WARNING! This article contains spoilers for Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 1, episodes 1 & 2, as well as Rick Riordan’s book, The Lightning Thief!
The final moments of Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 1, episode 1 imply a grim fate for the titular demigod’s mother, Sally Jackson (Virginia Kull) – but the books confirm that all isn’t as it seems. After finally telling her 12-year-old son Percy that his father is a Greek god and it has become too dangerous for him to remain hidden, Percy Jackson and the Olympians‘ mortal character Sally agrees to send Percy to Camp Half-Blood, where he’ll be with other demigods and mythical creatures. However, on the way there, Sally, Percy, and Grover are pursued and attacked by the Minotaur, who appears to kill Sally by crushing her alive.
While Percy and Grover are led to believe that Sally died in order to give them time to head into Camp Half-Blood, the manner of her disappearance suggests otherwise. When the Minotaur held up Sally and began to crush her, she suddenly turned to dust, whereas other mortals would have been crushed to death in a more gory way. Grover can’t seem to make sense of what actually happened to Sally in Percy Jackson and the Olympians episode 2, but is forbidden by Chiron and Mr. D from telling Percy that she may still be alive. While Percy and Grover are largely still left in the dark about Sally’s ambiguous fate, Percy Jackson’s book series reveals what really happened to her in episode 1’s ending.
Sally Isn’t Actually Dead In Percy Jackson – She’s In The Underworld With Hades
Rick Riordan’s book The Lightning Thief confirms that Sally Jackson doesn’t actually die when the Minotaur crushes her in the Disney+ TV show. This moment happens very similarly in Percy Jackson and the Olympians’ acclaimed series as it does in the book, as Sally turns into a golden, shimmering, dissolving form when the Minotaur tries to close his fists around her. The book reveals that Percy Jackson’s version of the Greek god Hades intercepted her death at the last moment to bring her down to the Underworld, thus curiously sparing her life. Grover also makes this realization in Percy Jackson episode 2 after visiting the Cloven Council, who informs him that Hades can reach out when a mortal is close to death.
Why Hades Takes Sally After The Minotaur Attack In Percy Jackson
Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 1, episode 2 gives quite a few hints as to why Hades would want to take Sally. While Poseidon had yet to officially claim Percy at the time when Sally was taken, it was still known that Percy was a forbidden child, who could then be used as a pawn in the Big Three’s feud. Hades resents both Zeus and Poseidon, and with Chiron believing that he has Zeus’ Master Bolt with him in the Underworld, Hades would seemingly want to use Percy to further the division between the brothers. However, Sally being down in the Underworld has another purpose, as the book reveals that Hades believes it was actually Percy who stole not only Zeus’ Master Bolt, but also his own Helm of Darkness.
Hades taking Sally was thus a strategic move to use her as a bargaining chip for Percy to return his Helm. Of course, just as Percy didn’t steal the Master Bolt, he also had no part in taking Hades’ Helm. With Percy’s quest becoming all the more complex, Sally is still kept in the Underworld with Hades until her 12-year-old son is able to find and return the Helm. Consequently, Sally Jackson will likely remain in the Underworld with Hades until shortly before Percy Jackson and the Olympians’ season 1 finale.
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
- Rating
- TV-PG
- Seasons
- 1
- Story By
- Rick Riordan
- Streaming Service(s)
- Disney Plus
