‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’ Season 2 Captures the Magic Once Again!
It’s time for us all to collect another bead, campers, as another year at Camp Half-Blood has come to an end. Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 2 feels bigger, bolder, and more confident than its predecessor. As someone who has loved this series since Rick Riordan’s books first came out, who grew up rereading these stories year after year, this world isn’t just nostalgic to me. It’s foundational. The adventures of Percy, Annabeth, and Grover are as much a part of me as any of my favorite series and franchises, with the Disney+ series just the latest version in which I get to relive their story.
Since the Percy Jackson and the Olympians novels were such an integral part of my young self’s identity, it’s easier to notice when changes are made from the source material. While I can rationalize that not everything in novels is achievable on the screen, or that some pieces just don’t or can’t translate well to a visual medium, I still, as a purist, wish for adaptations to remain faithful to the original text, with as few changes as possible. And in season two, the changes are clear.
While the core of the story remains intact, Riordan and Jonathan E. Steinberg push the envelope of what a serial version of Percy Jackson can be, resulting in a divergence from the novel (Sea of Monsters) on which it’s based. So without further ado, let’s hitch a ride on a cruise ship full of terrifying monsters and see what Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 2!
[Warning: spoilers from Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 2 are below!]
The Sea of Monsters arrives in Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 2
For longtime fans of The Sea of Monsters, the biggest difference from the novels to the television series lies in tone. Where the book leaned into chaotic adventure and surprise, the show favors intention and emotional clarity. Quests that once unfolded through panic and discovery are more streamlined here. Characters often understand the stakes earlier, and the mythology is less something they stumble into and more something they actively navigate. For some fans, this removes a bit of the reckless charm that made the book so fun. For others, it creates a cleaner, more focused story.
The pacing reflects that shift. Some of the quests feel shorter than their book counterparts, not because they lack weight, but because television requires selectivity. The show chooses which moments to linger on and which to condense, occasionally at the cost of wonder, but rarely at the cost of heart. It also makes me wonder who Percy Jackson and the Olympians is truly aimed at. Is it for the younger generation who are just now getting old enough to read the books and subsequently watch the show? Or is the Disney+ series truly aimed at those of us, much like myself, who grew up reading the novels, but are now adults and viewing the stories through a completely different lens? No longer does the recklessness of adventuring make sense, as we’re no longer seeing it through the eyes of a pre-teen thrust into the world of warring gods and monsters alike.
Characterization is another area where the adaptation takes noticeable liberties. Percy feels more emotionally aware and grounded than his book version, who often learned by failing first. Annabeth is more restrained and consistently competent, with her hubris less emphasized than in the novels. These choices smooth out some of the characters’ rough edges, which may disappoint fans who loved their messiness, but they also allow the series to explore its themes more directly.
Strength lies within the actor’s performances of this Disney+ series
Where the season truly shines is in performance. Clarisse emerges as the standout, thanks in large part to Dior Goodjohn’s incredible acting, who brings vulnerability and depth beneath her tough exterior in a way that enhances rather than undermines the character. Though different from her book counterpart, this version feels richer and more emotionally resonant. Tyson (Daniel Diemer) is perfectly cast, capturing both innocence and strength with ease, and Sally Jackson (Virginia Kull) remains just as lovable as ever, grounding the series with warmth and quiet resilience.
The changes to Thalia are perhaps the most significant deviation from book lore, and one that will have lasting repercussions. Rather than feeling like a misstep, this alteration feels purposeful, opening new narrative paths while signaling that the show is willing to let the story evolve. Whether this change ultimately upsets fans of the novels remains to be seen; however, I find myself excited to see how the writers bring this new twist to Percy Jackson’s world.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians, season 2, captures what makes this story special
Despite fans’ critiques of tone, pacing, or altered character dynamics, season two succeeds where it matters most. It understands the heart of Percy Jackson. These changes don’t feel like a rejection of the source material, but a growth of it. This is a Percy Jackson shaped for a new generation, one that honors what longtime readers loved while making room for something slightly different.
With a world this expansive and beloved, a perfect book-to-screen adaptation may not exist. But season two comes remarkably close, capturing the spirit, sincerity, and emotional core that made so many of us fall in love with these stories in the first place.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians is streaming on Disney+! Have you watched season two yet? What did you think of all the changes made to the story? Let us know your thoughts @bsb.insider on social media!
Percy Jackson & the Olympians Season 1: A Faithful Adaptation
