10 Scenes Percy Jackson Fans Are Most Excited For in the Show (2024)

Percy Jackson and the Olympians, the new Disney+ show releasing on December 20th, promises audiences a very detailed, faithful adaptation of the Percy Jackson books, something fans have been waiting for since the Percy Jackson movies in the early 2010s disappointed fans with their lack of book accuracy. Fans are very excited about the new show, and the trailer has amassed millions of views from eager audiences.

Since the Percy Jackson movies were not very faithful to the books, author Rick Riordan has assured fans that the upcoming Disney+ show will be a more accurate adaptation. There are a lot of fun and intense scenes that the movies did not get to portray, and the show has a lot more room to bring details in the books to life in a new way. From exploding toilets to dramatic betrayals, the new Percy Jackson show has a lot of potential to be very successful in pleasing old fans and welcoming new ones to the mythical world of Percy Jackson.

10 Percy's Claiming Will Have Fans Excited

Though fans of the Percy Jackson books know his heritage as the son of Poseidon, on-screen adaptations should still give the reveal its proper magnitude. In the 2010 movie, Percy just vaguely realizes who his dad is when conversing with Chiron, the ancient centaur and his mentor. The reveal is underwhelming and does not effectively display the gravity of the discovery, since the Big Three gods (Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades) were forbidden to have children.

In the book, Percy's father claims him after an intense battle during a capture-the-flag game, and all other campers kneel in respect and deference to his position as a child of the elder gods. A Percy Jackson TV spot teases this moment with a quick shot of Percy standing in a river with a glowing trident above his head. It seems that the Disney+ show will pay homage to this significant book scene and give it the moment it deserves.

9 "You Drool When You Sleep" is a Touching Moment

The relationship between Percy and Annabeth is one of the central connections throughout the Percy Jackson books, and their first meeting is quite endearing. Unlike in the movie, when Percy wakes up after the Minotaur attack, it is Annabeth he first sees, and she says "You drool when you sleep." This is one of the very first things she ever says to Percy, and it sets the tone for their teasing relationship.

This iconic line is another victim of the many changes the 2010 movie made, and fans were disappointed that Percy's first sight of her was from afar, paralleling the distance they have in the movie that was not there in the book. If their first meeting in the show more closely resembles the book, or if it includes Annabeth's notorious line, fans will be ecstatic. It would also prove that the show is dedicated to including scenes important to readers — and the characters themselves.

8 Receiving the Prophecy Starts Percy on His Destiny

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Sticking to the theme of Greek mythology, every Percy Jackson book includes a prophecy for the quest in that book. However, the first Percy Jackson movie does not give Percy his prophecy for the quest, and he sneaks off with Annabeth and Grover instead of leaving with the prophecy and Chiron's permission like in the book.

The trailer for the TV show features Chiron explaining Percy's quest, but not the prophecy yet. However, since the show has already proven a dedication to its source material, fans can assume that Percy will receive his prophecy. Prophecies are very important in the books and yet another thing the movies were not able to satisfactorily portray. If the show does choose to include the Oracle of Delphi in the first season, fans will enjoy another detail from the books that have not yet been seen onscreen and marvel at the eerie way that demigods commune with the Oracle.

7 The Battle in the St. Louis Arch

One of the biggest moments left out of the first Percy Jackson movie was the fight sequence in the St. Louis Arch. Percy, Annabeth, and Grover have many adventures on their journey west, but the events in the Arch are significant enough for fans to mourn their loss in the movie. When arriving at the St. Louis Arch, the heroes are confronted by Echidna, the mother of monsters. While no side gains a true victory, the battle is still wonderful to see.

Author Rick Riordan assured audiences that the TV show will be a much more faithful adaptation and will include the St. Louis escapade. Trailers for the show have revealed glimpses of the Chimera, the monster that Percy will face in the Arch, and fans look forward to the fight and its surprising conclusion.

6 Getting Stuck in the Lotus Casino is an Essential Scene in the Books

One of the few scenes that Percy Jackson fans praise about the 2010 movie is the Lotus Casino scene. Percy, Annabeth, and Grover get sucked into a magical casino that traps everyone inside with the power of fun (and brainwashing). The iconic use of Lady Gaga's "Poker Face" became a well-known and enjoyable aspect of the movie that made it redeemable in the eyes of many fans. The Disney+ show will also include the Lotus Casino scene but with a twist.

