Waited for a few more episodes to come out before writing a review. This PJO adaptation overall is just ok. I understand some things aren't going to be realistic for screen and had to be changed, much like the Harry Potter films. Some of these changes even make sense like Annabeth figuring out it was Medusa from the jump or water snatching Percy bc the Missouri River isn't near the Arch.
However, the success of the Harry Potter films are that even though things weren't 1 for 1, they still evoked the same emotions you got reading the books for the most part. This isn't as much the case here. Gabe was scary figure who beat Sally. He's a wimp in this show and that really undermines the sacrifice she makes to keep Percy safe as a kid. The water park scene was one of the most important for developing Percy and Annabeth's friendship and trust in one another. In the show we get Hephaestus to Macguffin Annabeth and Percy to safety instead of solving their own problems using their own wit and skills. Little misses like that are consistent throughout the show but overall add up for less investment in the character for the viewer.
My biggest issue is that in the books, the reader learned along with Percy all the progressive plot points so that the payoffs felt way more heightened. In the latest episode, Percy (of all people) deduces it can't be Hades who stole the bolt and then says he's the last to figure that out. Then Grover is able to trick Aries into revealing he helped steal the bolt. Something you don't learn until near the end. This doesn't make any sense as to why theyd need to still go to the underworld once they have that information. I'll finish watching the series but this isn't the PJO adaption the fans were hoping for either. Maybe in another decade.
However, the success of the Harry Potter films are that even though things weren't 1 for 1, they still evoked the same emotions you got reading the books for the most part. This isn't as much the case here. Gabe was scary figure who beat Sally. He's a wimp in this show and that really undermines the sacrifice she makes to keep Percy safe as a kid. The water park scene was one of the most important for developing Percy and Annabeth's friendship and trust in one another. In the show we get Hephaestus to Macguffin Annabeth and Percy to safety instead of solving their own problems using their own wit and skills. Little misses like that are consistent throughout the show but overall add up for less investment in the character for the viewer.
My biggest issue is that in the books, the reader learned along with Percy all the progressive plot points so that the payoffs felt way more heightened. In the latest episode, Percy (of all people) deduces it can't be Hades who stole the bolt and then says he's the last to figure that out. Then Grover is able to trick Aries into revealing he helped steal the bolt. Something you don't learn until near the end. This doesn't make any sense as to why theyd need to still go to the underworld once they have that information. I'll finish watching the series but this isn't the PJO adaption the fans were hoping for either. Maybe in another decade.
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