Disney+ Percy Jackson and the Olympians is a decent and enjoyable show, particularly for young fans of the books and Greek mythology. Check out the details in my parents guide review.
Disney+’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians released its first two episodes on the streaming service today, December 20, 2023. The series stars Walker Scobell (as Percy Jackson), Leah Sava Jeffries (Annabeth Chase), Aryan Simhadri (Grover Underwood), Charlie Bushnell (Luke Castellan), Glynn Turman (Chiron), Virginia Kull (Percy’s mother, Sally Jackson), Megan Mullally (Alecto), and Jason Mantzoukas (Dionysus). The series was written by Rick Riordan and Jonathan E. Steinberg. Check out the details in my parents guide review.
If you enjoyed Disney+’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians parents guide review, check out these other articles: Migration movie parents guide, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom parents guide movie review, The Boys in the Boat parents guide movie review, The Iron Claw parents guide movie review, The Family Plan parents guide movie review.
Disney+ Percy Jackson and the Olympians Quotes
Disney+ Percy Jackson and the Olympians Parents Guide
In Disney+ Percy Jackson and the Olympians: Twelve-year-old Percy Jackson is on the most dangerous quest of his life. With the help of a satyr and a daughter of Athena, Percy must journey across the United States to catch a thief who has stolen the original weapon of mass destruction — Zeus’ master bolt.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians Age Rating Parents Guide
Let’s take a look at what concerned parents need to know about the age ratings of the series before letting their younger children watch Disney+’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians.
Language: The Boys in the Boat contains mild language. The strongest words viewers will come across are losers, dummy, half-blood, and weird.
Mature Content: The biggest lookout in the film is the violent content and scary images. Characters are shown battling monsters and other characters with weapons, magic, and hand-to-hand combat. Characters are seen turning to dust when battling. The story has a huge theme surrounding bullying, and characters are shown being bullied, which may be triggering for some viewers. There is one scene that shows a statue of a naked man with a clear view of his penis.
Age Rating of the Series Percy Jackson and the Olympians: Disney Studios Percy Jackson and the Olympians series rating has a TV-PG rating by the Motion Picture Association of America – MPAA ratings – for violence and the parental guidelines advisory recommends it for mature audiences, an older audience, an adult audience, young viewers, young adults, little kids, older kids, and teens aged 8 years and older. The suggestion of parental guidance or a legal guardian (adult guardian) for this restricted TV-PG category is highly suggested for young children, teenage children. and younger audiences under 8 years of age in this TV-PG-rated motion picture for adult material. The minimum age recommendation is 8 years old.
**THIS REVIEW WAS GIVEN AFTER THE AUTHOR VIEWED THE FIRST TWO EPISODES IN THE SERIES.
Overall Thoughts
The 2023 Disney+ series, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, has stirred up quite a storm, much like the son of Poseidon himself. Some hail it as a loyal and nostalgic return to Camp Half-Blood, while others find it struggles to capture the full magic of the books.
For fans of the original series, the show feels like a warm hug. Riordan’s involvement as co-creator ensures key plot points and character quirks are preserved, making it a love letter to the books. For newcomers, the series weaves Greek mythology into the story seamlessly, making ancient deities and creatures feel exciting and contemporary. The world-building, while not groundbreaking, is a fun introduction to Olympus and its secrets.
Walker Scobell embodies Percy’s snarky humor and awkwardness flawlessly. The chemistry between him, Leah Jeffries (Annabeth), and Aryan Simhadri (Grover) crackles, creating a believable band of demigod heroes. When the show kicks into action, it packs a punch. The minotaur fight, for example, is a heart-pounding spectacle that showcases the potential for epic clashes in future episodes.
The CGI in Disney+ Percy Jackson and the Olympians, while not terrible, lacks the grandeur and detail fans might expect from a story filled with mythical creatures and divine landscapes. Compared to the epic imagery of the books, the series can feel visually underwhelming.
The show’s tone walks a tightrope between young audience sensibilities and the source material’s more mature themes. This can leave some older viewers feeling infantilized, while younger ones might struggle with the darker moments.
Ultimately, Disney+ Percy Jackson and the Olympians is a mixed bag. It delivers a satisfyingly faithful adaptation with a charming cast and moments of exhilarating action. However, the uneven pacing, visual limitations, and target audience confusion hold it back from reaching its full potential.
For die-hard fans, it’s a nostalgic trip down memory lane with some fresh faces. For newcomers, it’s a fun introduction to Greek mythology with relatable characters. But if you’re looking for a visually stunning, epic-scale adaptation with a consistent tone, you might find it falls short.
