Percy Jackson and The Olympians is one of the best adaptations of a book that we’ve seen in a long time. The show just aired it’s last episode of the season and we’re sad. Sad because we know that it will be awhile until a second season. Though, we’d probably get over that sadness if someone confirmed a second season for us.
The series focuses on Percy Jackson and his two friends – Annabeth and Grover – as they set out to complete a quest and return the lightening bolt to Zeus. As every episode passes, we learn more and more about the characters. their motivation, and well, of course we’re learning a lot about Greek Mythology. But as all of this happens, one of the things that we missed is more time with Clarisse.
Clarisse, the daughter of Ares, is a bully and also a character who we are so wanting to know more about. Why? She was one of the first Demigods to come to the camp and she’s been through a lot. We may have our theories on Clarisse, but we did get some answers when we sat down and spoke with Dior Goodjohn, who plays the character.
There is something about talking to someone who brings a book that you love and adore to life with such grace and ease. Dior does just that with Clarisse. You believe that she’s real and that she’s really asserting her birthright at the camp.
Speaking to Dior is like speaking to your friend. She’s filled with energy and laughter. We do our introductions and I softball a basic question, asking where she was when she got the news that she was when she got the role of Clarisse and the response from people who know her.
She leans forward and smiles, making me instantly wonder if she’s about to go Clarisse on me, “I was in Iran at the time. I’m half-Persian, just in case. Nobody knows I’m half-Persian. I was living there at the time. I remember getting the call, and it was between Percy and two other things. It was like, “Percy.” Percy, hands down. There’s no question about it. It’s Percy. I’m doing Percy. [laughs] That was my reaction. Then I think the craziest reaction from a family member, I can’t remember who it was, but one of my family members is a die-hard Percy Jackson fan.”
She continues, “It’s Harry Potter and Percy, and that’s it. That is it. That’s what they do. When they found out, they were like, “What?” She’s like, “What? She’s got Percy Jackson? I don’t even understand. Her life is about to change.” All this stuff, and just bouncing off the walls. I had no idea the magnitude. I knew that this was a big deal, but I didn’t know how big of a deal it was. I was like, “Yes, whatever. It’s fine. I’m so glad you’re excited, but my life isn’t going to change.” It did. It took a 180.”
We both laugh a bit. I am laughing over the fact that she didn’t think her life would change, but I do get it. Acting is just a job, but when you’re acting in a franchise that has a die hard fandom – life is definitely going to change. But for Dior, she doesn’t mind. She loves the fandom and reads the comments.
We’re talking like we’ve known each other for years and I am divulging my ties to Percy Jackson. It’s something that I don’t normally talk about and she’s a little surprised. We move past that and we talk about Clarisse and well, why she’s such a bully in Percy Jackson and the Olympians.
I think the reason why she just has the need to assert her dominance, I think that’s just how she was raised. I think that’s how she was taught by her dad. I think that’s just how things work in Cabin Five. Then I think she could learn from Percy that not everything is about glory. That’s one thing that I remember when I was watching the Tunnel of Love episode when they were going through, and Percy was like, “Yes, I think my mom, she was trying to keep me away from all of this.”
And you can’t debate that. She knows her character better than anyone… well except Rick Riordan. The way that Dior comes alive when talking about Clarisse, you know that she really does love the role and did everything that she could to get to know her.
She continues, “Then Annabeth has her– Oh my God, she did so well. When she has her thing when she’s crying to Festus being like, “I don’t want to be like you guys. I’m saving my friend, blah, blah, blah.” I think Clarisse put so much stakes on glory for someone that doesn’t even really care about her all that much. I think if she just learned to trust in the people that are around her and not aim for glory all the time and really find community in not just other campers at Camp Half-Blood, but in her brothers and sisters, too, because she runs it like it’s a ship.”
With Clarisse being so different than Percy she continues and we continue to talk about what she could learn from Percy, “It’s like, “You listen to me. You’re my people. All right, go.” As opposed to it being a thing like, “You’re my brothers and sisters. Let’s do it together.” I think that’s a couple of things that she could learn from Percy.”
Dior definitely knows Clarisse and we love getting her insight. We’re hoping to learn more about her in the second season (we need a second season).
All episodes of Percy Jackson and The Olympians are streaming now on Disney+.
