The “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” series recently wrapped up its first season on Disney+. The series excited new and old fans alike for various reasons, with one of the most notable reasons being its representation.
Rick Riordan, the author of the original “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” book series and one of the executive producers of the TV series, said in an interview with The Guardian, “I made Percy Jackson ADHD/dyslexic because my son is ADHD/dyslexic. Percy Jackson began as a bedtime story for him.”
A majority of the other characters in the novels also have various learning disabilities, which are normalized as part of being a demigod. Riordan removes the stigma surrounding learning disabilities while simultaneously showing that he and his characters understand the struggles that accompany them.
These traits helped many young readers feel seen and understood, and it provided an exciting, magical perspective through which readers could view themselves. Riordan ensured the books were accessible to people with learning disabilities, and many people have expressed that the books in the series were the only books they could finish when they were younger.
Now, with the premiere of the TV series, Riordan used the show as an opportunity to include even more representation. The cast is largely made up of people of color, and they are all age-appropriate in relation to their book characters (around 12 to 13 years old). This allows the intended audience—children the same age as Percy and his friends—to fully relate to the characters and immerse themselves in the storyline. It also provides young children of color with an opportunity to see themselves represented as interesting, exciting characters.
Along with the great representation in the series, the Disney+ adaptation took the fandom by storm because it brought the stories that so many fans were obsessed with since childhood to life.
Since Riordan had such a large role in writing and producing the episodes, the storyline stayed very true to the books. There were some deviations from the original plot, but these were done with the intention of clarifying things for new viewers or adding more depth to the characters and story.
Many fans were upset that the episodes did not adhere completely to the original plot of the book, but it would be almost impossible to fully translate every action in the book to the screen because of problems like perspective, timing and world-building. Even with the new changes, the series was still a faithful adaptation, and it gave fans the opportunity to see their imagination made into reality.
The “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” TV show provided a new adaptation for old fans who grew up reading the original novels, but it also brought in a whole new group of young fans who are now able to love and admire Percy and his friends, seeing themselves finally represented as a member of something as magical as Camp Half-Blood.
Regardless of the occasional complaints or critiques of the show, it served as a reminder of how important representation is for everyone, and how necessary it is to have well-made and compelling children’s and young adult literature and media. So here’s to demigods, new and old.
Skylar Anderson is a a first-year majoring in studio art.
