Percy Jackson: What’s the same and different about the books and series?

The 5-book series written by Rick Riordan about the young Percy Jackson and his universe of fantasy and adventure, with elements of Greek mythology, won fans around the world and followed the wave of the global phenomenon Harry Potter in the early 2000s .

And, of course, with all this success, the work would inevitably have had a film adaptation. In 2010 and 2013, the two films adapting the series were released, with Logan Lerman in the main role and directed by Chris Columbus in the first, responsible for the first two Harry Potter feature films, and Thor Freudenthal in the second.

However, the films were widely criticized, especially by fans of the original work, due to major differences from the source material. An important example is the age of the characters: in the books they are 12 year old children in the first book, while in the films they are already 16 years old, an age that the protagonists only reach in the fifth chapter of the saga.

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However, in 2023, a new adaptation was launched on Disney+, now in the form of a TV series, with the promise of more faithfully following the events described in the books. But did the first season of the show succeed in fulfilling its mission? Let’s now discover the main differences compared to the books.

Episode 1: I accidentally turn my novice algebra teacher into dust

The first episode follows the beginning of the adventure in a very similar way, with Percy being expelled from school and discovering the existence of gods and monsters. Some specific differences include:

Episode 2: My transformation into Overlord of the Toilet

Again, no sudden changes in the direction of the story. Here, Percy arrives at Camp Half-Blood and learns more about his origins. Some differences include:

Episode 3: Our visit to the garden gnome emporium

In this episode the main plot is presented: Percy needs to find Zeus’ Master Thunderbolt which is with Hades. Along the way they face Medusa. See some changes:

Episode 4: My Dive into Death

The trio of heroes continues their adventure towards the sanctuary of Athena. Along the way they meet Echidna, another major adversary from the first book. He looks what changes:

Episode 5: A God Buys Us Cheeseburgers

Percy and his friends meet Ares, who asks for help in recovering his shield. Some different points are:

Episode 6: A Zebra Goes to Las Vegas

The heroes arrive in one of the book’s most iconic environments, the Lotus Casino, a place where the laws of time seem to work differently. See some differences:

Episode 7: We kind of find out the truth

Eventually, Percy reaches the underworld and faces Hades. Again, the plot remains faithful, with some specific differences, such as:

Episode 8: The prophecy came true

The season’s big climax follows the events of Zeus’ meeting and the expected appearance of Poseidon. Some details differ from the original:

Is the series faithful?

Yes, in general. Disney’s streaming adaptation manages to be more faithful to the book than the film versions, maintaining the same events as the 22 chapters of the original work and following the twists and turns of the book’s narrative. Practically all the iconic scenarios and different adventures from the initial book of the saga are present in the series.

However, some changes are not so effective, such as keeping the protagonists always aware of the threat, as in the case of Medusa or the Lotus Hotel Casino, which can reduce tension for the audience, according to comments from fans on social media. Perhaps, in the next season, these points could be tweaked.

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Source: Olhar Digital

Rose

Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.