We made it, demigods. Our Percy Jackson and the Olympians episode 1 review for “I Accidentally Vaporize My Pre-Algebra Teacher” is here. And it is glorious.
I’ve been writing about Rick Riordan and Percy Jackson for a long time (we’re talking over a decade here, people), and I still have trouble finding the words to describe how I’m feeling in this moment. As much as I have and will continue to love the books, having an accurate on-screen adaptation means the world to me. I fully expect to bask in the glory that is this series with every spare second I have.
I wrote an in-depth article about much of the information that came out of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians press week, as well as my spoiler-free thoughts on the first two episodes. You can also listen to my co=host Kristen and I discuss both of these topics in Prophecy Radio episode #111 if that’s more your speed.
This Percy Jackson and the Olympians episode 1 review will not be like that. We’re talking spoilers, people. We’re talking deep dives. We’re talking analyzing every frame of this show to discuss how it differs from the books, how it elevates the source material, and how it’s a perfect adaptation of Rick Riordan’s first series in the Camp Half-Blood Chronicles. If you haven’t read the novels, I’d be cautious moving forward.
With Rick Riordan involved in the production process, I knew Percy Jackson and the Olympians would be the adaptation we’ve all been waiting years to see. But when the show opened with the first lines from the book, I finally felt like I could sink my whole heart and soul into this show. Walker’s voice is perfect for Percy, and his monologue sets the stage for the show with a blend of mystery, longing, sadness, and danger. Percy will be seeing that a lot throughout this season and—fingers crossed—beyond.
But it’s not just the dialogue that had me hooked. As my Prophecy Radio co-host Kristen said, it’s also how Percy moves into frame as we absorb his words. He’s out of focus, giving you time to walk away if you don’t want to become part of this world. But we won’t. We can’t. And he knows that as well as we do. Once Percy comes into view, his face is so crisp and clear that you can count every raindrop on his nose, every freckle splashed across his cheeks. And now that we’ve seen him, now that we’ve lingered, there’s no turning back.
The episode begins with a flashback of Young Percy (played by Azriel Dalman) in second grade. We know from the books that children can see through the Mist easier than even teenagers and especially adults, and this is proven by the monsters Percy sees while he’s just a kid. The addition of Blackjack in this season—one of several departures from the book—is a great nod to fans who know who he is, while also helping to depict the creatures hidden in plain sight in the mortal and modern world.
As the Colchis Bull transforms into a dump truck, Percy copies the image down into his notebook. The addition of other creatures indicates the passing of time, and it also hints at what’s to come. I’ll have a full breakdown of what’s on this page soon, but not only are we treated to several creatures we’ll be seeing in Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 1—Cerberus, Medusa, the minotaur, the furies—but we also see several creatures that will appear in future seasons if we’re lucky enough to get a renewal. A cyclops, the hydra, and the ophiotaurus(!) are among my favorites.
And that’s not even to mention seeing Mythomagic being played on screen. I’ve said this countless times, but Disney, please—please—sell Mythomagic cards so I can collect them all. I would go feral for a set, either as a real game or simply a collector’s edition. Give us new sets every season so we can try to get each and every monster. I’m begging you to take my money.
Another flashback gives us a sweet scene between Young Percy and his mother Sally, driving home one of the major themes of this season—the complexity of heroes and monsters. Specifically, the two of them discuss Medusa, who Percy assumes is the villain in his namesake’s tale, but Sally is quick to tell him that not everyone who looks like a hero is one. And not all monsters are monstrous. We know the creators of Percy Jackson and the Olympians—with Rick’s approval—have tweaked Medusa’s portrayal, and I’m so excited to see that play out in episode 3. But I have to get through this Percy Jackson and the Olympians episode 1 review first!
The narrative pushes forward at a quick pace over the next several scenes. Nancy Bobofit bullies Percy while Mrs. Dodds admonishes him for not controlling himself before Mr. Brunner slyly hands over Riptide, hidden in the guise of a pen. Later, Nancy pushes Percy over the edge, and he uses the fountain’s streams to pull her into the water. This tips off Mrs. Dodds as to who Percy really is, and she transforms into Alecto the fury in what is both an elegant and terrifying shift from the mundane to the magical. She attacks, but he’s able to accidentally kill her with his sword. I already wish we could’ve gotten more of Megan Mulally as Mrs. Dodds, but I understand the need to drive Percy toward Camp Half-Blood as quickly as possible.
Sitting in front of the principal, Mr. Brunner, and a mysterious third man (played by none other than Rick Riordan himself), Percy tells them he didn’t touch Nancy, but Grover betrays him by saying he saw the whole thing, leading to Percy getting kicked out of Yancy Academy and being forced to go back home to the apartment where he must endure Gabe Ugliano’s presence as well as try to convince his mom that he didn’t do anything wrong.
We meet Sally in the current day sitting out on the fire escape in the rain while Olivia Rodrigo’s “Logical” plays over top. Percy’s mother has always been a fan-favorite character, but there’s something about Virginia Kull’s performance that elevates this role into something truly special. There is a softness to her when it comes to her son, telling him that she believes he didn’t push Nancy into the fountain and not being mad at him for getting kicked out of another school. And yet, when Gabe enters the scene, she turns hard and unforgiving toward the man, like a mama bear protecting her child from the biggest threat in the room.
