Every Episode of Percy Jackson Season 1, Ranked

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Disney+’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians is a huge hit right now, and deservedly so. Because author Rick Riordan was closely involved, the show stays true to the books, which original fans are loving. He even made some changes to improve the story. While the first season was generally a success, not every episode was a standout.

Some changes to the show were well-received, like a minor adjustment to Percy’s jump from the Gateway Arch in episode 4. However, not all changes were popular. Many viewers felt that having the young heroes understand the dangers of the Lotus Hotel in episode 6 lessened the impact of a major plot point from the book. Despite these changes, the first season was generally excellent and demonstrated that book adaptations can be successful when handled carefully.

8. The Television Show Removes a Lot of Danger From the Lotus Café

Percy Jackson Season 1, Episode 6, “We Take a Zebra to Vegas”

Image via Disney

The first Percy Jackson and the Olympians book introduces Percy to a hidden world of mythology he never knew existed. Even though he’s familiar with classic myths, he often acts with innocence and inexperience. In the book, Percy and his friends recklessly enter the Lotus Hotel, oblivious to the risks. However, the show’s sixth episode presents a different scenario: the group is fully aware of the danger that awaits them inside.

Percy and his friends knowingly enter the Lotus Hotel, despite understanding it’s meant to trap visitors. Once inside, they get split up and each fall for the hotel’s various distractions. Some readers have questioned why the group, knowing the danger, still succumbed to the temptations. Eventually, they manage to break free and escape, but they lose a significant amount of valuable time on their journey.

7. Medusa’s Sympathy For the Heroes Contrasts Her Outlandish Actions

Percy Jackson Season 1, Episode 3, “We Visit The Garden Gnome Emporium”

Image via Disney

Medusa is a complex figure in Greek mythology. While often portrayed as a frightening monster, many stories ignore the sad events that led to her becoming that way. The third episode of Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 1 does address her past, but it does so in a way that pulls focus from the main story. The episode briefly makes viewers sympathize with Medusa, immediately before confirming her tragic end.

This episode makes Medusa a more sympathetic character than the book does, though she still meets the same tragic end. Percy takes advantage of a brief distraction to defeat her, using Annabeth’s invisibility cap along with his sword. While this is a significant win for Percy, it feels unsatisfying because the episode also tries to help viewers understand Medusa’s perspective. The victory ultimately leaves a negative impression on the audience.

6. Percy Defeats Clarisse In the Most Embarrassing Way Possible

Parcy Jackson Season 1, Episode 2, “I Become Supreme Lord of the Bathroom”

Image via Disney

Although Percy Jackson is the son of Poseidon, he didn’t know it for most of his life. Poseidon eventually reveals their connection after Percy is hurt during a game of capture the flag. It’s natural that their relationship is complicated by the years they spent apart. However, the TV series doesn’t show as much of Percy’s anger and frustration about this as the books do. In the novels, he’s much more likely to challenge the gods, particularly when he feels they’re being unjust.

While Poseidon revealing himself as Percy’s father was a neat scene, it didn’t feel as impactful as it should have. This moment, which is a major one in the story, felt rushed. The show doesn’t need to dwell on everything, but a little more emphasis and visual flair would have been great. On a positive note, the design of the trident was excellent.

5. Percy Acts Remarkably Noble When Confronted With the Hardest Challenge of His Life

Percy Jackson Season 1, Episode 7, “We Find Out The Truth, Sort Of”

Image via Disney

Percy finally understands what’s going on as he travels to the underworld, and playfully accuses Hades of a mistaken plan – mirroring the books. The show accurately portrays the House of Hades as a bleak and desolate place. While episode 7 is decent, it doesn’t quite reach the quality of the season’s best installments.

Overall, the seventh episode of Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 1 is good, but not particularly memorable. While it features some cool monsters and a perfect portrayal of Hades by Jay Duplass, it seems Rick Riordan is saving the deeper exploration of the underworld for future episodes. The scene with Grover stood out as the best part, and it cleverly hinted that Percy might be misunderstanding what’s going on. This episode mainly serves to connect earlier events with what’s coming next, and doesn’t offer much beyond that.

4. Ares’ Introduction and Execution Is Perfect For His Character

Percy Jackson Season 1, Episode 5, “A God Buys Us Cheeseburgers”

Image via Disney

In Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Season 1, Episode 5, the show makes a great improvement to the original story. Ares tasks Percy and Annabeth with retrieving his stolen shield, leading them to a challenging puzzle rooted in Greek mythology. Percy bravely sacrifices himself to allow Annabeth to get the shield and continue their mission, but Annabeth is able to enlist the help of the shield’s creator after his selfless act. Together, they recover the shield and return it to Ares, who then assists them with the next stage of their journey.

Ares’ portrayal has been a standout this season, and it’s expected to remain a strong part of the story going forward. Percy’s selfless act beautifully demonstrates his dedication to his friends. It seems likely Rick Riordan will emphasize these admirable qualities to make Percy’s future choices feel more genuine within the context of the book series. Overall, this episode shows that adapting a story for television can actually improve upon the original material when done thoughtfully.

3. The Iconic Gateway Arch Moment Is Finally Given Justice

Percy Jackson Season 1, Episode 4, “I Plunge To My Death”

Image via Disney

The scene at the Gateway Arch is arguably the most memorable part of the first Percy Jackson book. It features a challenging battle for Percy, and he proves, yet again, how willing he is to put others first. While Rick Riordan made a small change to how the water reacted to Percy’s fall, the rest of the scene stays very true to the book. The monsters were also designed to be both accurate and frightening.

The first season doesn’t feature much polished fighting, but that seems deliberate. Percy is new to being a hero, and while he shows potential, he’s not yet skilled enough to take on tough opponents. Hopefully, the show will handle his next battle with the Chimera just as well.

2. Percy Jackson’s Premiere Is the Perfect Introduction to an Already Popular World

Percy Jackson Season 1, Episode 2, “I Accidentally Vaporize My Pre-Algebra Teacher”

The new Percy Jackson series gets off to a fantastic start – it’s one of the best adaptations of a book you’ll find. It quickly covers the key plot points while also acknowledging that some things will be different. The show strikes a perfect balance between staying true to the source material and making its own creative choices, which is exactly what fans wanted. And with Rick Riordan involved, it’s set up for success.

As a longtime Percy Jackson fan, I can honestly say this show feels like a dream come true! The actors get these characters, and it really shines through. Sure, the first episode or two has a few moments that feel a little slow or confusing, but trust me, stick with it! Once you finish the whole season, everything clicks and you realize just how amazing this adaptation really is. It’s the Percy Jackson debut we’ve all been waiting for.

1. Luke’s Betrayal Is The Lightning Thief’s High Point and Expertly Sets Up For the Following Season

Percy Jackson Season 1, Episode 8, “The Prophecy Comes True”

Image via Disney

Episode 8 of Percy Jackson Season 1 is truly outstanding. It features the best action scene of the season and prominently showcases two key characters. Sadly, Lance Reddick, who played a role in the show, has passed away and will need to be recast. However, Toby Stephens is expected to continue portraying Poseidon throughout the series. This episode is a fantastic preview of what’s in store for this exciting new TV show.

The first season of Percy Jackson was a huge success, and the finale provided a satisfying conclusion. The show appears to be produced at a good pace, though some fans are concerned the young actors might grow up too fast. So far, the series has gotten off to a great start, and hopefully it will maintain this positive trajectory in future seasons.

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2026-02-22 05:09