Percy Jackson and the Olympians: Sirens and Secrets

“This week’s episode of Percy Jackson and the Olympians is the best of the season so far. It’s a rather dark episode that puts Annabeth and Percy to the test while bringing back Grover to the foreground.”

After that big cliffhanger, it’s been a long week waiting for the new episode of Percy Jackson and the Olympians. But it’s finally Wednesday!

STRANDED IN THE SEA OF MONSTERS

This episode picks up with Annabeth and Percy Jackson stranded on a sanctuary in the sea of monsters. A new challenge arises for them – the sirens. To continue their quest, they need to pass through those terrible spellbinding creatures. And the person who can help them isn’t exactly who she appears to be – Circe. She is played by Rosemarie DeWitt (Untamed). Rosemarie has a charming presence, but through her performance, you can feel that something unsettling lies behind her smiles. I think this is precisely what the character needed.

Another God makes a debut in this episode – Athena, played by Andra Day. It may be a short scene, but Day absolutely slays it. She captures the character’s grace and imposing presence. As usual with this series, the casting director always makes the right choice. And these two are surely great additions to the cast.

*PERCY JACKSON AND THE OLYMPIANS* – “Episode 205” (Disney/David Bukach)

This episode is more a game of wit than a matter of direct action. Both Percy and Annabeth have to face their fears and strengths. There’s an intriguing exploration of Percy’s potential. It lays the groundwork for where the story could go, depending on the choices he makes. In fact, when you think about it, this episode is a lot darker than it appears on the surface.

ON THE ISLAND OF POLYPHEMUS

As you may have noticed, Grover has taken a secondary role in the second season so far. Not anymore, today we get to see him back in the foreground. Indeed, the second storyline of this episode follows him and Clarisse on the island of Polyphemus. After hearing about the big Cyclop, we finally get to meet him, and he’s as nasty as you would expect. This part of the episode sets the stage for what comes next. Overall, it’s just a joy to see more of Grover again. And the duo that he forms with Clarisse is unexpectedly compelling. There is definitely an Empire Strikes Back vibe with this episode, as it separates our heroes and challenges them.

VISUALS

This episode marks the debut of new CG monsters. As usual, the VFX team behind this series does a really good job at creating CG creatures. It’s realistic and blends well with the other actors. Firstly, the sirens, the series has opted for a design that stands out. Sirens are often represented as beautiful, seducing creatures. That’s not what we see here. These sirens are made of rocks and are quite ugly. They are actually scary. Undoubtedly, it’s refreshing to see a different design for them. It feels new. Secondly, Polyphemus, the big Cyclop, has a traditional look, and it works too.

VERDICT

This week’s episode of Percy Jackson and the Olympians is the best of the season so far. It’s a rather dark episode that puts Annabeth and Percy to the test while bringing Grover back to the foreground. It lays the groundwork for what comes next. There are also great additions to the cast and impressive new CG creatures.