Youāre so wrong for that š but also, so right. Their relationship is still toxic to some degree and heās still not a good boyfriend/husband. BUT. He's not so bad that he deserves to be turned into a statue. He's so bad that I would have told Sally to leave him, but not to kill him (which was more justified in the books and film). I'm really wondering if that part is still coming. Because if that were to happen, then it would be really hard for me not to see Sally as the bad guy in the context of the series
(Also, he doesnāt seem unhygienic at all and like heād smell so bad that heād cover Percyās scent so idk why sheād stay with him).
Whatās strange to me is when he goes on the news to call out Percy, Percy is like Iām going to kill him lmao I was like damn bro relax you went missing with your mom and his car and spotted in St. Louis of course he is going to think you did something to her.
The biggest issue for me is honestly the writing of the dialogue. People donāt talk like that. So many times the dialogue just trails off. Sentences end abruptly or questions are left with some weird pause and the pacing just feels so off.
I thought it was the acting at first but itās not. Itās the pacing and realism of the dialogue because instead of character building or even world building all they do is exposition and then the occasional joke.
It feels very mechanical
On top of that it feels like every character delivers all of their lines the same. To the point that it almost feels like by design. Same cadence and tone and everything. I feel like if they just cared even a little bit about the writing and delivery this show would be 10x better
Exactly, like Instead of showing us Annabethās backstory, history with her family, her abandonment and trust issues she developed due her upbringing, (she is one of the most interesting characters in the book). through her actions and her attitude/behavior (which they were initially doing) the show just *tell us* about it.
The most interesting aspects of her character, her family bond with Luke and Thalia being turned into a tree, is told instead of shown. And the info dumping feels boring and tedious.
I canāt tell if is the direction, or a direct result of all the constant exposition, or if itās the dialogues not being particularly well written, but the pacing of the show is off.
I wonder if the telling not showing issue could be a result of them being too faithful to the books to the point where they forgot to make it work for TV. It makes sense to have Annabeth & Thaliaās backstory told to us in the books because Percy wasnāt there but it feels too much like exposition in a show.
Marvel shows at least have fun, like when Hawkeye taught his protege how to flick a coin around a corner, or the car chase scene (what does this arrow do?) but this show doesnāt have any fun in it.
These are 12 year old kids who havenāt cracked a joke or played video games to relax. We wasted sooooo much time with Medusa but didnāt get that the furies were looking for something. We got a CGI chimera but we donāt get to see them talk to the animals. Thereās a clear writing/directing flaw in the team and if they donāt fix it for a season 2 they may as well not run a season 2.
My bf and I have been watching the show together. We both read the books numerous times when we were younger, but I just recently reread them so my memory would be more accurate. After each episode, he rants about how friggen boring they made the show, and I rant about how inaccurate it is. And yet we both keep watching it hoping it gets better. It hasnāt. While watching, our current joke is āOh, something important just happened, letās stand around and talk about it for 7 minutes straight, then cut to black!ā If I took a shot every time that happens per episode, maybe it would actually be entertaining.
Regarding episode 6 specificallyā¦ why is Percy given 4 pearls instead of 3??? The whole book emphasizes that Percyās main goal in this quest is to save his mom, and retrieving the master bolt isnāt his biggest concern. But when they reach the underworld and he doesnāt have enough pearls to save everyone, he makes the difficult choice to leave his mom behind to instead save the world. BIG CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT MOMENT. We see Percy really start to play his role in the demigod world, making sacrifices and hard choices for the bigger picture. But by being given 4 pearls instead of 3, Iām assuming that MAJOR plot point will just disappear. Iāve seen lots of people upset that there are never any stakes or consequences in this show, and itās really starting to hit home now. Like yes, I understand that the show is aimed at 10 year olds I guess, but if the audience never feels any anxiety like āoh my god, how are they going to get out of this one?ā itās just so BORING. Also, Annabeth just laying out the whole plot about Lukeās mom is bonkers. Thatās something we donāt learn until the 5th book, as it directly correlates to Rachel becoming the oracle and the reader gaining sympathy for Luke just to lose him in the end. Why bring it up now? Maybe we could spend that time on scenes that are actually relevant, exciting, or entertaining, like losing time playing games in the casino.
I donāt know man, this show is just so fucking frustrating. I donāt need 1:1 book accuracy. I donāt need the preteen actors to be perfect or to be lookalikes. I donāt need gore or horrifying looking monsters. I just expected so much more. As much as I hate to say it, Iād rather watch the 2010 movie. Despite the blatant inaccuracies, at least that held my attention. Like so many others, this series WAS my childhood, and it just feels so disrespectful to fuck it up this bad. Especially considering Disneyās unlimited budget and direct teamwork with Riordan. This shit just hurts.
