Percy Jackson Season 2 Finale Review: An Epic Battle & Excellent Book Changes Stick The Landing

Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 2's finale closes the show out with a bang thanks to big-scale action, major cameos, and exciting teases for season 3. The ending of Percy Jackson season 2 picks up where its predecessor left off: Percy and his friends are racing back to Camp Half-Blood to stop Luke's invasion on behalf of Kronos.

Percy Jackson season 2's book changes essentially rendered this episode an original creation, given that the second book ends after Polyphemus' island; Luke's siege and much of Percy Jackson season 2, episodes 7 and 8 have been created entirely for the show, though several elements in the finale are taken from Riordan's books.

Thankfully, Percy Jackson season 2's finale sticks the landing by keeping true to the spirit of the books, including intriguing flashbacks, the show's most ambitious battle yet, setting up a third season, and continuing to change its source material for the better.

Percy Jackson Season 2's Finale Has An Epic, Albeit Brief, Battle

One of the biggest criticisms I had of Percy Jackson season 1 was its action sequences. While mostly serviceable and entertaining, the action did not achieve the admittedly unrealistic expectations I had created in my head when reading the books for the first time. Percy Jackson season 2 changed that, with episode 4 especially reaching the scale and epic tone I had in mind.

Percy Jackson season 2's finale continues this, providing the biggest battle the show has had yet. Percy's rallying of the demigods was exciting and teased the leader he will become by season 5, with the rivalry between him and Luke also shining through excellently during the fight. The choreography here also matched the scale, providing some of the best hand-to-hand combat in the show thus far.

I admit, I was disappointed by how brief the battle was. The initial clash was great, as was Percy and Luke's one-vs-one. However, the focus of several trailers was placed on this battle, meaning, sadly, I had already seen a lot of it.

This did not stop it from being impressive, though. I can only hope that Percy Jackson season 3 and beyond continue to utilize this kind of scale, especially as the books only grew bigger as they went on. Moreover, Percy Jackson season 2 has benefited from more maturity. This battle exemplified as much, with Luke's brutal beating of Percy only teasing a more adult tone to come.

Percy Jackson Season 2's Thalia Reveal Improves Upon The Books

As alluded to, Percy Jackson season 2 has changed elements from The Sea of Monsters more than season 1 did with The Lightning Thief. For the most part, these changes have worked to mark a rare case in which the live-action adaptation is better than its source material.

Percy Jackson season 2's finale continues this with Thalia's revival. In the books, Zeus turned Thalia into the magical tree that protects Camp Half-Blood after she was mortally wounded in battle. Percy Jackson season 2 changes this, revealing that Zeus actually saved Thalia from the Furies before trying to enlist her against the Titans, thus making her the hero of the Great Prophecy who will save Olympus.

However, Thalia refused, prompting Zeus to turn her into a tree against her will. Zeus did so to prevent her from becoming Kronos' champion and destroying Olympus, as per the unclear nature of the Great Prophecy. This is the biggest book change Percy Jackson has employed thus far, and it is entirely for the better.

The entire overarching narrative of the Percy Jackson book series is that the gods aren't perfect. They're better than the Titans, but they make morally questionable decisions constantly. This change with Thalia and Zeus typifies this above all else, making the former a more intriguing character than she already was in the source material.

Setting up Zeus' harsh decision as one that robs Thalia of her life, but potentially saves Olympus, shows how the Olympians are flawed beings who, ultimately, mean well. This does not mean they think about others, though, aside from Olympians like Poseidon, who do so. This all teases the further exploration of the gods in future seasons, which will continue to paint them in a morally gray light

The books did a good job of showing the good and bad of the gods, but Percy Jackson season 2 has taken this to another level. The change with Thalia and Zeus drives that home, proving that the TV adaptation is improving on the central moral discussions of the original series.

If this is anything to go by, Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 3 and beyond will further this exploration. If the show continues to do so on this level, the more climactic moments, decisions, and consequences of the final battle will land better. Thanks to the show's season 2 finale, the future has never seemed more exciting.