Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 2 episode 8 strays away from its original source too much and unnecessarily so.
Creator: James Bobin
Genre: Action, Adventure, Family, Fantasy
No. of Episodes in Season 2: 8
Episode 8 (Season Finale) Release Date: January 21, 2026
Where to Watch: Stream it globally on Disney Plus
In episode 8 of Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 2, Percy (Walker Skobell), Annabeth (Leah Jeffries), Grover (Aryan Simhadri) and Tyson (Daniel Diemer) make it back to Camp Halfblood just as time is running out and its defences are falling. In the final battle for the fate of Camp Halfblood, they face monsters, other camp members, and their old friend-turned-enemy Luke (Charlie Bushnell) in an attempt to revive Thalia’s (Tamara Smart) tree with the Golden Fleece.
In the season finale, the audience finally gets to see the Olympians. The main conflict of Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 2 revolves around the Gods but they often remain in Mount Olympus rather than seeing their demigod children. While this largely works, their presence is at times necessary in order to remind us that they very much exist in this universe and are instrumental to the narrative. Episode 8 also delivers the conflict between demigods at Camp Halfblood very well, allowing us to truly understand how far Luke’s betrayal has gone. While the acting is generally good in the Disney+ show, Walker Skobell really stands out in the finale by truly leading this episode, and the entirety of season 2, with a brilliant performance as Percy.
In episode 8, Thalia’s character and backstory are both changed significantly to heighten the rivalry between her and Percy. However, this forces all the characters into black and white boxes rather than showcasing their grey areas and complexities. While this does create more conflict and drama, the original source material had enough of both before Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 2 altered the plot points and elements of character development so drastically. Changes are, ultimately, to be expected in a screen adaptation, but the problem with the second season of the Disney+ show is that these changes hurt the story more than anything else.
Despite the fact that this episode features the biggest conflict of season 2, Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 8 ultimately lacks stakes. The way the Golden Fleece has been used in previous episodes would suggest that none of the main characters are in any actual danger for their lives. After all, two of them have been mortally wounded before and were simply healed through the Golden Fleece, so why should this be any different now? In the final battle of this season, when tensions should run higher than ever, the audience cannot help but already predict how the confrontation between Percy and Luke is going to go.
Overall, Percy Jackson and the Olympians episode 8 is a disappointing season finale for anyone who is familiar with the original book and its characters. In the second half of season 2, the changes to the source material in the way the Golden Fleece works on Thalia and her role in the final prophecy are neither successful nor necessary. In doing so, the show flattens its character and storyline and is forced to fabricate conflict in a different way that ends up feeling artificial and not well delivered.
Percy Jackson Season 2 Episode 8 (Disney+): Finale Plot & Recap
Synopsis:
Upon their return to Camp Halfblood, Percy, Annabeth, Tyson, and Grover find it under threat by monsters, Luke, and his allies. With the defences of Thalia’s tree weakening, time is of the essence in delivering the Golden Fleece and completing the quest.
Pros:
- Walker Skobell stands out in this episode thanks to his excellent acting.
- This episode gives us a chance to see some of the Olympians again.
Cons:
- Thalia’s character is misinterpreted and overall flattened in this adaptation.
- This episode’s lack of stakes and storytelling issues make it uninteresting and predictable.
Season 2 Episode 8 of Percy Jackson and the Olympians, the season 2 finale, is now available to stream globally on Disney Plus.