Percy Jackson and the Olympians (TV Series) We Visit the Garden Gnome Emporium (2023) User Reviews

Blurring the lines of good and evil

[JJSM22 · 7/10 · 27 December 2023]

In this emotionally complex episode of Percy Jackson an Ancient Greek story is retold in a way that is sympathetic but somehow ends up being pointless. This week meet the character of Medusa who Percy does not initially identify as a monster because of the stories told by his mother.

As in the novels, Medusa was a worshipper of Athena who was seduced by her rival Poseidon and cursed into turning anyone who looks at her into stone. We are given a modern view on how she was a woman following her heart while the man ended up leaving her alone in her suffering. Medusa does not initially mean to cause our heroes harm. She doesn't seem to judge the kids on the mistakes of their parents and we are led to believe that the show will be taking an alternate route with Medusa than in the books.

However this quickly changes and she is once again made the classic monster that must be destroyed. It's confusing why we would be made to feel empathy for this character, only to make her a problem that must be removed. Also while the cgi is still great, there doesn't seem to be much going on in the action fight sequences as they are now apparently making it so anything that might seem gory is obscured.

Great episode!

[jamstan-14686 · 8/10 · 27 December 2023]

I really loved the first 2 episodes but this one blows the first 2 out of the water.

The pacing is much much better here. We actually get to spend some time with the trio and see them interact more which strengthens their bond.

We also see Medusa which is much more interesting than she was in the books with a more nuanced interpretation that's a really nice change.

The chemistry between the actors is so so good and their characters are just perfectly written. I can't wait to see more of them.

I can only see this show getting better and better as the episodes air and I hope we get renewed until they finish the books.

Fantastic Adaptation with Stunning Animation

[carloancelottti · 7/10 · 28 December 2023]

I recently watched the latest Percy Jackson episode and found it to be a fantastic adaptation, earning a solid 9 stars from me. The series managed to capture the essence of the book brilliantly, staying true to the source material. The characters, setting, and overall tone were spot-on, creating an engaging and immersive experience for viewers.

One standout feature that elevated the entire viewing experience was the stunning animation. The visual representation of the Percy Jackson world was nothing short of breathtaking. From the detailed character designs to the vibrant landscapes, the animation brought the story to life in a way that exceeded my expectations.

The characters moved fluidly, and the attention to facial expressions and body language added depth to their personalities. The use of color and visual effects during magical or action sequences was particularly impressive, enhancing the overall aesthetic appeal of the series.

While I thoroughly enjoyed the faithful adaptation and captivating storyline, it was the animation that truly set this episode apart. It not only complemented the narrative but also contributed significantly to the immersive atmosphere of Percy Jackson's world. I look forward to more episodes that continue to showcase the remarkable animation that has become a hallmark of this adaptation.

Huge change but works perfectly

[ips-66289 · 10/10 · 27 December 2023]

The episode is the best of the three so far. The actors for the trio do a wonderful job really coming into their own with their roles in the episode. The best though was Jessica Parker Kennedy stealing the show as Medusa. Huge changes in the episode with the demigods knowing it's Medusa right away and choosing to engage with her. But the idea that Medusa isn't the bad guy right away makes a lot of sense. And the change was made for good reason as the author indicates in a variety article. Medusa was not the bad guy, she was a survivor of TW: SA, and it's always best when you can empathize with the antagonists.

After dealing with Medusa, the crescendo of emotions at the end of the episode was brilliantly done and I'm so excited to watch these excellent actors going forward.

Don't waste your time

[brendandhanks · 27 December 2023]

If you have any love for the characters from the books, you will not recognize their namesakes in the show. These are entirely different characters, and have no relation to the book versions. This episode had less than one minute of action. This episode talks you to death dumping pointless information on you while forcing you to watch three empty teenagers join a group therapy session. Nothing happens in this episode worth reporting. The plot twist s not moved in any meaningful way. The fun of the books is nowhere to be found in this adaptation. The idea that a fury tries to strike a deal with a halfblood is ridiculous.

