There are three Percy Jackson variations: the books, the movies, and the TV show. Each one is different, so in honor of the TV show’s new season, “Percy Jackson and the Olympians,” I decided to compare and contrast each one.
The books
The first book, “Percy Jackson, the Lightning Thief,” was published on June 28, 2005. Four books were released afterwards, with the series ending in 2009.
The Percy Jackson book series is where the story originated, and since they’re the oldest and based in the 2000s, it feels the most nostalgic and enjoyable. Since the books are written in first person, you can see what Percy is thinking in every situation, and relating to his thoughts can be very insightful.
Additionally, the books hold the most detail. Most book scenes were removed from the other two series, which isn’t surprising since most adaptations have to cut many plot points, but it’s still unfortunate that they weren’t included.
The best part about the books is that they provide more detailed plot points than the movies. Reading the books helps the consumer get to know the characters much better than the others. The books give the most information, which is why out of the three adaptations, they are the best.
The movies
The first Percy Jackson movie, “Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief,” was released in 2010 and starred Logan Lerman as Percy Jackson. A total of two movies were released, the second named “Percy Jackson: The Sea of Monsters.”
The Percy Jackson movies are considered controversial since the plot is very different from the books, but the story is still very enjoyable. The movies, since they were released during many viewers’ childhoods, have a very nostalgic feel. The movies are also very underrated.
The best part about the movies is how funny they are. Every one of these series has humor, but the movies are the most satirical. It can be refreshing to watch something slightly less serious than the TV show and the books.
The TV show
The first season of “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” was released on Dec. 19, 2023, and the second season ended on Jan. 21 of this year. The show is available to stream on Disney+.
The TV show is the newest edition to the Percy Jackson franchise, and takes a modern twist. Rather than being based in the early 2000s like the books and movies, the show takes place in the present day, which is nice since most of the show’s newer audience is the younger generation who are currently around Jackson’s age.
Additionally, the show did a nice job of staying similar to the book, while also adding its own minor twists. It was nice to finally watch the book come to life, since the movies were not that similar to the book series. However, the TV show is slightly more PG compared to the books and movies, which is not necessarily a bad thing, since most of the viewers are children.
Walker Scobell plays Jackson in the TV show, and he did a great job, especially since he is such a young actor. Scobell looks just like how I imagined Percy Jackson to be. Although Lerman did a nice job in the movies, it’s nice to see someone playing an age-accurate Jackson, since he’s supposed to be 13 in the first season.
Overall, I’d say that the books were my favorite, followed by the TV show, and then the movies. However, I believe that every single one of these series is very good and worth watching or reading. Although other fans have criticized the differences in each series, I liked the variety and think it’s nice that each series can be a different experience.
