Warning: This article contains spoilers for Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 1, episode 8 and the Percy Jackson book series.
In Percy Jackson and the Olympians‘ finale, an unexpected change confirms that Disney’s delay in a romantic relationship between Percy and Annabeth is perfect. Percy (Walker Scobell) and Annabeth (Leah Sava Jeffries) depict an engaging dynamic from a rocky start to a genuine friendship over the course of Percy’s main quest. Since the fan-favorite “Percabeth” has a slow burn in Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson book series, the show emphasizes this delay, with much of the adaptation expanding on the story from beyond just Percy’s perspective.
Changes Disney’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians make to the books range from minor to larger ones. Some of this involves providing more character depth earlier than is explored in the books. For instance, reference to Grover’s Pan quest and Annabeth’s struggle with pleasing her mother Athena and the gods. One further Annabeth change, which ties into her individuality, highlights her as a hero like Percy and gently strengthens her budding friendship with him.
Percy Jackson & The Olympians Made The Right Choice Cutting 1 Romance Subplot From The Books
A minor romance subplot from the Percy Jackson & the Olympians books is missing from the Disney show, and that’s actually for the best.
Annabeth Saving Percy In The Season 1 Finale Repeats Her Heroic Episode 5 Change
In the Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 1 finale, Percy and Luke face-off with their swords and Annabeth saves the former. Instead of having Luke almost kill Percy with scorpion poison, like in the books, the Disney adaptation depicts a reluctant fight among friends where Percy cuts Luke and apologizes instantly, leading to Luke trying to strike back. Annabeth’s surprise presence, under the invisibility of her magical cap, amplifies her care for Percy. It also foreshadows how her fatal flaw (hubris) is something she wants to overcome, as she only gets involved in Percy’s battle when really necessary.
Annabeth rescuing Percy echoes an earlier moment in episode 5, which also deviates from the books. After Percy is entombed in gold on Hephaestus’ throne, Annabeth’s vulnerable pleas and ideas about how she doesn’t want to be ruthless like the gods resonate with the Greek god Hephaestus, who then frees Percy. This and her surprising rescue in the finale strengthen Annabeth’s character and cement her importance to Percy’s journey as a hero, as well as plant the seeds for a deeper relationship between them to develop.
Disney Secretly Told You Annabeth’s Fate In Percy Jackson’s Season 1 Finale Back In Episode 2
Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 1 secretly teased the fate of Annabeth before the show’s ending upon her first introduction in episode 2.
Disney’s Annabeth & Percy Changes Make Their Slow-Burn Romance More Worth It
Disney’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians has sprinkled Easter eggs that fans of the book series can undoubtedly mark as subtle “Percabeth” origins. For example, Annabeth only starts using “Seaweed Brain” in episode 5, which is her term of endearment for Percy throughout the book series. Annabeth continuously shows her care for Percy, like when she gives him her Camp Half-Blood necklace as a token of good luck for his trip to Olympus. Similarly, Percy warms up to her, and Annabeth getting trapped in the Asphodel Fields highlights his concern for her well-being.
Jeffries attributes the Tunnel of Love scene in episode 5 as when the intensity of Percy and Annabeth’s friendship started (via Filmfare). Although Annabeth and Percy grow closer – including hugs and long looks – Jeffries’ comment suggests the pair won’t have a romantic relationship soon. The books’ romance hints are slightly more evident in Percy’s admiration for her beauty and his jealousy about Annabeth’s crush on Luke. While currently platonic, these two Percy Jackson and the Olympians characters share moments of believable pre-teen interactions amid individual character growth that sets up their anticipated relationship to be even better.
Percy Jackson & the Olympians
- Release Date
- December 20, 2023
- Cast
- Walker Scobell , Leah Sava Jeffries , Aryan Simhadri , Jason Mantzoukas , Megan Mullally , Glynn Turman , Adam Copeland , Virginia Kull , Lance Reddick
- Seasons
- 1
- Writers
- Rick Riordan , Jonathan E. Steinberg
- Streaming Service(s)
- Disney Plus
- Franchise(s)
- Percy Jackson & The Olympians
- Directors
- James Bobin , Anders Engström
- Showrunner
- Jonathan E. Steinberg , Dan Shotz
