REVIEW: ‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’ Season 2 Episode 2 – “Demon Pigeons Attack”

Percy Jackson Season 2 Episode 2 is directed by James Bobin and written by Sarah Watkins. The episode stars Walker Scobell, Leah Sava’ Jeffries, Daniel Diemer, and Timothy Simons. As Percy and Annabeth try to get a quest begun, the focus is first on a chariot race.

Percy Jackson Season 2 Episode 2 mirrors its counterpart from last season. At the center is a camp activity taken to much more extreme lengths than Capture the Flag. The whole episode is heading there, with all the various storylines now revolving around the victor. There’s a fantastic place and energy to much of Percy Jackson Season 2 Episode 2. In the first couple of scenes, Percy and Annabeth split up. The tension between the two had dissipated, rebellious together. But then a twist happens that shatters the connection. It then sets up a terrific three-way challenge in the race.

Those who are victorious are looking to win favor with the gods. But while Percy tries to protect Annabeth, the daughter of Athena has her own intentions and is willing to throw her friend under the chariot to succeed. The race in Percy Jackson Season 2 Episode 2 itself is phenomenal, transforming Percy Jackson into Ben Hur for a moment. It’s filled with adrenaline and excitement. But there’s a strange feeling of dread, linked to the pressure on the camp from outside. Hero Camp is under siege from monsters, with villains testing the boundaries and trying to find a way through.

The characters and performances in Percy Jackson Season 2 Episode 2 both succeed and struggle.

There’s a surprising conclusion to the race in Percy Jackson Season 2 Episode 2 that does more for the plot than crowning a true winner. It brightens the need for a quest. What becomes clear is that the camp is no longer safe for so many reasons. It’s both vulnerable to attack and filled with hostile figures inside.

The characters and performances in Percy Jackson Season 2 Episode 2 both succeed and struggle. Tantalus (Simons) is an intriguing addition, because he’s nigh on useless. He’s cowardly, abrasive, and constantly getting in the way of the protagonists. That’s obviously intentional, but Simons isn’t quite menacing enough to look threatening. If anything, he’s ridiculous, with messy hair and a long cloak as he stomps around. And whenever he’s on screen, he slows the pace down. Dionysus is similar in lacking danger or authority. What the writing of these elder figures does successfully cement is the fact that the camp is in danger.

There are members of the supporting cast who shine. Clarisse (Dior Goodjohn) is brilliant in this episode. She wants to be the best, but she will still fight to keep her campmates safe. And when needed, she’ll collaborate with Annabeth and Percy, despite considering them rivals. Tyson is also showing more work in his character. Since it was revealed that he and Percy are brothers through their father Poseidon, the bond has strengthened, and the cyclops is showing more of his capabilities. He’s intelligent, fiercely loyal, and powerful.

The production in Percy Jackson Season 2 Episode 2 is close to magnificent.

With Grover far away and Annabeth purposefully obstructive, Percy needs someone he can lean on, and Tyson serves as that brilliantly. Annabeth and Percy fracture further in this episode, but there’s more to it than forced frostiness from the last episode. It still feels somewhat unnecessary, just added complications, but it makes Percy more desperate to leave.

The production in Percy Jackson Season 2 Episode 2 is close to magnificent. With this episode honoring Danny Virtue, a legendary stunt coordinator, it’s only fitting that there’s a worthy spectacle. There’s a magnificent sense of siren and intensity in the scene, descending into a battle that is just as terrific.

The armor the chargers wear and the chariots are exceptionally well-designed. The competitors’ helmets and vehicles all carry the symbols and iconography of their celestial parents. However, there are many times when these metal objects look fake, constructed out of plastic or polystyrene. The sound design is also significant. With the shrieking of birds, sporadically beading through the house, getting more insistent.

Percy Jackson Season 2 Episode 2 features some of the franchise’s best scenes so far. The chariot race is fast-paced, honors stories that came before, and still blends the comedic nature of a young adult story. Compared to the Capture the Flag sequence, in which the male characters were separated from the main event, here they are in the thick of the situation.

Tantalus is more irritating than he is intriguing, but that frustration can push Percy towards wandering to leave and go on his quest, which is a major part of the episode. The camp’s crumbling safety, due to incompetent staff, rebellions, and hungry monsters, lends the new quests palpable importance.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 Episode 2 is now streaming on Disney+ with new episodes releasing every Wednesday.

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