fun to see the interactions that they have, especially with one in Episode 2, it certainly will test the fans’ patience to finally get to that point. One has to appreciate the calmer, if prescient, scenes of linking that Percy and Grover share since viewers won’t get that same connection that Season 1 had.
We also see new elements, like the inclusion of a new character, Alison Simms (Beatrice Kitsos), a daughter of Apollo-turned-Luke’s right-hand. While she doesn’t have much of an impact early on, only being that she nearly catches Grover on his search for Pan. However, given how there’s still six episodes left, it leaves room to see what the show will do with her. Although, it also feels like Alison is a soft replacement for iconic characters from the book like Charles Beckendorf and Silena Bureaugard, but time will only tell how her arc forms.
At its start, Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 shows incredible potential for exploring deeper character dynamics, especially with Percy and Annabeth, while fitting in its original elements quite nicely. With its heavier focus on being character-centric and having a tighter cast of characters while still retaining the exciting action, Season 2 looks to be another potent return for this great series.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 premieres on Disney+ and Hulu on Wednesday, December 10 with the first two episodes. New episodes will drop weekly through January 21, 2026.
Rating: ★★★★
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Christopher Gallardo is a freelance entertainment writer and critic. While not running The Reel Roller, Chris can be found writing reviews and breakdowns on all things films and TV. Outside of entertainment writing, he’s currently taking classes for a Bachelor’s of Science with a minor in Digital Media & Journalism. Plus, he loves Percy Jackson, animated films and shows, and Fallout! Follow Christopher on Instagram & X.