Exactly how I Imagined

[ltexprs · 10/10 · 27 December 2023]

From the start of the episode with the Oracle (love how they included Smelly Gabe in with the mist and how hes the one to speak the quest prophecy), to Alecto and her sisters being on the Bus and Medusa its all soo good. Walker, Aryan, and Leah are all so talented. The scenes they added only add to the world-building they are doing and it just makes it so much more cohesive. Like Annabeth and Alecto talking on the Bus because they have obviously met before so it only makes sense. And Percy and Medusa having their conversation just makes so much sense because of not only of Percys mom talking about her but also because of their connection to Poseidon. The comedy of all the actors is so good (Percy looking at the Golden Drachmas and thinking they might be Canadian or Chuck-E-Cheese coins) so funny. I love the direction the show is going and cant wait to see the rest of the episodes as they come out.

Welcome to Medusa's Lair

[arvinjanasis · 7/10 · 28 December 2023]

The journey of Percy, Grover and Annabeth begins in episode 3. As they start their quest for the lightning bolt and to save Percy's mother, they come face to face with Medusa and there, she tries to seduce Percy into helping him with his quest.

Episode 3 is a good continuation of the series. This is a reminder that some nook adaptations (or all) should be put in the small screen format as it delivers more story and more character development. It also gives more storyline and more time to tell / show the plot of the book. This series is probably going to be one of the best this year (and next year). Can't wait for episode 4.

Pros -Nora West-Allen, I mean Jessica Parker Kennedy's portrayal of Medusa -The trio building up their relationship together -Clues as to someone will betray Percy in the later episodes (and we know who that would be :( ) -The shoes!!!

Episode 3 is 7/10 Still good 😊

#PercyJacksonAndTheOlympians.

The Best Episode So Far

[officialrainbowhighfan · 10/10 · 27 December 2023]

Jessica Parker Kennedy's talent is so good it seems unreal. Aryan, Leah, and Walker are so good that's it's obvious and I don't think I even need to mention their awesome talent, because if you've watched two seconds of the show you'd know.

There was a big twist (multiple) that I'm not going to get into because you should just see for yourself.

I loved how they mixed Sally's advice to young Percy in episode 1 with the exciting trial of Medusa that the book had.

This is certainly the best episode so far! I'm not going to lie, I'm probably going to rewatch this episode as soon as possible.

Thank you for reading my review.

I wish they took a little more liberties with Medusa's character!

[sleepyari · 7/10 · 3 January 2024]

I was genuinely shocked at how they got away from the furies and how little reaction alecto has to her sister being killed. I love how much detail they added to this journey. The short conversations that each of them have with their personal developments and the challenges to their values and loyalties.

I find Grover's character to be really pure and his little song is so cute. I love the little social issue digs the show has without being too on the nose about things. Lin Manuel Miranda being Hermes was really surprising and funny. It's so interesting how we can compare the books and the original movies to this show. The upgrade to the graphics, contuinal relevancy to modern times and staying true to the original material and details meant a lot to me. While I wish they kept Annabeth's grey eyes and Percy's dark hair, I really appreciate how these kids protray the characters.

Their argument in the basement really shows that they're just kids, trying to figure things out. The Hero's Journey is given the full weight of stakes. Alecto's death could've had more screentime but I think they've encountered that character enough.

Excited to see more!

I love it but it needs to be longer

[andreaburns-61828 · 10/10 · 28 December 2023]

This is such a good adaptation of Percy Jackson and way better than the movies. I have been waiting for this series to come out for years and so far have been enjoying it. I love the casting choices especially the kid who play Percy is exactly what I envisioned.

A few things I think could be improved upon, 1. Longer episodes: Because the episodes are so short it forces the story to be told way too fast and important and amazing parts of the story and left out as a result. You have a tv series Its not a movie, so you can take time to add those little details and really develop the story and the characters.

2. More Edginess I felt like a couple of characters where lacking for example Medusa and the Oracle. Both of these character are supposed to be spine tingling. I get that this is a Disney show however you will not offend people or scare kids if you add a little more mystery and suspense to characters. Plus it shouldn't be so easy for the main characters to defeat ancient entities.

With that being said I love the show and hope that production will get a bigger budget for season 2 and make this show truely come to life.

