Coming Soon - Percy Jackson Book vs Series: A Blog Series

As with many book to screen adaptations, Disney’s live-action Percy Jackson TV show has been a heated topic among book fans and series viewers alike, with some praising the series’ faithfulness to the source material while others criticize its many story changes. As all half-bloods know, names have power, and should you dare to utter the words “Percy Jackson”, you’re eternally fated to answer the question: Which is better? The book, or the series? (Or the movies… but let’s be honest, nobody’s picking those.)

As you can guess, there’s no easy answer to this query. Not only can it vary by the person responding, but it also requires a deep comparison of the goals, strengths, and weaknesses of both the novels and the Disney+ Series. Nevertheless, I seek to take on this weighty task and explain my preferences while still respecting both the source material and the adaptation. In truth, I’m somewhat new to the Percy Jackson fandom, my first experience being the Disney+ series and, later, the first two of Rick Riordan’s hit books. I went into it expecting a mediocre story that I’d enjoy but ultimately forget about the next day. Instead, I was immediately sucked into the vibrant landscapes and figures of the Percy Jackson universe, spending days entranced in the fantastical narrative as if I were at Camp Half-Blood.

That is to say, at times, my TV series bias may step in, though my ultimate goal is not to discredit the work that went into either version, but simply to compare each of their successes and stumbles. (Also, keep in mind that opinions are subjective. My preferences do not always equal your preferences. I only hope to share in the thrill of the world of Percy Jackson.)

Here’s how this will work:

• In separate posts for each TV episode and the corresponding book chapters, I will be discussing the various changes or creative differences in both the book and the series.
• I will be evaluating the goals and context of both versions, without blindly lashing out on the flaws in whichever I like less.
• This will continue for as many seasons as are released in the Disney+ series. The first three stories, The Lightning Thief, The Sea of Monsters, and The Titan’s Curse are the only guaranteed comparisons, as The Battle of the Labyrinth and The Last Olympian are yet to be renewed for the fourth and fifth seasons.
• After each of the eight individual comparisons, I’ll release a summary for the series with my shortened preferences and reasoning.

Remember, this is meant to be a fun, easy-to-follow series for those who seek to nerd out on the brilliant world of Percy Jackson alongside me. Until then, stay tuned for the first post soon!