Disney+'s series, "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" presents an interesting opportunity to introduce Greek mythology to our tiny tots while adorning the mantle of being a lively family show. Inspired by the namesake book series, we witness the story of Percy Jackson, portrayed by Walker Scobell, as he maneuvers through a quintessential pre-teen underdog narrative. Dealing with school bullying and eerie hallucinations, Percy step forth from a rocky childhood into a world imbued with mythological mystique.
His journey is accompanied by other young actors on board, such as Aryan Simhadri (Grover Underwood), Leah Sava Jeffries (Annabeth Chase), and Charlie Bushnell (Luke Castellan). Each of them bring a unique expression to the show with their captivating charm and individual personas, gradually warming up to their camera-performance.
The series carries the flavor of quintessential tween TV series with its aesthetics oscillating between heartwarming, glowy frames to intensely dark action shots. While the series may not boast of Guillermo del Toro-esque creatures, the artistic imagination extends to create surreal beings that are nothing short of delightful.
The show revels in the advantage of playing around with the age-old Greek myths we've encountered during our school days. It creates an engaging, if not always logical narrative filled with paralleled stories and characters. The questions regarding how Percy exists amidst the legacy of his namesake Perseus, or how Medusa lives despite being slain by Perseus exist, but it's better to regard them as enjoyable plot-twists than confounding discrepancies.
Despite its casual and quirky approach, "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" flourishes when delving into the emotional limbo of being a 'half-blood' - a half-human, half-God. The show smartly integrates elements of teenage angst and uncertainty in identity with the predicament of its 'half-blood' characters. The concept of having an omnipotent yet absent parent figure brings an intriguing perspective to the narrative. Emotions run high with characters like Percy expressing his anger at his absentee father and Annabeth strictly guarding the honor of her mother Athena.
Incorporating elements from classic "hero's quest" tales, the show transforms what could have felt like school lessons into engaging plot devices. This intricate interplay of stories and characters introduces an educational yet entertaining way to delve into Greek mythology. So, while "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" might not be the next big sensation on TV, it promises to be an enjoyable ride for kids, offering them a fun learning experience along the way.
The series is scheduled to premiere on Disney+ with the first four episodes up for review.
