For fans of Percy Jackson and The Olympians, the books created a whole new exciting universe where myths and legends live just beneath the surface of modern-day America. The movies? Not so much. Panned by both critics and loyal readers, many issues are cited for their failure to capture the spirit of their source material — namely their total disregard for the characters within it.
While the books follow Percy from the age of eleven through to sixteen, the movies (which were never finished) aged up the characters and cast teenagers. As a consequence, it cast aside the character development that makes the books so compelling. With the upcoming production of a Disney+ adaptation, there's hope for a loyal adaptation if the show can nail these arcs.
Percy Jackson Embracing His Full Powers
When readers meet Percy, he's a self-labeled "troubled"12-year-old kid thrown by the revelation that he's in fact the son of Poisedon — a heritage that comes with certain skills. The first to appear are hydrokinesis and healing abilities upon contact with water, but these are nothing to what comes later.
As Percy grows older and becomes more experienced and confident, his powers develop too. By the time he fights in The Last Olympian, he's capable of atmokinesis (the ability to control the weather). The growth of Percy's powers is one of the best benchmarks for Percy's character development.
Grover Finding Pan
From the beginning of the Percy Jackson series, Grover's life dream is clear: to find (and retrieve) Pan, the god of the wild. Satyrs have been trying to do this since Pan first disappeared, so it seems a little ambitious at first that Grover will be the one to achieve it.
But as the series progresses, Grover matures considerably. He's quite timid in The Lightning Thief, having lost some of his confidence when his previous protector mission ended in Thalia's death. By the time he enters the maze in Battle of the Labryinth, he's taller, his horns have grown in, and he achieves the impossible: finding Pan. Even though Pan passes soon after, the culmination of Grover's efforts resulting in him being dubbed Lord of the Wild is hugely satisfying.
Clarisse La Rue Going From Bully To Leader
As the daughter of Ares — the god of war, who didn't get to talk in the Percy Jackson movies — Clarisse was always going to have a temper. Her father treats her poorly, and she bullies Percy when she first meets him in The Lightning Thief. It's because of her attitude towards him that he first exhibits signs of his true power, using water in the pipes of the toilets to protect himself.
However, she undergoes a massive transformation as time goes on. While she's still quite antagonistic, she softens towards her fellow campers — even Percy, who grows to respect her nerve and leadership qualities. When she fights in the Battle of New York, it's as Percy's equal, and proof that nobody is limited by their parents' negative traits.
Nico Di Angelo Helping The Camp
As the son of Hades, Nico is another possible child of the Great Prophecy. But unlike most half-bloods in the series, he doesn't live or train at Camp Half-Blood. Instead, after his sister Bianca dies on her quest — despite Percy's promises otherwise — he lashes out and flees to the Underworld.
Throughout Battle of the Labyrinth, it seems unlikely he'll ever return. He's emphatic that he hates Percy for Bianca's death, and feels shunned for his lineage. Despite this, he helps Percy take on the Curse of Achilles, and helps him fight the Titans. Even though the bulk of Nico's character arc takes place in the sequel series Heroes of Olympus (which could easily form part of a Percy Jackson extended universe) this heroic moment proves that despite the angst, his heart is in the right place.
Rachel Dare Becoming The Camp Oracle
Few mortals take center stage in Percy Jackson, with the exception of Rachel Dare. First introduced in Titan's Curse, it gradually becomes clear that she possesses extraordinary abilities as she is able to see through the Mist that hides Percy's world from the mortal realm.
Rachel admits that she's always felt different, standing out from the rest of her family, which is exactly what makes her character arc so satisfying. When Camp Half-Blood loses its Oracle, Rachel steps up to the role, surviving the grueling transformation to share prophecies with a whole new generation of campers. For anyone who's ever struggled to find their place, it's a huge moment — and one that helps knit together Percy's two worlds.
Annabeth Chase Trusting Her Friends And Family
Annabeth has had a rough ride before she even makes her first appearance in The Lightning Thief. As a child, she ran away from home and found Luke, Thalia, and Grover, but they were plagued by monsters and, eventually, she lost Thalia (at least, so she thought) because of a cyclops.
As a result, Annabeth has trouble getting close to people. While she still loves Luke, she's devastated when he joins Kronos. It takes her a long time to fully accept the love of her friends and family, but eventually, she opens up her heart enough to reconnect with her father, stepmother, and siblings — and to trust Percy with her life. This is one of the most human arcs in the series, and one to which all too many can relate. While actor Alexandria Daddario shouldn't return to the Percy Jackson role, another actress could better embody Annabeth's complex nature.
The Olympians Recognising Their Children
It's the Olympians whose children save the day, but it's also the Olympians who cause the drama of Percy Jackson in the first place. Thanks to a deal in which they agreed to maintain a distance from their half-human children, a lot of them, like Luke, grow up resenting their godly parents. It's this sentiment that led Luke to help Kronos in the first place.
When Percy leads the gods and half-bloods to victory in The Last Olympian, part of the reward he requests from the gods is that they finally begin to recognize their children. It's not much to ask but it makes a huge difference — and speaks to issues a lot of readers can understand. Ultimately, it proves that nobody is too powerful to not treat others with respect.
Percy And Annabeth's Relationship
Friends-to-lovers is a tricky arc to nail, but Percy Jackson does it to perfection. While there's a rivalry at first due to Athena and Poseidon's past conflict, the pair bond on their first quest and spend the next few years as best friends, before entering a relationship.
For Percy and Annabeth – individually and together – this is the culmination of several years worth of development. Both have reached a point where they'd die for the other (as proved on several occasions). Percy is no longer the immature "Seaweed Brain" Annabeth spent years teasing, and Annabeth is much more open than she once was. When they finally decide to date, it's a long time coming — and something fans can't wait to see in the Disney+ Percy Jackson series.
Luke Castellan Redeeming Himself As A Hero
Percy might be the hero of the Percy Jackson series, but it's really Luke who saves the day in the end. It's his decision to take his own life — and, therefore, Kronos' — that allows the half-bloods to conquer the Titans in New York, and saves the Olympians from extinction.
Luke's past actions aren't as heroic. Frustrated with the gods, it's he who steals the lightning bolt and sets Percy up to try and trigger war. It's also his fault that Kronos is resurrected in the first place, and he sneaks his troops into Camp Half-Blood. However, killing Kronos proves that Luke wasn't pure evil. He was just badly wronged and didn't know what to do with his suffering until Kronos exploited it.