Disclaimer: This text incorporates spoilers from Percy Jackson and the Olympians

Percy Jackson and the Olympians, the new live-action collection based mostly on Rick Riordan’s The Lightning Thief sticks to e book for the most half. In episode 3, nonetheless, the present starring Walker Scobell, Leah Jeffries and Aryan Simhadri makes a massive change to a key character.

In the episode titled, We Go to the Backyard Gnome Emporium, Percy (Scobell), Annabeth (Jefferies) and Grover (Simhadri) set out on a quest the place they encounter Medusa (Jessica Parker Kennedy) – the monster with snakes for hair in Greek mythology who can petrify anybody and flip them to stone with one look. In contrast to the books, Medusa is fast to introduce herself to Percy. Actually, she goes on to inform the youngsters her backstory revealing that she too was left by Poseidon. Medusa in the present shares that she “liked” Athena and prayed to her regardless of not getting any response. When she was secluded by Poseidon, it embarrassed Athena who cursed Medusa to show anybody who gazes upon her to stone. She says that she was punished, “not him.”

The episode portrays Medusa in a sympathetic mild, reclaiming narratives round girls in Greek mythology. The nuanced backstory reveals that she is a lot greater than a monster. Percy pertains to Medusa as somebody who’s starting to resent the gods. In the books, it takes Percy, Annabeth and Grover a whereas to determine Aunty Em’s identification. She solely vaguely hints at her tragic story. The present makes an effort to faucet into a bigger dialog. 

One other key change is in how the trio goes up in opposition to Medusa. The books have Percy utilizing a reflective bronze ball to find Medusa with out trying into her eyes. Percy Jackson and the Olympians sees Annabeth pull off a intelligent trick by sneaking up on Medusa and inserting her invisibility cap on her head. Percy then decapitates her with out having to take a look at her. The scene is far smarter in its use of a fail-proof means of getting rid of Medusa. Whereas the e book sticks to the unique Greek mythology, the present’s method makes for a much less gory and extra sensible sequence.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians is at present streaming on OTT.