Percy Jackson and the Olympians 1×04 “I Plunge to My Death” is the best episode of the young season so far, and the episode that sort of makes everything click – for the trio, for the quest these three kids have embarked on, for the show and even for the mythology Percy Jackson and the Olympians is trying to build. This is very important because this is the episode that truly makes the show go from Oh, this could be interesting to Oh, this is IT for casual fans and lovers of the book alike.
For people who grew up with Percy, Annabeth, and Grover, this is truly the episode that cements Walker, Leah, and Aryan as their trio. It is much the same for people who didn’t, but in a different way, one with much less baggage. But at the end of “I Plunge to My Death,” as Percy indeed falls, we are all the same as we hold our breaths with him and hope that he is, indeed, not plunging to his death. The son of Poseidon never could.
THE SACRIFICE PLAY
Ironically, the thing about Percy in the first four episodes of Percy Jackson and the Olympians is that he is much more Sally’s son than Poseidon’s son. And that’s what makes him special. Sure, his powers might come from his dad and his demigod status might come from Poseidon, but what makes Percy special comes from Sally Jackson. And he understands that. It’s what he draws from when he – even though he believes he has a chance to save his mom, refuses to betray Annabeth and Grover to Medusa.
And it’s why he makes the sacrifice play in this episode, even though he wants to get to the end of his quest and save his mom. Because Percy is a good kid, deep down. And he’s a loving kid, that’s what Sally raised him as. He cares about Grover, and he’s even come to care about Annabeth in the short time he’s known her. He said a few episodes ago that he picked her because they could never be friends. The joke’s on Percy because here they are!
NOT A DUO, BUT A TRIO
Annabeth and Grover care too, that’s the thing. Grover always cared – that part is obvious. If anything, Grover is the constant. He cares about Annabeth; he cares about Percy. Annabeth, meanwhile, cares almost against her will. She’s so upset about the fact that she cares. She cares almost against her will. But she cares now. She’s emotionally invested. And one she’s in, she’s fully in. 100%. Period. There’s no going back for someone like Annabeth.
That means this isn’t a duo – whatever version of a duo that might be, Grover and Annabeth or Grover and Percy. This is a trio now. The trio. And sure enough, there’s going to be an adjustment period. They’re going to have to figure out their dynamics. And they’re going to have to figure out how to be friends first. They’re kids, after all. We’re not going to explore anything else before we explore the friendships between three young kids. That should be the focus for a while. And hopefully, in a few years, we can worry about other things, with the right foundation.
THE GODS AND THEIR FOLLY
If you know your mythology, you know the Gods being sl*ts is the basis of, you know, mythology. The Gods making no sense is also kind of at the foundation of it. And then there are the mythological creatures like Echidna, who seem to only want chaos. I will give Percy Jackson and the Olympians this, it’s giving us fun versions of the mythology we learned as kids. There is that. And some fun monsters.
Why Percy thought he could take on a Chimera by himself in episode four of this show, aka at literally the beginning of his first quest, I will never know. But it seems to be setting up some fun Godly revelations and maybe an appearance by dear old Dad. It’s about time, that’s all we’re going to say.
Agree? Disagree? What did you think of Percy Jackson and the Olympians 1×04 “I Plunge to My Death”? Share with us in the comments below!
New episodes of Percy Jackson and the Olympians are available on Tuesdays at 9/ET on Disney+.