In the books, Sally stays with Gabe because he’s so utterly mundane that his scent helps hide Percy from the monsters that would like nothing more than to devour him. She endures his mental and emotional abuse in order to protect her child—it is a sacrifice she makes willingly every single day, and not once do we ever blame her for it. Moreover, she is not portrayed as a helpless victim.
The series, however, shows Sally and Gabe’s relationship through a different lens. No mention is made of why Sally is with him, but it’s obvious the relationship is less than ideal. She pushes back against him, not afraid to stand up for herself or her son despite the vital role he unwittingly plays in their life. It doesn’t feel like she’s enduring so much as she’s biding her time. It’s a less passive role on her part, and I’m here for it.
Equally important is Gabe’s portrayal, which feels less abusive than what we saw in both the books and the 2010 film. Instead of being cruel and manipulative, he’s depicted as more of a layabout. When Percy explains why he got kicked out of school, Gabe looks impressed—not ideal in a parental figure, but better than the alternative. When Sally forces him to ask nicely for peppers on his sandwich, he does so begrudgingly but with little hesitance. So while this does feel like a departure from the tone of the books, it is a change that I can truly get behind.
After having a dream in which a mysterious figure in a rippling black shroud holding a lantern warns Percy away, he and his mother arrive in Montauk. We get a couple of cute moments between them, where Percy cheats to win the race into the house and then later taps her on the shoulder before walking in the other direction. Like the scene where Sally takes Percy’s side without question, these moments show us the kind of relationship they have, which is both light and fun despite the heaviness that hangs around their shoulders.
As Percy confides in his mom, we get some insight into how his mind works. He says, “I’m used to the world feeling weird to me. Like a puzzle with half the wrong pieces.” This is why whenever anyone, whether it’s Nancy or Mr. Brunner, calls him special, he flinches a little. He knows he’s different, and instead of feeling unique, he feels other. The way Sally’s face crumples when he says he thinks his brain is broken will never not destroy me. I’m getting emotional just thinking about it while I write this Percy Jackson and the Olympians episode 1 review.
One of the reasons the Percy Jackson books made such an impact on readers is because Rick took learning differences, like ADHD and dyslexia, and turned them into something akin to a superpower. They can help you stay alive on the battle field, help you read and understand Ancient Greek. Instead of feeling shame, kids can feel empowered and hopeful for their future. It’s wonderful to see the series put as much emphasis on this aspect of the story as the novels have, and I can imagine a whole new audience connecting with Percy’s journey because of it.
After listening to Percy describing what happened to get him kicked out of school, Sally tries her best to explain what’s actually going on with him, and it starts with the story of how she met his father. After choking on the word “man” several times, Sally finally admits that his father is no man at all, but rather, a god.
Like in the books, Percy’s sense of humor adds much-needed levity to the darkness of his story. “You fell in love with God?” Percy asks. “Like, Jesus?” All of the Percy Jackson books have an element of ridiculousness to them despite being a high-octane action story coupled with a surprising amount of emotional depth, and I think the humor of the series perfectly reflects that. From lines like this to the fact that the minotaur is wearing underpants, kids and adults alike can laugh and gasp and cry and cheer together while watching Percy Jackson and the Olympians.
The end of the episode fast approaches once Grover arrives and reveals himself to be a satyr. One again, we get important exposition—such as an explanation of the Mist, the significance of the Mythomagic cards, and the first mention of camp as a safe haven—in a quick and efficient manner, while all three of them are on the run from the minotaur. It makes this new information digestible while ratcheting up the tension as each second passes.
Once the minotaur lands, the final battle begins, and we’re as helpless as Percy while we watch Sally do everything in her power to deliver her son to safety. Taking matters into her own hands, Sally forces Grover to swear he’ll get Percy to Camp Half-Blood, and even though the words “on the River Styx” were never uttered, there is a weight and significance to this moment then can not be ignored. Even if you’re unfamiliar with the books, we know these characters are on a precipice and that Percy’s life will never again be the same.
Sure enough, Sally takes on the minotaur with nothing more than her child’s red jacket and her own bravery. In the monster’s grasp, she turns to gold dust. It is a devastating scene for Percy, as well as the audience, after everything they’ve already endured and all of the soft moments they’ve shared in this episode.
Furious, Percy pulls Riptide from his pocket and charges. Though he has no experience in this arena, his instincts guide him to outmaneuver the minotaur and luck reaches out a hand to help him take down the beast once and for all. The moment where he breaks off the minotaur’s horn and stabs it through the head is violent and satisfying, yet does not erase the pain we feel surrounding Sally’s loss.
Percy flits in and out of consciousness as campers surround him, and we hear Annabeth’s first line of dialogue, though we don’t get a glimpse of her just yet. “He must be the one,” she says. “Hush, Annabeth,” Chiron chides. “Welcome to camp, Percy Jackson. We’ve been expecting you.” A hazy vision of Mr. Brunner in his true form fills the screen before Percy passes out.
The beautiful credits roll on the first episode of the series, and I couldn’t be more ecstatic about what I’ve witnessed or more pleased to write this Percy Jackson and the Olympians episode 1 review. With seven more to go, I know the time will pass too quickly, and yet I’m content to throw myself wholeheartedly into this adventure, even though—or perhaps because—I know where it all ends.
Be sure to stick around through the Percy Jackson episode 1 end credits scene, which gives us our first glimpse of Annabeth before rolling into the trailer for episode 2. Just like this Percy Jackson and the Olympians episode 1 review, I’ll have an article up about the second episode soon.
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