Warning: This article contains spoilers for Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 1, episode 8 and the Percy Jackson book series.
In Disney+’s first Zeus and Poseidon scene in Percy Jackson and the Olympians, the biggest difference about the gods from Rick Riordan’s book series is fulfilled. Percy Jackson and the Olympians has included a number of god cameos that vary from the Percy Jackson book series, such as Hermes’ early introduction, Hephaestus’ presence, and even Poseidon and Sally’s original flashback scene. While seemingly small changes, since all these instances are brief, they set up a side of the gods that the first book didn’t.
In the series, one of Percy Jackson‘s Greek god criticisms revolves around their detached parenting and often self-serving agendas. For instance, Zeus’ desire to kill Percy as a forbidden child of the Big Three is woven throughout the book series, like when Percy takes a plane back to New York to return Zeus’ master bolt. Notably, the books, particularly the earlier ones, are more rigid than the show about how godly parents cannot intervene in demigods’ business. In the Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 1 finale, these changes to the gods culminated into a refreshingly new perspective.
10 Easter Eggs & Hidden Details In Percy Jackson Season 1 Episode 8
Percy Jackson & the Olympians season 1, episode 8 brings Percy’s quest to a close, but the finale makes time to include Easter eggs and references.
Poseidon Stopping Zeus’ War Continues Disney’s Changes To Make The Gods More Sympathetic In Season 1
In the finale, Percy returns Zeus’ master bolt. Zeus insisting on an Olympian war, regardless of the Summer Solstice passing, suggests the deadline is less important than in the books. Poseidon surrenders before any fighting even starts, thus saving Percy from Zeus’ wrath, showing that glory is not a priority over his son’s life and preventing humanity from experiencing another tragedy like World War II. Subtly alluding to a deep care for Percy paints Poseidon in a more sympathetic light, such as when he says “I’ll be right by his side” to Sally in episode 7.
Hermes echoes this. When Percy and Annabeth meet him, Hermes expresses sadness about not being able to help even when close to someone he loves, namely his son Luke. Hades’ show counterpart is also more understanding, as he offers a deal that involves safety for Percy, Grover, and Sally should Kronos rise. Even Zeus is shown through a more sympathetic lens when he accepts the surrender after Poseidon mentions Thalia. These types of moments encourage viewers to sympathize with the gods a lot more than with their counterparts in the first book.
68 Biggest Changes Disney’s Percy Jackson Show Makes To The Books
Percy Jackson and the Olympians is being praised for its fidelity to the source material, though that does not mean there are no changes to the books.
How Percy Jackson & The Olympians’ Poseidon Change Sets Up His Future In The Series
Another small change is having Poseidon first show up right when Zeus is about to strike Percy instead of having him in the throne room already when Percy arrives, like in the first book. Delaying his meeting with Percy slightly forces Poseidon to face the powerlessness Hermes mentioned when only helping his demigod child from afar. Poseidon’s melancholic reaction when Percy asks if he dreams about Sally also sets up a sense of longing for family that Poseidon has had to give up as an Olympian.
Poseidon’s more sympathetic and overt concern for his son much earlier compared to the first book could set up Tyson, Percy’s cyclops brother introduced in Sea of Monsters, as another way for Poseidon to help Percy. Moreover, in the books, Poseidon and Sally meet again, and he even tells Percy he’s his favorite son. Percy Jackson and the Olympians‘ early sympathy for the gods humanizes them to an extent, making future seasons even more intriguing as their godly influence, particularly Poseidon’s, could be even more involved than in the books if similar changes to those in season 1 are introduced.
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
