Change Your Image
ksskuxfm
Reviews
Percy Jackson and the Olympians (2023)
Terrible Desecration of the Story
Wow, this adaptation is surprisingly terrible. In particular, the writing and dialogue feel far too generic, and the story reveals everything way too quickly. The first episode is a great example of this: the omission of the Three Fates and the way in which the show rushes through Ms. Dodds's transformation entirely removes the sense of mystery and foreboding. I'm shocked that the author of the books himself churned out this garbage writing.
Also, many of the characters are severely miscast, especially Percy and Annabeth. Both actors (but especially Annabeth's actor) give wooden deliveries that do a disservice to their respective characters. You could argue that I'm expecting too much from child actors, but Disney's masterful adaptation of The Mysterious Benedict Society shows that it's definitely possible. Some actors, though, like Chiron's, do a great job at embodying their characters.
The Mysterious Benedict Society (2021)
Masterful Adaptation
I'm pleasantly surprised at how well this show adapts the books. The actors are well cast, especially Constance and Sticky; the storytelling remains faithful to the books with an appropriate respect for intellectualism; and the pacing is perfect, drawing out the mystery such that each answered question poses more. In particular, the show does a great job of evoking the sense of strangeness that permeates the books, including with the exquisite set pieces and the vague references to the Emergency that never really resolve into anything concrete. It captures how a child might view a complex world that they lack the sophistication to understand quite well. My only real criticism is the inexplicable decision to remove Mr. Curtain's wheelchair. It's a vital component of his character that's simply missing in this adaptation, which is why I unfortunately couldn't award the full ten stars.