Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2: The Gray Sisters, Explained

Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2: The Gray Sisters, Explained

Highlights

  • The Percy Jackson series received a much more positive response as a TV series compared to the movies. Variety called it “one of the strongest YA television outings.”
  • The Gray Sisters, known for sharing one eye and one tooth, are key characters in the series. They drive a taxi in the greater New York City area.
  • While The Gray Sisters have power over prophecy, they are not the same as The Fates. The series remains faithful to the books and continues to engage fans.

As a lifelong fan of Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series, I must say that the recent television adaptation on Disney+ has been nothing short of a revelation. After being disappointed by the lackluster film adaptations in the early 2010s, it’s like the gods themselves heard my prayers and delivered this masterpiece. The casting is spot-on, the characters are true to their book origins, and the Gray Sisters are a delightful addition that brings a touch of humor and mystery to the series.


Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson & The Olympians series has captivated readers since its debut with The Lightning Thief in 2005. This epic tale unfolds in a world where Greek Gods exist and have subtly integrated themselves into modern-day society. Our protagonist, Percy, a 12-year-old demigod son of Poseidon, joins forces with other half-bloods (half-human, half-god) to combat mythical beasts and becomes embroiled in an ancient prophecy. In the early 2010s, the first two books were transformed into two 20th Century Fox movies, titled Percy Jackson & The Olympians and Percy Jackson & The Olympians: Sea of Monsters. However, these films received mixed to negative feedback, leading to the abandonment of the film series. Later, when 20th Century Fox was acquired by Disney, they gained control over Percy Jackson. Subsequently, a new TV series was produced based on the books and is now streaming on Disney+. Interestingly, Riordan himself is deeply involved in this series, acting as an Executive Producer and co-writing several episodes. Now, let’s see how the adaptation fares this time around.

The answer is that it worked like gangbusters. Critics and fans alike responded much more positively to the series than they had to the movies. Variety even called it, “one of the strongest YA television outings in a long time.” One of the strengths of the adaptation is in its casting, reverting the characters back to their original ages rather than how they were aged up in the movies. While the first season covered the first book, the second season will cover the second book, which means that there are plenty more mythology-inspired characters hitting the smaller screen, including a fun trio known as The Gray Sisters.

Who are the Gray Sisters?

Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2: The Gray Sisters, Explained

The Gray Sisters are a trio of mysterious old ladies who collectively possess only one eye and tooth among them. They jointly manage the taxi service known as Gray Sisters Taxi or the Chariot of Damnation, providing transportation within greater New York City. The cast for the upcoming series has been revealed: Sandra Bernhard portrays Anger, Kristen Schaal takes on Tempest, and Margaret Cho plays Wasp. In the movie Percy Jackson & The Olympians: Sea of Monsters, these three characters were played by Mary Birdsong, Yvette Nicole Brown, and Missi Pyle, who also shared an eye but had their own teeth individually.

How Do They Appear in the Book Series?

Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2: The Gray Sisters, Explained

In the novel “The Sea of Monsters“, Annabeth summons the Gray Sisters and their unique taxi service when she, Percy, and his cyclops half-brother Tyson are on the run from authorities after Percy is falsely accused of a mythological attack during his seventh grade year. The Gray Sisters’ cab is unlike any other; they have only one eye shared among them, similar to the game “Crazy Taxi“. This peculiarity concerns Percy greatly, especially since they often argue while driving at high speeds. Despite their quarrelsome nature, they are wise and knowledgeable, possessing information that proves valuable, such as a destination Percy needs before he even realizes it. They also threaten to lose an eye if he doesn’t provide certain information later on. Unlike other mythological beings who are typically either enemies or allies, the Gray Sisters maintain a more neutral stance. Their unpredictable behavior and witty banter make them reminiscent of seasoned comedians playing a chaotic neutral role.

The Gray Sisters are Different from the Fates

Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2: The Gray Sisters, Explained

If you’re not familiar with the series “Percy Jackson and The Olympians”, it might seem that The Gray Sisters are identical to The Fates at first glance. However, in Disney’s 1997 “Hercules”, The Fates were portrayed as cheerfully eerie old women sharing a single eye. This was an artistic choice to merge the two mythologies. In reality, The Fates appear in the first season of “Percy Jackson and The Olympians”. Although they are three elderly women, they have their own teeth and eyes. The woman in the middle holds the yarn while the others knit blue socks. Later, Annabeth sees the one in the middle cutting the yarn with scissors, which could symbolize a life’s end. To clarify, The Gray Sisters may share similarities in prophecy but they do not govern fate nor snip lives with thread and scissors.

At the moment, it’s unpredictable what form Season 2 of Percy Jackson and the Olympians will take. Yet, the series so far has shown itself to be more than just a loyal book adaptation; it has been engaging for both new and returning viewers. Recent casting choices such as those for The Gray Sisters or Timothy Simons, known from Candy and Veep, as Tantalus, are intriguing and are expected to attract followers of these actors. However, the story of Percy Jackson has always been captivating, and after all this time, it finally has an adaptation that can truly showcase its brilliance.

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2024-08-19 00:33