The changes to Medusa are so good

[vamshiaruru · 10/10 · 27 December 2023]

SO much more nuanced. Still a villain, very much a monster, but so much more complex and interesting in this iteration. Also love the chemistry between the trio, and how much more explicit the show is in showing how dickish the gods are and how much most of the series' issues come because the gods are neglectful asses. Not very fond of two things - the blackout cuts. I have no idea why they even have them in a streaming show. And the monster fight sequences are kinda underwhelming, especially the furies. They die so easily.

The third episode is the best of the show so far, so hopefully the show maintains the quality.

A Big Disappointment

[dantucher · 5/10 · 28 December 2023]

I will get straight to the point. While I enjoyed the previous 2 episodes and thought they were good, this episode was straight up awful. Here are my overall thoughts...

Pros

-Jessica Parker Kennedy shines as Medusa, she was a fantastic casting choice and she prevented this episode from being a complete dud.

-I enjoyed the cinematography of this episode and how the camera was used to make Medusa more intimidating.

-I was very impressed with the overall look of Aunty Em's and the statues themselves, props to the artists who brought these set pieces to life!

-I liked that Meghan Mullaly (Alecto) was given more dialogue and backstory. Discovering that she was the fury who attempted to hunt down Luke, Annabeth, Grover, and Thalia was a nice touch! I just wish her character was given more dialogue in Episode 1.

Now for the cons...

Cons

• The pacing of this show continues to be its Achilles heel. Everything feels way to rushed which causes important details to be either crammed in or left out altogether. I do not understand Disney's obsession with these 38-43 minute runtimes, it simply does not work!

-The tone of this show is also way to safe. I understand that it was written for a younger audience, but even the books felt more mature than this. If this show is going to be a long-term success, Disney needs to give the showrunners the creative freedom to create a show that is appropriate for kids but also mature enough for adults. The tone of the Avatar: The Last Airbender animated series is exactly what Disney should be aiming for here!

-Both the fury and Medusa fight scenes were incredibly underwhelming and poorly executed. In the book, the fury attack causes the bus to explode and makes Percy a wanted fugitive. In this episode, all we got was Annabeth throwing her dagger at one of the furies and Percy jumping out the window of the bus to safety. Like come on Disney, you can do better than this! The Medusa fight in this episode was also lame. I mean, even the Percy Jackson movie did a better job of putting together an exciting fight!

-My biggest issue with this episode was changing Medusa's character to make her more sympathetic. I understand that Rick Riordan is trying to convey the idea that "not all monsters, are monsters" which is a great message, however, Percy Jackson already has several examples of characters that convey this idea, they include Ms. O'Leary (Hellhound) Bessie (Ophiotaurus), Tyson (Cyclops) and Bob (Titan). Making Medusa a more sympathetic villain only undermines the true danger of the situation our heroes are in.

Overall, I was really disappointed with this episode and felt it was easily the worst episode of the series by far. If this show is to reach its full potential, Disney needs to prioritize quality and good story telling over protecting the Disney brand. Overall, I would rate this episode a 5/10. Hoping next week's episode is better!

It's a banger

[malcolmssecretemail · 10/10 · 27 December 2023]

Okay, the first two episodes were maybe a little fast paced. I fully understand that, and this adaptation concept is a lot to work with. This, on the other hand, is perfection. It not only keeps some of the funniest jokes from the original book, but adds totally new in-character gags that make the show twice as funny, and provides it with its own identity. This episode in particular sets the tone for what the show is aiming to be: a slightly updated retelling of a generation-defining story, changing only to improve the finer details, not to distinguish itself for the sake of edginess or regret from the perspective of the author. This episode captures the tone the show has clearly been striving for perfectly, and makes Medusa a far more interesting villain. All of the pieces came into play for this episode, and if the rest of the season can match it, this show may against all odds be on the same level of quality as the books.

Tl;dr banger.

Wow impressed!

[wattsamber-09375 · 10/10 · 28 December 2023]

I overall thought this was a really great episode with depth and lessons! The way the trio works all together and their chemistry makes you invested and wanting to see them win.

I think the important thing to remember is they are 12 years old and acting as such but even with serious subjects it doesn't seem too much. This is what the show is all about the demi-god children being burden with things most normal kids would not have to.

Grover/Ayran potrayed the sensitivity and empathy of grover so well and what a heart felt moment and tribute to Uncle Fernand.

