Disney+’s 2-Part Fantasy Series Is One Of Its Best

Disney+ is the home of a fantastic range of fantasy shows, but Percy Jackson and the Olympians looks set to become the new flagship fantasy TV show for the channel. The show is based on the bestselling novel series by Rick Riordan, and while a movie adaptation was made first, Percy Jackson and the Olympians outshines its movie predecessor.

Most major streaming platforms feature top fantasy shows, but while many are completed or spinoffs of other projects, Percy Jackson feels fresh and new, and the show is going from strength to strength. Fantasy TV shows like Percy Jackson do not come along often, and with season 3’s tonal shift, the series appears to be following the same trajectory as Harry Potter.

Percy Jackson is Disney+’s Answer To Harry Potter

Harry Potter was a cultural phenomenon, but the books and movies have not aged well, and the original author, JK Rowling, is increasingly falling out of favor. However, while Percy Jackson and the Olympians shares many of the themes that made Harry Potter feel so relevant, it does not include the issues that have made Harry Potter age so badly.

Like Harry Potter, Percy Jackson is about a boy who discovers that he has magical powers. While Harry is a wizard, Percy is a demigod. However, unlike Harry Potter, Percy Jackson involves a diverse cast of characters whose traits translate to their abilities, like ADHD becoming a battle advantage. Over time, the cast naturally grows more varied as the universe expands to incorporate other cultures.

Greek mythology is a popular theme with audiences, and Percy Jackson is one of many Greek mythology TV shows. That said, the themes of adventure and friendship that drive the show are what make Percy Jackson resemble Harry Potter so closely in tone. With new audiences looking for a fantasy show that reflects aspects of real life, Percy Jackson is Disney+’s Harry Potter equivalent.

With seven books in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, the show could continue adapting the story for years to come, aging along with its audience. If the writers continue to improve the show with each season, Percy Jackson could stand the test of time much better than Harry Potter has, becoming the best fantasy TV show on Disney+.

The Third Season Of Percy Jackson Looks Set To Be Much Darker

The third season of Percy Jackson and the Olympians was confirmed even before season 2 finished filming, showing that Disney+ had faith in the project. The show will adapt the third book in Rick Riordan’s series, The Titan’s Curse, which makes several changes to the franchise. This even includes the season, as the story takes place in winter rather than summer.

The first two seasons of Percy Jackson and the Olympians have leaned into the adventure and magic aspects of the books, but the third season is set to move in a new direction. The Titan’s Curse has a much more mature tone, marking a turning point in the book series just as The Goblet of Fire took the Harry Potter books to a darker place.

Walter Scobell (Percy) explained Percy Jackson‘s shift in tone in an interview with Deadline, saying that season 2’s finale set the next season up well with its darker atmosphere, and “it just also shows our characters aren’t invincible. They get hurt, and it’s important to remember that, especially moving forward into all the crazy stuff we have to do in Season 3.”

With such a dramatic change, Percy Jackson season 3 will make or break the Disney+ series. It risks disappointing existing viewers who enjoyed the more lighthearted story, but having the show mature alongside its audience could give Percy Jackson the best chance at being renewed for the remaining four seasons and cementing its status as a Harry Potter alternative.

Source: Deadline