I'm still gobsmacked at how much Aries (Adam Copeland) reminds me of Brian Lewis ("The Gamers" series), in both appearance and expressions. This isn't the best comparison but I'm still looking for really good ones. Brian doesn't see it, of course.
Well that was good, hopefully they get green lite for season two.
"Grandpa" lol BLUE PANCAKES
Now I have a mental image of Lord Kronos saying " Tell your mom how much you love her"
Okay. I have a few thoughts on the last three episodes. Before these three episodes I was pretty open to changes in the source material to make for a better adaptation (such as the Chimera and Echidna episode), but there were some changes that got on my nerves. I really didn't enjoy the changes in these last few episodes.
First off, episode 6, the Lotus Casino. I didn't like this episode. It's easily my least favorite of this season. It deviated too far from the book, and the movie was more accurate when it comes to this part of the book. Which is something I never expected to say about this adaptation. Lin Manuel Miranda did a pretty good job at Hermes, but he really shouldn't have appeared this season. Hermes doesn't talk with Percy about Luke until Book 2, and his inclusion brings up some strange questions (Did Hermes want Percy to fail the quest? Does Hermes condone/promote the existence of the Lotus Casino? Does Hermes know that Nico and Bianca are in the Hotel?). IMO, the changes are overall a bad thing for the story and episode.
Next, episode 7, the Underworld. Again, there were some unnecessary minor changes (Procrustes, changing Charon, Cerberus eating Grover, Asphodel being different, not showing the Fields of Punishment, etc), but they didn't annoy me as much as the previous episode's changes. My main gripe with this episode was the portrayal of Hades. It's better than the movies, but still isn't great. Hades isn't supposed to be a bad guy like he was in the movies and most modern non-Percy Jackson adaptations of Greek Mythology, so this portrayal got something right, but he is too nice/polite in this series. He even has a line about how he has no "quarrel with his brothers", which isn't accurate mythologically or to Percy Jackson. Spoilers for later books/seasons, but the Percy Jackson version of Hades is supposed to be extremely angry and bitter about Zeus killing Maria di Angelo, as well as apathetic and worn down from running an overflowing Underworld. He's supposed to appear powerful and intimidating. There are some later plot lines that involve Hades in Percy Jackson that won't work with this portrayal because of the lack of resentment. This change is going to be the hardest to reckon with in later seasons (assuming they get that far).
Finally, episode 8. I enjoyed this episode. The fight with Ares was pretty good, if a bit short. I did enjoy the Olympus scene, regardless of the changes. I enjoyed Luke in this series. They might have undercut the twist a bit through the constant flashbacks to Luke and Percy sparring at Camp Halfblood (I wouldn't be surprised if these scenes were originally filmed for episode 2), but overall it was way better than it was in the movie version.
I like that you're supposed to understand and to an extent empathize with Luke's point of view in this series. He is right about the Olympians being screwed up absentee parents too busy with their petty squabbles to pay attention to their kids. But it's not like Kronos and the Titans is any better. But that's the point. Luke doesn't actually like Kronos, he just wants to get back at his father and the rest of the Olympians. If Gaia, the Giants, the Triumvirate, or any of the other major enemies in Percy Jackson had been the main villains of this series, Luke would have joined their cause for the same reason he joined Kronos. Revenge.
I thought Gabe's credits scene was funny, and definitely fitting for his character. Accidentally killing himself through greed is a fitting ending for this version of his character.
Overall, I mostly enjoyed this series. It was well-shot, the casting was great, the plot for the most part was good, and more faithful than the movie. This video pretty well sums up my main complaint. There were a lot of moments where the characters instantly knew who/what they were facing, which removed a lot of the tension and mystery that was in the book. There are a lot of scenes in later books that would be ruined if they continue doing this (Circe, Dr. Thorn, the Empousa, etc). This is the main issue with the series that I hope they learn from for future seasons. This is the key reason why the Echidna and Chimera introduction was infinitely better than the Dionysus, Medusa, Lotus Casino, and Procrustes introduction scenes. The characters should be confused and trying to figure out what they're up against, instead of instantly knowing who/what they're facing.