Annabeth. You see fierce and strong leadership and her desire to just take care of everyone because she has always been on her own. She also has a vulnerability to her and in her eyes. I am sure we will see more of in later episodes as we unpack the story more from her perspective with the Thalia Luke and her parents. Leah brings such a duality to her to Annabeth. Can't wait to see how it unfolds.

Percy as walker amazing comedic timing. He always brings the light and positivity to Percy you can't help but root for.

The medusa story was also very empowering in a way it showcased the " monsters" point of view and their emotions on how they came to be while also tying in the history of Percy and Annabeth being the son of Poseidon and Annabeth being daughter of Athena. Lastly the small moments of impeding percabeth moments seems very hopeful for the future overall great job!!

Braty Percy, Marvelous Medusa

[e_daneva · 9/10 · 27 December 2023]

We Visit the Garden Gnome Emporium is an amazing episode. I have watched 3 episodes and all the episodes were really good. I noticed that Percy was kinda bratty in this episode. He was always disagreeing and dismissing everyone in the group's ideas and stories. But there was one character who shined brightly in this episode. Medusa. I liked how they added character development to Medusa. The actor for her was also really good too. Her part was the most interesting of the episode and carried the whole episode with it. I gotta say, so far, this is my favorite episode in the series. I will be mentioning that in my review for the series. This episode also has great action too. In all, I give this episode a 8.7 out of 10. A strong episode.

You had my curiosity, but now, now you have my attention

[mmcardoso-14022 · 10/10 · 27 December 2023]

The show only had 3 episodes so far, but this one was by far the one I liked the most, better direction, better writing and better pacing. I thought the first 2 felt a little bit rushed, something I didn't felt here.

Angels Egström gives a very nice direction to this episode, I thought he was very good with shaky cams, a lot of directors aren't, so, I can appreciate that.

Jonathan E. Steinberg and Monica Owusu-Breen writing was very good, there were some changes from the book that may annoy some diehard fans of Percy Jackson and the Olympians books, but a change is only bad when it's done poorly, I thought these were actually good changes, that helped move the plot and develop the characters well.

I loved the dynamic of the 3 main characters, Aryan Simhadri is funny as Grover Underwood and I can totally see why Walker Scobell was cast as Percy Jackson, he has the essence of the character, but the one of these 3 who had the best acting in the episode was for sure Leah Sava Jeffries as Annabeth Chase, now that she had more time to shine, I can see Annabeth in her and anyone can see she understands the character, but more importantly, the girl can act!

Even tho the main trio was good, the best actress in this episode was for sure Jessica Parker Kennedy as Medusa, I don't remember watching anything with her besides, I don't know, few episodes of The Flash CW TV show, but here she was great, in most of the scenes, you can't see her eyes, but you can still feel the emotion in her face, the pain, the sadness, it's all there, it takes a lot of talent and good acting for someone to pull this off without being able to use your eyes. She (with the help of the writers and directors), were able to give Medusa more layers as a character, here she's not just a angry generic villain with ready-made sentences like in the 2010 movie or just an obstacle in the hero's journey like in the book from 2005, she serves a purpose bigger than that in this iteration.

I know there are some stuff that will make some diehard fans raise an eyebrow, like Percy cutting Medusa's hair while she's invisible and not showing it explicitly, but you gotta keep in mind that this is a PG show, so, there are some things limited to the rating, anyway, I thought the way they got to do that with the PG rating very creative, they couldn't show it, yes, but they found a creative way to avoid doing that instead of going in the lazy way.

And to end this reviews I think it's worth saying, don't get too attached to every single detail from the book, some things were changed? Yes, but that doesn't mean it's bad, neither that it's not a faithful adaptation, it is. This episode is the proof you can do something good even when you deviate a little bit from the source material, the problem is when you deviate too much, getting to the point where the story and the characters become unrecognizable, which is the case of the 2010 movie, but not the case of this show.

I am looking forward to the remaining 5 episodes of Percy Jackson and the Olympians and I hope they keep improving the quality of this show like they did with this episode compared to the first 2.

Growing Frustrated

[jzsharp-73031 · 2/10 · 27 December 2023]

I grew up with these books and was an avid fan of Riordan's universe. The movies were devastating and we had to spend more than a decade for a second chance. I was so excited to learn this was being adapted again, but after three episodes, I'm truly getting frustrated. My frustrations can really be summarized into a few complaints.

