Common Sense Media Review
By Ashley Moulton
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Tween demigod's rousing TV adventures have dark moments.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 21 parent reviews
Based on 75 kid reviews
Kids say this TV show offers an enjoyable mix of entertainment and education, particularly regarding Greek mythology, though it features some mild violence. While many fans appreciate the faithful adaptation of the beloved book series, there are mixed feelings about certain character portrayals and story changes, with most agreeing it is a significant improvement over the movie adaptations.
- entertaining education
- faithful adaptation
- mild violence
- character portrayal
- suitable for ages 9+
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
PERCY JACKSON AND THE OLYMPIANS follows Percy (Walker Scobell), a seemingly "normal" 12-year-old boy who is shocked to learn that the Greek god Poseidon is his father. This revelation means that Percy is a demigod -- and therefore is constantly under threat from mythological monsters. He heads to "Camp Half-Blood," a sanctuary where demigod kids can learn how to harness their powers. Percy is accompanied by his satyr friend, Grover (Aryan Simhadri), who's been charged with protecting him from evil forces. At camp, they meet Annabeth (Leah Jeffries), who becomes the third member of the story's core friend trio. Percy, Grover, and Annabeth must embark on an epic quest across America as they try to prevent war among the gods, facing creatures of all sorts along the way.
Is It Any Good?
The many fans of Rick Riordan's popular books will be relieved to see their beloved series finally get the screen adaptation it deserves. 2010's movie version of Percy Jackson and the Olympians didn't get Riordan's blessing, and ended up disappointing readers because it deviated so much from the books. This series, however, was created with Riordan's input -- and besides being faithful to the source material, it's also a lot of fun (and does have a few surprises for fans). The subject matter can definitely be dark, but there's lots of humor and heart throughout. The kid actors' performances are stellar, and kid viewers will identify with these very real and vulnerable characters. Kids who are into fantasy and can handle a fair bit of scares will be drawn into Percy's immersive world.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Percy's courage in Percy Jackson and the Olympians. He goes on dangerous missions to help other people even when there's great risk to himself. What do you think is the most courageous thing Percy does?
Percy struggles with being "different," at first because he's bullied and doesn't do well in school, and then again when he learns he's a demigod. Do you ever feel "different"?
Is there any part of Greek mythology that Percy's story has inspired you to learn more about? Are there any characters or myths you want to get to know better?
What are some examples of diversity and positive representation on this show?
TV Details
- Premiere date : December 20, 2023
- Cast : Walker Scobell , Aryan Simhadri , Leah Jeffries
- Network : Disney+
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Adventures , Book Characters , Fantasy ( Magic ) , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Courage , Teamwork
- TV rating :
- Awards : Common Sense Selection , Emmy - Emmy Award Winner , Kids' Choice Award , NAACP Image Award - NAACP Image Award Winner
- Last updated : December 12, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate