Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 1: Episode Rankings
Following the completion of Percy Jackson and The Olympians: Season 1, and the subsequent renewal of the show for a second season, I figured it would be good to rank the episodes from Season 1. This article may have slight spoilers from the show, so go watch it before reading too much further.
Without further adieu, let’s get into it.
8. Episode 4 – I Plunge to My Death
Episode four of Percy Jackson and the Olympians is not necessarily a bad episode.
My biggest complaint about this episode, and the reason it is in last place, is due to how short it is. Without credits, we probably get 25 minutes of the actual show and that is just too short. When watching, it feels like there are only two scenes in the episode. You have the first half on the train and the second half on the arch and that’s the whole episode. I wish they would have extended this part of the show. I did like the Chimera and Percy’s sacrifice but felt the fight was short.
7. Episode 6 – We Take a Zebra to Vegas
Episode six of the show has a couple of memorable moments in the season but once again is plagued with a short runtime. With this episode being about 30 minutes, it just feels rushed and like they are flying through the plot. In the Lotus Casino, my biggest complaint is actually just that I think the kids figure out the trap too quickly. I would’ve liked to see Percy and Annabeth, not just Grover, get sucked into the wonder of the casino if only for a little bit. I did like the introduction to Hermes and the setup for future things about Luke.
6. Episode 1 – I Accidentally Vapourized My Pre-Algebra Teacher
Episode one is definitely a good start to the show. I think they do a good job taking their time explaining things so that people who haven’t read the books can also follow along.
The character introductions and the scenes that weren’t in the film adaptation were all super great and I think it does a good job getting us familiar with the show. The minotaur fight is also a great scene and I really enjoyed the way they adapted it.
Honestly, the only reason I have it in the sixth is just because I believe the other episodes improve on what this one started.
5. Episode 7 – We Find Out the Truth, Sort Of
The penultimate episode of the season does a really good job of creating the hype for that last episode. Seeing Cerberus was just awesome and I love the design they gave him.
I thought the underworld looked cool and while there were things they didn’t show I hope we get references to them later on. Annabeth leaving the group was a weird choice and I am curious if they will address her “regret”. Hades was awesome and it was a great episode, I just prefer the ones that I rank higher.
4. Episode 5 – A God Buys Us Cheeseburgers
This episode was bound to be one of my favourites because it has the introduction of Ares. Percy and Ares’ rivalry is one of my favourite dynamics in the book because I just enjoy how much Percy can aggravate a god into making him an enemy. The conversation between Ares and Grover was a really good addition and it showed how smart Grover actually is. The Waterland scenes were really important for Percy and Annabeth’s relationship.
3. Episode 2 – Became Supreme Lord of the Bathroom
The best thing about episode two is Camp Half-Blood. We got to see the camp in its full glory and I was just so happy to see things like the forge, the lake, the big house, and capture the flag was so cool! I, in particular, liked the scene of Percy just hanging out and waiting for the fight because that was such a Percy thing to do and it was hilarious. The bathroom scene was something I had been waiting to see since I was eight and I was not disappointed. The introduction of Luke and Annabeth was well done and I was quite happy with the episode overall.
2. Episode 3 – We Visit the Garden Gnome Emporium
This episode was one of my favourites from the very first watch. I just found this to be the funniest episode and a lot of that humour came from the trio still figuring out their dynamic. The line “ she met a pinecone’s fate” had me rolling. I thought that Grover’s conflict resolution song was hilarious and when it came time to do the serious stuff they also did great. The way Medusa was utilized was really well done and I think her playing up being the victim really helps with the plotline of Percy not trusting the gods. Also after they kill Medusa I really like the heart-to-heart the trio had with Percy finally revealing the full prophecy.
1. Episode 8 – The Prophecy Comes True
What can I say, I am a sucker for a good finale and I must say that this ticks that box. I love the way all the answers were revealed and even the changes they made. My favourite part was the Ares fight, which is also my favourite scene in the book, and it lived up to my expectations with Percy showing Ares who he is and that he won’t back down.
Percy’s talk with Zeus where he basically scolds him is great and I love his first meeting with Poseidon as it shows how similar they are even though Poseidon is not the greatest dad. The Luke reveal was in my opinion better than the book’s with an actual fight between Luke and Percy. I am curious how Annabeth being there will affect her feelings towards Luke in some of the later seasons. This episode knew how to make sure the season ended on a high note.
Overall, Season 1 has lit a fire in the world of Percy Jackson, and I have a lot of hope for the coming seasons. The movies may have been ugly, but Season 1 has shown that Percy Jackson can be done well on TV.