First, the pacing in this story is unbelievably distorted. While I expected things to be omitted as happens to any adaptation of a book; I expected it to be like Harry Potter wherein things less relevant to the central narrative would be omitted like Peeves, the ghost party, and the elf Liberation group Hermione forms. But this series is omitting things that are essential for suspense.

For example, there is no lead up to Alecto trying to attack Percy in the Museum, just acquick transformation, pounce, done. There is no bus stop with the fates and Grover panicking to set the mood of the impending Minotaur attack. There was no Percy getting his butt kicked by Clarisse and her goons before he falls into the creek. There was no signs of the Furies on the bus before they attacked, just Annabeth having a monster radar that immediately dinged. And that was no piecing together Aunty Em, just Annabeth again knowing things immediately. No suspense means no investment from the audience in the conflict.

Secondly, there are too many plot changes. Again, fully expected to see a change here or there to adapt to the times, but every episode there are several major changes that snowball into seismic changes in the narrative. For example, the Capture the Flag scene made Percy miraculously an excellent fighter without water neutralizing the importance of his abilities. Secondly, they made Gabe just a lazy slob and not a domestic abuser. This makes the ending more disturbing for Sally.

Third, the character's are too one dimensional. Now how much of this is due to the inexperienceness of the actors and how much I'd due to script and directing is unknown. Probably both, but Percy lacks the charm of the books and Annabeth is just straight monotonous personality wise which makes me disengaged from the character.

Each episode cripples my hope more and more that this will turn out okay. Hopefully it will improve over the season. But between cramming twenty chapters into eight episodes and the fact Disney is producing it, I'm not too optimistic.

Best episode by far!

[gsun-80463 · 9/10 · 28 December 2023]

A few issues out of the way first: pacing is still a bit rushed, especially the introduction of Medusa, depiction of the gods' apathetic and sometimes immoral nature could be made subtler. Other than that, I loved this episode! Full of all sorts of fun easter eggs that die-hard fans can salivate over while also just being a well-written piece of media. Aryan as Grover got a lot better for me, mainly because he got more screentime centering on his character. They definitely highlighted Annabeth's fatal flaw of hubris more while also still making her a character we can attach too. Walker was obviously great as Percy and definitely sold the character for anyone who still has doubts about his ability to portray Seaweed Brain (though at this point, that's way less than 1% of the PJO fanbase). I'll leave it at that to not spoil the episode itself, but even a non-fan is probably going to get a blast out of it.

7 Whole days😅 but worth the wait

[rheapathak · 10/10 · 13 January 2024]

Right from the start I was hooked: the way the scene depicted the attic so perfectly, with the oracle and dark lighting and creepy objects and the green smoke...gives me chills!!!!!!

They also gave the right prophecy this time *cough cough* I love the scene where Percy instantly chose Annabeth for his quest<3 and his whole logic behind that was actually really smart. And of course Grover haddd to be the third member ;) and his reaction was so adorable.

Special note in here about the flying shoes that Luke brought WHICH LOOKED FLIPPING AMAZING.

But the best part of this episode was definitely Medusa, and her whole back story which was different from the books, but still absolutely deep and amazing, it blew my mind. Her acting was soo good!!

I also love the whole Grover/Annabeth/percy banter going on and I love that Grover plays peacemaker especially with the concensus songgg🤣 And the last scene? WITH BEST WISHES PERCY JACKSON? Impeccable😁

Recency bias but the show might not ne horrible afterall

[RetardedNConfused · 8/10 · 28 December 2023]

Had a couple of jokes from Scobbel that actually made me cackle. He seems to be comforting into the role slowly, being charming instead of annoying while the girl who plays annabeth couldn't act if her life depends on it.

The few redeeming parts of the episode are taken straight out of the book but not gonna complaining how the pilot made me wish the movie was a cult classic.

This episode continues with stellar cgi that DOES NOT look in place with the rest of the world. The furries tho looked like face swapped chickens and is not intimidating at all. (spoilers ig but) annabeth one shots one after making a huge meteoric mess. (like shouldn't the mist cover it with a car crash and not make everyone blind to it) And i dont even know if the third sister was even there bcoz of how samey the two of them looked.