In a quick shot, the trailer for the show reveals that Lin-Manuel Miranda's Hermes will make a surprise appearance in the casino. Audiences are curious to see a new version of events in the casino and how it will compare to the previous movie and the book. Though less likely, die-hard fans also want to see an Easter Egg hinting at Bianca and Nico di Angelo, demigods that arrive in the third book, The Titan's Curse, and could potentially arrive in the third season of the show. These characters have an interesting backstory, and fans have worked out that they would have been in the Lotus Casino at the same time as Percy, Annabeth, and Grover.

5 The Fight Against Ares is Incredibly Important

Another major missing action sequence from the Percy Jackson movie was Percy's epic battle with the god of war, Ares. In the book, Ares mysteriously aids the demigods on their quest, but things take a turn near the end of the road in California.

Percy ends up challenging Ares to a one-on-one battle, using Ares' ego to goad him. They fight on a beach and Percy draws power from the ocean. Percy is only 12 during the events of the first book, and since the Disney+ show casts age-accurate actors, audiences will get to see the foolish yet impressive fight between Ares and Percy as it was supposed to be.

4 Annabeth and Percy on the Thrill Ride of Love Foreshadows the Future

One of the many adventures the trio undergoes involves a side quest from Ares in exchange for help on their quest. Ares sends them to retrieve an item in a water park, and they find it in The Thrill Ride O' Love. Percy and Annabeth get stuck on the ride and have to figure out how to escape when the water park is defunct. With her genius and Percy's water powers, they only just manage it.

This fun scene is another victim of the movie's runtime constraints and lack of attention to the books. Fans missed the excitement of seeing Percy and Annabeth working together for one of the first times and the cute banter between them. A few of the images released for the show do seem to depict the pair on the water ride, so it looks promising that the show will include the entertaining moment.

3 Percy Exploding the Toilets is a Delightful Mishap

One of the first instances where Percy uses his powers in self-defense occurs when the bully at Camp Half-Blood, Clarisse, takes it upon herself to put Percy through new-camper hazing. The daughter of Ares attempts to shove his head down a toilet, but Percy instinctively (and hilariously) controls all the water in the bathroom to explode out of the pipes and force Clarisse back before she can succeed.

There has not been any official confirmation as to whether or not this scene will make it into the show, but since the second episode is titled "I Become Supreme Lord of the Bathroom," the same title of the book chapter where Percy explodes the toilets, fans can look forward to something similar occurring in the show. Including moments like these would bring the comedy of the books to life in a way the movies did not quite achieve.

2 The Trio Hitching a Ride with a Zoo Shows the Character's Compassion

Though not especially exciting, there is a scene in The Lightning Thief book where Percy, Annabeth, and Grover hop in the back of a zoo truck with a few animals, one of which is a zebra. In the rare quiet of the truck, Percy and Annabeth have one of their first heartfelt moments where their bond becomes stronger as they discuss their pasts. This heartwarming scene does not appear in the 2010 movie.

Since the sixth episode is titled "We Take a Zebra to Vegas," it seems very likely that fans will get to see one of the foundational moments of Percy and Annabeth's relationship play out on the screen. If the show can make the moment as sweet as it is in the books, it will reclaim another part of Percy Jackson that the movies were not able to fully capture: heart.

1 Luke's Betrayal Will Leave People Devastated

Luke Castellan is one of the most complex characters in all of Percy Jackson. The son of Hermes starts as a mentor to Percy, teaching him sword fighting and showing him the ropes at Camp Half-Blood. Yet, the movies water down his character arc and speed up his confrontation with Percy. He does not mentor Percy that much, so his betrayal does not hit as hard.

Hopefully, in the Disney+ show, they will have more time to properly flesh out his character, making his choices much more shocking and detrimental to Percy. In the book, Luke does not directly fight Percy, but instead sets a deadly monster on him and leaves him for dead. This version of the betrayal demonstrates Luke's ruthlessness, but also his hesitancy to directly engage with a kid he once mentored. If the TV show can follow the formula laid out in the book, it will be much more successful in setting Luke up as a formidable villain.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians

TV-PG

Adventure

Family

Action

Demigod Percy Jackson leads a quest across America to prevent a war among the Olympian gods.

Release Date

December 20, 2023

Creator

Rick Riordan, Jonathan E. Steinberg

Cast

Walker Scobell , Leah Jeffries , Aryan Simhadri , Jason Mantzoukas , Adam Copeland

Main Genre

Adventure

Seasons

1

Streaming Service(s)

Disney+