The Geeky Parent Guide aims to highlight media that both kids AND their grown-ups will be able to enjoy. This year, the GPG is focusing not only on the joy of the content itself, but on digging deeper to determine why media is of interest to various members of the family, as well as the valuable (and challenging) aspects of its messaging. As families grow and evolve, so, too, do their interests, and we hope to provide fun and thoughtful ways for families to sit back, relax, and enjoy new books, movies, comics, TV, and more.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians is a Disney+ adaptation from the wildly popular fantasy series of the same name. Although Percy Jackson is a relatable teenager who is trying to find a non-bullied place in high school, there’s a lot to unpack as he uncovers his mysterious origins. The adventure he and his friends go on is chaotic in the best way possible as they try to recover a stolen object of power, while ultimately determining how much strength there is in friendship.
If you have not watched Percy Jackson and the Olympians – or read the book series – please consider this your spoiler warning.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Release Date: 2023
Streaming: Disney+
Origin: Season 1 is based on Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson & the Olympians Book 1: The Lightning Thief
What Is Percy Jackson and the Olympians About?
The Disney+ series follows the title character as he mistakes himself for a “troubled kid” instead of being something much more. Yes, he’s troubled with bullies and bad grades, but he has a mythic lineage where truly dark and evil things have discovered his true self – even though he hasn’t yet.
Percy, along with his mother and best friend Grover, must navigate the realization that his father is a god. And, unfortunately, there are monsters who want to snuff out Percy (a.k.a. a demigod), and he must reach a camp for people like him to stay safe. One thing is very clear for Percy from the start of this series: Life will become tragic before anything else.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians has eight episodes in its first season, and each episode ranges between 30 and 45 minutes. The cast includes Walker Scobell, Leah Jeffries, Aryan Simhadri, Virginia Kull, and many other wonderful performers, including the late and immensely talented Lance Reddick playing Zeus.
Why Is Percy Jackson Great for Parents?
As a fan of the Percy Jackson & the Olympians book series, this TV adaptation is exceptionally well done. The creators of the show have taken the story from the pages of a book and captured that essence on the small screen. The story is what I expected, and there’s something satisfying about getting those visuals on point.
From Percy’s awful stepdad to the epic rainstorm where they’re being chased by a minotaur, Percy Jackson and the Olympians gives parents a great story to introduce to their kiddos, if they’re interested. Full disclosure: My kids did not show interest in watching this series after watching the trailer. My daughter even read the first book (or part of it), but it wasn’t her cup of tea – and that’s perfectly okay.
Parents can watch this on their own and be completely entertained. Or they can offer to watch it with their kids and you’ll be able to go on a wonderful adventure together. My kids are ages 9 and 11, so I would be comfortable with them watching this series, but as always, if you feel like watching before your kids to judge their maturity, that’s totally okay, too.
Why Is Percy Jackson Great for Kids?
Pure and simple: It’s fun. There are mythological gods and monsters, rebellious attitudes, and a quest where our main characters must navigate a road trip to save the gods from an all-out war. More complicated: It highlights how the best choices are not always the easiest. Percy, Annabeth, and Grover all find themselves in similar positions of trying to prove themselves, whether to each other or their parents.
Parenting is not easy, but neither is being a kid. Sometimes, kids have to navigate exceedingly high expectations, while navigating feelings that aren’t always easy to understand or deal with. Percy has to deal with the death of his mother, while also trying to understand why his father has never reached out to him. Plus, it’s also not easy when you have others doubting or bullying you and only wish to see you fail.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians gives viewers a chance to see how difficult life can be, while highlighting one doesn’t have to go it alone. Even though life can be daunting, especially with a cross-country journey leading to various deadly traps, this show highlights perseverance in the face of that turmoil. I believe this series presents those real-life struggles in an easily entertaining way, while giving everyone a trio to root for each and every episode.
Parental Concerns or Limitations
If your child is younger than my own kids, I would recommend caution. There’s a fight scene where a minotaur squishes Percy’s mother into dust, creepy dream sequences, and an underworld full of the living dead. I wouldn’t consider any of these things too extreme, but it’s always easier to air on the side of caution if your kids are much younger.
Conversation Starters
It is not always easy to make friends. And when you have an oracle inform you that a friend will betray you, it is devastating to think about who might be on the other end of that betrayal.
Friendships Are Not Always What They Seem
Making friends can be nerve-wracking, while having friends can be such a joyous feeling. What can be difficult for kids (and even adults) to understand is when those types of relationships seem to be one-sided – or there’s always an ulterior motive behind kind words or friendship.
In this instance, Percy’s concerns gravitated around Grover and Annabeth since they were on the quest with him. Though, it wasn’t until the final episode of the season – again, spoiler alert – that he realized Luke was the culprit. Luke had given Percy a magical pair of shoes that would have dragged him down into the massive pit where Kronos would have captured Zeus’ missing weapon.
Yes, Kronos is chopped up into a million pieces, but he’s growing in strength until he can reform and retake the world from his children (a.k.a. the gods). Back to backstabbing “friends:” Luke wants to dismantle the gods. The interesting part of this realization is that Luke believes the gods are bad parents and they don’t care about their children.
This type of messaging could be alluring to those who have been hurt by their parents in some way, but backing a Titan to rule a world with death and destruction might not be the way to solve that problem. Percy recognizes how imperfect the gods are, but understands the fate of the world would be doomed if ruled by Kronos. Despite Luke helping him train and showing friendship, it all underlined a purpose to use Percy for one goal: “We’re gonna help Kronos bring the Golden Age back.”
Trusting others can be easy or hard. Sometimes, trust is taken advantage of. Percy understands the importance of the bonds he’s formed with Annabeth and Grover, while knowing life does not always make those relationships easy to identify at first. Percy Jackson and the Olympians gives young viewers a chance to understand that hurtful actions can come from more than just bullies, but from those we call friends.
Additional Recommendations After Viewing Percy Jackson and the Olympians
The first thought that comes to mind is What If…? This animated series highlights gods, everlasting bonds of friendship, and exceedingly tough choices that involve great loss. On top of that, it’s fun to see beloved characters in an alternate universe and how their lives differed from those we recognize in the MCU or TV series.
If you need any more reason to watch What If…?, there’s a second season and a confirmed third season already teased. And if you enjoyed the first season of Percy Jackson, you’ll be happy to know a second season is on its way, as well.
What did you think of Percy Jackson and the Olympians? Were you a fan of the book series and did you think the TV adaptation met your expectations? Find us over on Facebook and Twitter and share your thoughts with us there!
Until next time, happy parenting and happy geeking.