And at last why was medusa just standing there right next to his butter knife. He could've just swung it. There's no difference between swinging with your eyes closed and stabbing an invisible target. They ruined an iconic book moment.

This Clears It! I Officially Know EVERY EPISODE IS GOING TO RULE!

[thdoglovr · 10/10 · 31 December 2023]

This series just keeps getting better and better! This is the perfect Percy Jackson adaptation i have ever seen! The Sucky movies are an ABOMINATION compared to this episode! Medusa was perfectly cast and made to be more than just a plain awful monster and the CGI of her blue hair of snakes and her eyes was perfect. The movie showed her cut off head throughout the whole movie, but the invisibility cap was a perfect way to do the kill in this episode. The cast grows stronger, Percy is Hilarious when he said Thalia met a "Pinecone's Fate". It made me chuckle and laugh. Grover is more likable in this episode and the trio's chemistry is unbeatable. PLEASE KEEP IT UP, RIORDAN, and Make 5 seasons! This show rocks!

Medusa is AWESOME

[rhaase-43427 · 10/10 · 8 January 2024]

Incredible episode. Medusa's performance was absolutely killer. I like how so far the fights in this show are pretty drawn out and take time to build to a cool climax. It's not just Percy whipping out riptide and waxing the monsters.

I'm not sure why the show is getting as much hate as it is. The show seems like a very good and faithful adaptation of the books to me. I think an issue is that the show kept the exact same tone as the books, which is pretty childlike. That's not inherently bad, it's just that most of the people who grew up reading these books have now aged to the point where we're a bit older, and we've probably forgotten that the tone of the books was also really childish.

Omg...

[draynor-98415 · 4/10 · 28 December 2023]

This show has so much potential but they are failing miserably at so many crucial details. The chemistry for these kids is so bad and awkward its kind of hard to watch, medusa was the only semi-cool thing about this episode but she ended up not being a threat at all.

It feels like the director didnt even try once she took off the hat, either that or they had to cut a bunch out for some reason cause she died so quickly and so unceremoniously.

Big props to the female actors so far though, medusa and percys mom absolutely killed it. But if the side characters are the best thing then that says a lot..

Theres a lot of disappointment in the main 3 but my biggest issue with them and the show entirely to be honest is Annabeth. No hate to the actress because im sure shes doing the best with what she was given but she is the most miserable bland character. In the books Annabeth is supposed to be this young, charming leader with tons of personality and wit but in this show she has no personality, forced lines and this weird random mysterious thing theyre going for which doesnt work at all. She has not been shown to be some fierce fighter or wise leader at all no matter how many times they say it, her wondering around with the invisibility cloak from harry potter acting all mysterious is a terrible portrayal of the character.

I had so much hope for this show, and yes there are some things i like a lot more than the movies but omg they are fumbling so hard.

Snakes!

[arconner · 10/10 · 10 January 2024]

I totally spaced and forgot to write a review for episode 3... snakes!

Honestly, I liked this episode a lot. It was a good runtime, we had great performances from the whole cast - better than we've had in episodes 1 & 2 - and the episode was one big adrenaline rush.

Yes, this episode strayed a lot from Medusa's story in the book, but I'd beg to argue instead of that making the episode worse, it made it better. We got to get a story from Medusa that elevated our character's arcs and relationships with their own parents, something I felt greatened out character development and plants the seeds for what is coming.

I can't choose a favorite episode yet, of course, we still have 4 episodes in season 1 from the time of my writing this and (hopefully) another 4 seasons, but if I had to list a best episode so far, its a tough tie between episodes 3 & 4 here. And Jessica Parker Kennedy slayed the Medusa roll.

All in all, a great installment in our story. So excited to see what's to come.

Super disappointed in this episode

[jamyejc-99032 · 3/10 · 28 December 2023]

The first two episodes I enjoyed. This episode is really disappointing. It went from following the books pretty well to changing things. I hated the way Annabeth was depicted she was rude and trying to be the leader. The actress who is portraying Annabeth is incredibly wooden in her acting of this role. Grover is kind of pathetic as well, the character, not the actor. While Grover has never been the most dynamic or compelling of characters he has never been the sad sack that he is in this episode. I was also not fond of the sequence with Medusa. I do like the young actor portraying Percy he is fairly good in the role.