Episode Grade: (7.7/10)
Percy is expelled from school after standing up to his bully. Sally reveals that Percy’s visions are real. Percy is hunted by a Minotaur on his way to Camp.
Plot (39/50)
Let me preface by saying that I thoroughly enjoyed the books, but it’s been so long since I read them that I don’t remember much of the details. This will help me grade the series more objectively. With that said, I suspect that my grades will come in below average owing to some incompatibility between my rubric and the structure of the series. Take this episode, for example. It accomplishes its goal of introducing us to Percy’s world without overwhelming us with the complex relationships of Greek mythology. However, when you break it down, not alot went on. It’s almost as if the series should be graded by a custom rubric.
Standing up to the Bully
The series opens with a montage detailing Percy’s troubled childhood. He’s struggled in school and has had his fair share of bullying. He’s also experienced some abnormal situations where he sees things others can’t. Whenever he’s tried to explain what he’s seen to others, they chalk it up to a kid’s wild imagination. Percy’s almost inclined to believe them as well. However, a sixth grade field trip to a Greek mythology museum changes everything.
During the filed trip, Percy gets fed up with Nancy after she bullies his friend, Grover. He finally stands up to her despite Grover’s pleas and ends up launching her into a fountain, only he never actually touched her. Before he has time to process what he’s done, Mrs. Dodds turns into some mythical creature and starts asking Percy about the whereabouts of an unnamed object (which we know to be Zeus’ bolt). Percy manages to fight Mrs. Dodds off using a pen that Mr. Brunner gave him earlier in the day. He then blacks out.
When he awakes, he’s accused of pushing Nancy. He tries to explain what happened, but Mr. Brunner essentially tells him that Mrs. Dodds doesn’t exist. He and Grover are then brought before the principal. Percy insists that he didn’t push Nancy, but he’s undermined by Grover, who admits to seeing Percy push Nancy into the fountain. Percy returns home to an irritating step-father and his mother, Sally. She calmly listens to his account of what happened, but when he tells her that he’s scared, she abruptly announces that she and Percy are headed to Montauk for the weekend.
The Truth
When they arrive to the cabin in Montauk, Sally shocks Percy with the truth. She explains to him that all Greek mythology stories are actually true. Sally recalls meeting Percy’s dad and thinking that he’s unlike any man she ever met. She later discovered that he wasn’t a man at all, he was a god. Poseidon isn’t named but we know that’s who Sally’s talking about. The imaginations Percy’s been seeing aren’t imaginations at all. Furthermore, he’s not a normal kid because he’s only half-human. Percy’s a demigod.
Percy is overwhelmed and in denial. He doesn’t have time to dwell though, as Grover arrives with a warning that they have to speed up their plan. On their way, Grover explains that he’s a satyr, half man-half goat. He’s Percy’s designated protector. Grover explains Mist as a “veil that hides the magical world from t he human world.” Mist is the reason others can’t see what Percy sees. Normally, Grover is able to detect nearby creatures, but for some reason, the Mist kept Dodds hidden from him until it was too late. Grover also reveals that they’re headed towards Camp, a sanctuary for demigods.
By this point, a Minotaur has caught up to them. He crashes their car just short of the boundary that no monsters can cross. When they gather themselves, Sally tells Percy that she can’t go with him (because she’s human). As they say their goodbyes, the Minotaur catches up. Sally distracts it for a while, but it eventually catches her. Percy watches as she vanishes before his eyes. Angry, he takes out his pen-sword out and fights the Minotaur. After a struggle, he manages to single-handedly kill it. When he wakes up, he’s greeted by Mr. Brunner at Camp.
Final Thoughts
This was a perfectly fine pilot episode. As I said at the beginning, it’s an effective introduction to Percy and his world. The pace should pick up as we get deeper into the season, so I’m not overly concerned about the slow start here. With Percy now at Camp, we’ll see him interact with other half-bloods. This will bring the intriguing relationships between the various Greek gods and their demigods to the forefront. That’s where the story is at its best.
Character Development (11/15)
Percy is the primary protagonist of the series, so it’s important that he’s relatable. The episode does a great job establishing this by highlighting Percy as an underdog with a troubled childhood. Showcasing his tender relationship with his mother, Sally, furthers this sentiment. Grover and Mr. Brunner are good introductions into the mythical world.
Percy
Percy’s central motivations are well-defined. He’s been bullied all his childhood for being different. His only respite from that misery has been in the form of a loving mother and a supportive best friend. Percy struggles with self-doubt as a result of his poor grades, but now that he knows his inability to focus has a legitimate cause, we should see him evolve. It’s not going to be an easy path, but he’s already shown potential.
The thing is, despite all of Percy’s struggles, he has a fire that inside of him that burns bright. He can tolerate a great deal of bullying when its aimed towards him and him alone, but when that extends to the people he cares about, Percy throws caution to the wind. Percy was incredibly frustrated with Nancy, but it was only when she went after Grover that he stood up to her. We saw the same thing with the Minotaur after it went after Sally. Percy’s inherent desire to protect the people he cares about will endear him to many.
Others
The thing is, the people Percy aims to protect are the ones committed to protecting him at all costs. Sally has done her best to shield Percy by educating him and providing him with unwavering emotional support, but she knows that she can’t protect him anymore, so she correctly lets him go. Grover is literally Percy’s sworn protector. He’s adopted a policy of non-confrontation owing to Percy’s vulnerability. That’s worked thus far, but with Percy learning who he is and what he’s capable of, Grover will have a hard time containing Percy. Finally, Mr. Brunner has taken on the role of mentor. He recognizes Percy’s potential, but he wants to let Percy forge his own path.
Theme/Messages (3/5)
- “Not everyone who looks like a hero is a hero, and not everyone who looks like a monster is a monster.”
- How do you balance standing up to bullies and helping them resolve the issues that cause them to resort to bullying?
Acting (12/15)
When it comes to grading children’s acting, I try to be as lenient as possible. In this case, it’s clear that Walker Scobell (Percy) is excited about playing Percy and that he’s committed to the role. That’s good enough for me. The same can be said of Aryan Simhadri (Grover). Virginia Kull (Sally) was fantastic.
Cinematography (12/15)
- The mythical elements and creatures (especially the Minotaur) looked good.
- Nice gray shot of the bridge with the city in the background as the rain pours down (12:13)
Check out the Grading for Season 1 Episode 2 here
Watch the trailer for Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 1 here