Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 1 Review: Disney Plus Gets It Right

After the disappointment of the 2010 and 2013 films, Percy Jackson finally gets the faithful adaptation that Rick Riordan’s fans have demanded for over a decade. Walker Scobell stars as the twelve-year-old demigod son of Poseidon, and his charm, comedic timing, and emotional sincerity carry an eight-episode first season that adapts The Lightning Thief with care and mostly succeeds in translating the books’ magic to screen.

How We Reviewed: Our assessment is based on comparison with the show’s prior seasons and genre benchmarks and analysis of writing, direction, and ensemble performance. Ratings reflect full-season viewing, critical analysis, and production quality assessment. No sponsorship or affiliate relationship influenced our selections.

The Quest

The story follows Percy, a kid with ADHD and dyslexia who discovers that he is the son of the Greek god Poseidon. When Zeus’s master lightning bolt is stolen and Percy is the prime suspect, he embarks on a cross-country quest to the Underworld with his best friend Grover Underwood (Aryan Simhadri), a satyr, and Annabeth Chase (Leah Sava Jeffries), the brilliant daughter of Athena. They have ten days to find the bolt and prevent a war among the gods.

Walker Scobell is an excellent Percy — sarcastic, brave, and vulnerably twelve in a way the films never captured. His delivery of Riordan’s humor feels natural rather than forced, and he handles the heavier emotional beats with a maturity beyond his years. Leah Sava Jeffries brings a fierce intelligence to Annabeth that fans will recognize, and her chemistry with Scobell establishes the foundation for the longer relationship the books develop. Aryan Simhadri’s Grover is the comic heart of the trio, loyal and sweet without becoming merely a sidekick.

The Gods

The adult casting is inspired. Virginia Kull is heartbreaking as Sally Jackson, Percy’s mother, whose sacrifices for her son are the show’s emotional foundation. Lance Reddick, in one of his final roles, brings gravitas and warmth to Zeus in a performance that makes you wish for more. Lin-Manuel Miranda has fun as Hermes, the absent father who is trying to do better. Toby Stephens plays Poseidon with a quiet regret that makes the god’s inability to be present in Percy’s life feel genuinely painful.

The show’s depiction of the Greek gods as flawed, powerful beings who treat their children as pawns in larger conflicts gives the mythology real dramatic weight. This is a kids’ show that takes the emotional consequences of divine negligence seriously, and it is better for it.

Book Fidelity

Rick Riordan’s involvement as an executive producer is evident in every episode. The show follows The Lightning Thief closely, hitting every major plot point while expanding character moments that the book’s brisk pace sometimes skimmed. The Medusa encounter (with Jessica Parker Kennedy), the visit to the Lotus Casino, and the descent into the Underworld are all handled with fidelity and imagination.

The pacing works well for the most part, though the eight-episode structure means some encounters feel slightly rushed compared to the book. The Ares confrontation in particular could have used more room to breathe. But overall, this is the adaptation fans have been waiting for.

Production Values

The visual effects are good without being spectacular. The monsters — particularly Medusa and the Minotaur — are well-designed, and Camp Half-Blood looks exactly as fans imagined it. The show wisely prioritizes practical sets and locations over CGI whenever possible, giving the world a tangible quality that grounds the fantasy.

Verdict

Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 1 is the adaptation that fans deserved all along. Walker Scobell is a wonderful Percy, the supporting cast is strong, and Rick Riordan’s direct involvement ensures fidelity to the books’ spirit. It is a show that will delight the existing fanbase while creating new demigod fans for years to come.

Rating: 7.5/10

For more Disney Plus content, see the Disney Plus Plans and Pricing Guide and the Best Family Shows Streaming on Every Platform.