Bibliographic Information:
Title: Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Executive Producers: Rick Riodan, Jonathan E. Steinberg, John Catron
Network: Disney+
Release Date: 2023
Cast: Walker Scobell, Leah Jeffries, Aryan Simhadri, and more.
Age Rating: PG/PG-13
Genre / Format of the Title: Adventure, Coming of Age, Fantasy / Television
Plot Summary: Percy Jackson has never been normal - he sees imaginary creatures, his dyslexia is so bad he can barely read English, and for some reason water just seems to work for him. For his entire life Percy thought he was just trouble, unfixable, unlovable as he had never even met his father. Thankfully for Percy none of these things were true, in fact he was even less normal than he had thought: he was a demi-god. The son of Poseidon and Sally Jackson, a God and a mortal, a Half-Blood who as soon as he found out his reality, was faced with the charges of being the Lightning Thief. Someone had stolen Zeus’s lightning bolt and all signs pointed to Percy, the forbidden child of a major God, the one who always ended up in the wrong place at the wrong time. There would be no more private schools for Percy, as he now had a quest to return the stolen bolt, clear his father’s and his own names, and keep those on Olympus from tearing each other apart. Just your average start to a Summer vacation.
Trailer for Season One: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBrRQUtIqww
Creator Background: Showrunner/writer Jonathan E. Steinberg has worked on many different projects (including the show Black Sails and The Old Man) but was drawn to Percy Jackson because of the fanbase, “I knew that it came with a fan base that you really had to be respectful of what they wanted to see. Part of the attraction of it was being able to realize something that so many people had been so eager for so long to see” (Alumni, 2023). As a winner of three Emmy awards, it is easy to see why Steinberg was entrusted with such a precious and well loved series, but of course it was through the approval of the original creator that secured his spot.
Finally, John Catron is the last producer included, and this is his first major production to be involved in (other than as a production accountant). As such, there is very little information known about him (“John Catron: Producer”, n.d.).
Critical Evaluation: The age of the viewer does not matter when it comes to Percy Jackson and the Olympians simply because it is a tale that everyone can enjoy. When each episode ended I would think about how I had to wait an entire week just for the next one, and it had been a long time since those thoughts had crossed my mind for a television show. The way the series is set up so that ideas and plotlines are explained to the audience and to Percy himself at the same time is perfect, with just enough exposition so the viewer understands the world and what is happening, but without too much that it becomes obvious the show thinks the audience is dense.
The world itself is just familiar enough to both young adults and adults that the little glimpses of magic and Gods makes sense, and makes it feel plausible that this world could be hidden in plain view. As for the characters, they are relatable in the way young adult characters should be relatable - they’re awkward, they don’t really know what they’re doing, but every once in a while they make the right choice that leads to the right outcome. Most importantly, although the main characters are Half-Bloods or satyrs, they still have the flaws of mortals/humans that make them worthy of the audience's empathy and sympathy through their trials and tribulations.
Creative Use for a Library Program: Percy Jackson and the Olympians would be a great watch companion while reading the first book! I love the idea of having young adults read the chapters that lend to each episode and then dissect how true to the book the episode was, and discuss what they would change and why, or explain why they think something was excluded or changed for the show. The series would also be a great way to get patrons interested in other forms of mythology, or even creating a “summer games” week similar to the activities that take place at Camp Half-Blood. Orange themed shirts for everyone, archery lessons (with guidance), volleyball, farming lessons, etc.
Speed-Round Recommendation: Grab some blue candy, blue popcorn and blue soda because blue is Percy Jackson’s favorite color and it’s time to watch him go on a quest. Follow Percy’s adventure to retrieve the Greek God Zeus’ lightning bolt before the Summer Solstice to prevent a war between the Gods on Olympus. It isn’t easy for Percy being a forbidden child of a major God, and it certainly doesn’t help that just three weeks ago he didn’t even know Poseidon was his father. Navigating a new identity, new friendships, and a cab owned by Hermes himself isn’t easy (but then again, your first time driving never is), but Percy Jackson is up for the challenge - or at least, he has to be if he doesn’t want to see the Western world torn up by war.
Watch the teaser for Season Two here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NYSMYDYZh8
Potential Challenge Issues and Defense Preparation: Perhaps the biggest issue/challenge that will face the inclusion of the series is that it shows the Greek Gods as real and alive in modern times, and religious groups may be less than pleased at that assertion. It is well known that any “pagan” viewed religions are being called out to be excluded from libraries, but it is a reminder that this series is a fantasy based off of fiction. To equate it to modern religions would be to, well, call modern religions fiction as well - and we certainly don’t want that.
Reason for Inclusion: The show was released at the end of 2023 and immediately garnered the praise of old and new fans alike. While the ratings for the age group does rank lower than the typical young adult, the original book series itself is beloved by many and drew in fans of all ages for the premier of the television series. Overall, it is a fantastic fantasy, adventure series for anyone and everyone and should not be excluded just because it was not made with solely young adults in mind.
Enhancements - Take a listen to the official series soundtrack!
References
About Rick Riordan. Rick Riordan. (2016, April 1). https://rickriordan.com/about/
Alumni Profile: Jonathan E. Steinberg AB '97 (showrunner, producer). (2023).
Harvardwood. https://www.harvardwood.org/post/alumni-profile-jonathan-e-steinberg-ab-97-showrunner-producer
“John Catron: Producer.” (n.d.). https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0146308/
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