Everyone has their own opinions when it comes to their white whale adaptation, but no book series has been quite as publicly embattled as Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians. The popularity of Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief after its release brought Riordan’s 2005 children’s book series to the limelight and made one thing clear: the movie was a bad adaptation of the book. Three years later, Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters only seemed to be the final nail on the coffin. After that, the Percy Jackson film universe crumbled to dust.
Over the years, the series gained a huge following, especially on Tumblr, with the fanbase all but begging for a chance at another, more faithful adaptation of the series. With the conclusion of the Harry Potter franchise and the popularity of the dystopian series The Hunger Games, time was indeed ripe for another fantasy series to occupy their place in the pantheon of pop culture. However, Percy never answered the call.
Fans would not get an adaptation until the arrival of one in perhaps the most unlikely medium. With music and lyrics by Rob Rokicki and book by Joe Tracz, The Lightning Thief started as a one-hour musical that premiered off Broadway at the Lucille Lortel Theatre. It was later reworked and given a sixteen-week run on Broadway’s Longacre Theatre from September 2019 to January 2020, which was supposed to kickstart a 2020 national tour. The Lightning Thief was lauded by many for being a more faithful adaptation than the 2010 film, and this was what had reignited interest in a screen adaptation for Percy Jackson.
In May 2020, Riordan made the public announcement that a pitch had been made for the books to be adapted as a series on the Disney+ streaming service. Three years later, all the waiting has come to fruition with the premiere of the first season of Percy Jackson and the Olympians.
Photo credit: ondisneyplus.disney.com
Throughout the years of its development, Riordan has graciously kept fans within the loop through blogs and posts on his website and various social media. We learned that Walker Scobell, Leah Sava Jeffries, and Aryan Simhadri would play Percy, Annabeth, and Grover, respectively. We learned that the first season would cover the entirety of The Lightning Thief in eight episodes, all with titles lifted from chapters of the book. Most importantly, we learned about Riordan’s close involvement in this adaptation as writer and executive producer. This news made fans feel confident that the series would become the definitive adaptation that was long overdue.
The first eighty minutes of the series do show immense promise, particularly through clear worldbuilding and screenwriting. Using the opening paragraph of the book to open the first episode of the entire series immediately gains fans’ trust, and those who are new to the series are sure to be intrigued by Percy’s warnings. The show could do with some improvements in editing and scoring as it does tend to suffer from the Marvel style of throwing quips without context as comedy, cuts to black, and dark mood lighting. Moreover, not every scene needs dramatic background music, especially when the mood calls for something light and comedic.
I would be remiss, however, not to mention the beautiful cinematography and amazing set design, especially when it comes to Camp Half-Blood, especially when it comes to the interiors of the Big House, Cabin 12, and Cabin 3, which combine old-world polish and a longstanding history. The end credits are also very eye-catching, a tapestry melding together ancient Greek with art deco. The sequence lifts from important highlights from the books, which fans are sure to recognize.
Immediately, the main trio prove themselves right for the job. Aryan’s Grover comes off as shy and timid but shows great courage and potential. Leah shares Annabeth’s demeanor and determination to prove herself in the face of many naysayers. Walker embodies Percy’s trademark wit, his performance making it seem as though Percy himself walks off the pages of the book. Their chemistry together is wonderful to see and makes me excited for their many adventures to come.
So is it a good adaptation? We simply don’t know yet. Two forty-minute episodes is too little data to make any sweeping conclusions about the season and series as a whole. However, it seems to be a step in the right direction, and I eagerly await the rest of the show.
Enjoyed this article? Check out our other features below! If you're a writer looking for a professional editor, look no further. Send your manuscript to themanuscripteditor.com for a complimentary 800-word sample. Let us help you bring your book to life!
Commentaires