Because Disney’s TV show, Percy Jackson & The Olympians makes one major book change, the eponymous character’s quest holds much more meaning. Based on the book series by Rick Riordan, the Percy Jackson series follows a 12-year-old boy named Percy who learns he’s the half-blood son of Poseidon. Soon, he gets swept up in a quest to get back Hades’ lightning bolt. After Disney premiered the first two episodes, fans of the book series began praising the show for its loyalty to the source material, setting the series apart from the failed Percy Jackson movies.
Despite this, the first two episodes of Disney’s Percy Jackson TV show made book changes that refined the storyline and better relayed the themes. For instance, Luke shows Percy around instead of Annabeth, giving him a bigger role from the start, which will later pay off. They also remove ambrosia and nectar, substances that can heal any injuries. This gives injuries much more consequences in the TV show. Ultimately, one of the most beneficial changes in Percy Jackson & The Olympians relates to Percy’s mom, Sally.
Disney’s Percy Jackson Makes Sally Jackson More Important To The Plot
Sally Establishes The Lore And Pushes The Plot Forward
In The Lightning Thief, Percy has a strong bond with his mom, Sally Jackson. She supports him every time he gets expelled, not faulting him. Despite this, Sally Jackson has a relatively small role in the plot. She does help him get to Camp Half-Blood, but she doesn’t have as significant of a role in the minotaur fight. Her leading the monster away isn’t dramatic in the book. After the minotaur incident, Percy believes his mother died, only learning otherwise towards the end of the book. However, Percy Jackson & the Olympians greatly expands Sally’s role in the events leading up to Camp Half-Blood, adding more meaning to Percy’s quest.
In Percy Jackson & The Olympians, episode 1, “I Accidentally Vaporize My Pre-Algebra Teacher,” Sally introduces Percy to the Greek Gods in his childhood, rather than him learning about it at Yancy Academy. This provides him with more context for the strange occurrences with monsters. She later tells Percy about half-bloods after he gets expelled from school instead of Annabeth Chase educating him when he gets to camp. This makes Sally more integral to Percy’s experience at Camp Half-Blood and adds mystery to Annabeth. When the series finally gets to the minotaur fight, she baits the minotaur with Percy’s jacket, drawing him away as the kids get to safety.
Each of these changes from the Percy Jackson books to the TV show may seem minor, but they collectively have a massive impact on the central plot. Percy has a much deeper connection with his mom, making it all the more impactful when he loses her. This also makes it more challenging for him to adapt to camp. Moreover, her act of heroism in the minotaur fight creates more guilt for Percy in Percy Jackson & The Olympians.
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Grover Revealing Sally’s Fate Is A Catalyst To Mend His And Percy’s Friendship
Percy Will Forgive Grover After His Massive Betrayal
In The Lightning Thief, Percy believes the minotaur killed Sally because he watched her disappear into gold dust. He finally learns that she’s alive before going to the Underworld to face Hades. Percy Jackson & The Olympians takes a different approach, having the Council of the Cloven tell Grover that Hades kidnapped Sally and took her to his realm. They make it clear that she’s alive, not dead. When Grover tells D and Chiron what the Council said, they insist on keeping the information from Percy. This change in the plot sets up a quick and easy way for Grover and Percy to mend their friendship after their major rift.
Though Percy is mad that Grover keeps secrets in The Lightning Thief, Percy Jackson & The Olympians provides a much more significant rift for the friends. Grover is the one who gets Percy expelled from Yancy Academy by corroborating the claim that Percy pushed his classmate. Then, the half-blood learns that Grover also kept massive secrets from him from the time they first met. Even when Grover shows remorse, Percy ignores him at Camp Half-Blood.
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Percy Jackson & The Olympians, episode 2, “I Become Supreme Lord of the Bathroom,” ends on a cliffhanger, but it seems that Percy will forgive Grover more readily since Grover is honest about Percy’s mom, especially after learning that D and Chiron weren’t going to tell him. This will be important because Grover goes on the quest with Percy. Though they don’t need everything fixed from the get-go, they’ll need at least a semi-decent rapport going forward.
Percy Accepts The Quest For Family In The Show, Not Revenge
The Quest Will Help Percy Save His Mother
Because Percy believes Sally is dead in The Lightning Thief, his motivation for going on the quest is much different. He has a passing thought that maybe he can save his mom, but his primary motivator is revenge. The Lord of the Dead was on a mission to kill Percy and had – as far as Percy was concerned – killed his mom. Additionally, Percy believes the God was framing him and Poseidon for theft. This motivator is much flimsier than what’s presented in Disney’s Percy Jackson series.
Because Percy knows his mom is alive in Percy Jackson & the Olympians, his primary motivator is to save his family, not to get revenge. Poseidon abandoned him, likely before he was ever born, if the TV show follows the book. His stepdad, Gabe, is a schmuck who doesn’t care about anyone but himself. However, Sally Jackson is a great mom – the only parent who consistently showed up for Percy. As such, he will undoubtedly go on a dangerous quest and take on the literal God of the Underworld just to get her back. Moreover, he won’t seek revenge against Hades because the God holds his mom’s life in the balance.
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The Sally Jackson Reveal Gives The Quest Higher Stakes For Percy
The Stakes Will Likely Impact Percy’s Choices And Mental State
By revealing Sally Jackson as alive early in Disney’s Percy Jackson & the Olympians, the TV series alters the future of Percy’s quest. There are more consequences if Percy fails at his quest, explaining why he will go on the journey despite knowing the risks. Also, this reveal raises the stakes for both the viewer and the half-blood preteen, building tension and increasing the pacing.
The stakes could also have a massive mental impact on Percy as he goes on his quest. Percy might act with less forethought due to the stress created by the stakes. This could lead to stupid decisions and negative consequences. He also might be on edge, making him more reactive to both Grover and Annabeth. By changing Sally Jackson’s book storyline in Percy Jackson & the Olympians, the series sets up conflicts and emotional moments during the quest that will likely provide the TV series with immense depth.
Percy Jackson & the Olympians
Based on the novel series by Rick Riordan Percy Jackson & the Olympians is an action-adventure fantasy television series created for Disney+. When Percy Jackson is framed for the theft of Zeus’ almighty thunderbolt, Percy must clear his name, all while harnessing the powers inherited by his father, Poseidon, at a camp created for demi-gods.
- 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
- Genres
- Action , Adventure , Fantasy
- Rating
- TV-PG
- Seasons
- 1
- Season List
- Percy Jackson & the Olympians – Season 1
- Story By
- Rick Riordan
- 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