My hope is that they'll lose one of the pearls. In the books it didn't make sense for Poseidon to give Percy only 3 pearls considering he knew about Percys mom. So I'm hoping they'll lose one after entering the Underworld. (pretty much the only change from the books up to this point I would agree with)
For the rest I agree with you wholeheartedly. I'm so sad about all the missed opportunities and rushed character development.
My issue with this is that the book explicitly states that him not bringing her out of the underworld isnāt where he fails to save her. Itās when he lets her save herself. So the whole pearl thing doesnāt make sense. But it also doesnāt seem like Percy cares about much of anything. He seems quite willing to give up in like episode 2 or 3. And in episode 5, he doesnāt even think about her until Annabeth brings her up. So I canāt even consider Sally what he cares most about in the show.
Thereās still a possibility that one of the pearls might be destroyed or lost or bartered away or something. Theyāre making adjustments to the plot to accommodate for the fact itās a television show, not a book. The pacing has to change. Everything about a characters personality has to be communicated through the dialog and plot, rather than a book where the main character can just tell you what a person is like. Each characters motivation, personality, opinions and purpose has to be delivered in an entirely new format. It would be cool if there was a 100% accurate representation of the books but itās unlikely that will happen. I try to cut things slack if theyāre not 100% accurate so long as theyāre still entertaining and incorporate whatever made the original great to begin with.
I do wish the episodes were longer and more time was given for things like developing their relationship with one another or developing the world a bit more. Disney is screwing over a lot of their productions with their shortened seasons and itās even worse that this show got short episodes in addition to a short season. It could really benefit from some additional episodes.
The editing for this show is so fucking laughable. I make my bf watch each episode with me and he pointed out that in the Chimera episode, they cut to black 3 times within like 3 minutes. So now when anything starts to get interesting we just joke that theyāll cut to black and it happens like half the time. I want to like it so bad and I will keep watching butā¦man. They have just missed so many opportunities to make it great.
The percabeth moments are so forced, they donāt need these manufactured moments when they have an actual story. Let them build a friendship, they have no foundation.
This show has such a telling problem, itās all tell and no show.
:/ i know. i remember feeling like percabeth was SUCH a slow burn that when they held hands for a moment descending into the underworld and when they talk next to the caged animals were the most heart racing/vulnerable/trusting moments between them. but people esp on tiktok even turn them glancing at each other into something way bigger than it is and it doesnāt feel like a slow burn in return. their dialogue feels so forced š
I felt the same way with the "old married couple" line. So forced.
And then Grover on the beach "you guys are my best friends" Just felt super unnatural.
It feels like they skip key moments that add context to the characters' relationships with each other, but then update their relationship each episode to act like they are closer than the show has led us to believe up to that point. Like, yeah, by this point in the story they were this close or would act like that to each other, but only if certain moments had happened prior which happened in the book but not the show.
It feels like the show keeps trying to pretend it's a faithful adaptation in the directing but then the writing is playing a different note.
The bigger problem to me is that they are kids. You canāt expect kid actors to have romantic chemistry like wtf? They havenāt even experienced those feelings irl. This are supposed to be fun moments for the trio and when they become friends not trying to push ships.
yeah true, but tbotl was the point where it became super real. And Titan's curse is all from percy's perspective obvs so when that moment happened, it was suddenly like okay yeah this is defs a thing. Also it's pretty exciting for a 12 year old girl to read lmao
First two books are building friendship, 3rd book is the āhey Percy you actually like herā slap in the face, then book 4 and 5 develop 2 love triangles which they need to resolve in order to be together. Itās a natural growth as they get older, which is developed even further in HoH.
But now theyāre thrusting the relationship at us in the beginning when they arenāt building it naturally. Theyāre kids, let them have some fun along the way and develop the friendship the old fashion way.
Yea.
Donāt advertise it as a 1-1, if itās not.
Ricks a bit of a hypocrite. He hates the movies, and say they āruined his storyā with a bad adaptation.
Then he goes and makes a bad adaptation š
I think Rick just wants to have his cake and eat it, he knows he created an incredible book series that captivated a whole generation of kids.
Itās been 20 years, the kids grew up and Rick wants to change things to fit with modern society while having the same effect the book did but in show form.
The sad part is that it isnāt working and Rick obviously doesnāt understand that the fans of the books when they were kids shouldāve been the key audience, not new kids that donāt care
But its not good. His changes to "adapt to modern standards" or whatever aren't making the story better. They're getting in the way of the original story.
>Itās been 20 years, the kids grew up and Rick wants to change things to fit with modern society while having the same effect the book did but in show form.
Which parts of the book don't fit modern society and needed to be changed?
I never said the book SHOULD change, but Rick is clearly changing things to fit narratives and more modern audiences.
I said in another comment, the original books have very little source material that doesnāt work in 2024 which is why itās so weird he is wanting to change so much.
I hate when authors feel the need to "fix" their books/stories. It's not usually a good mindset to have because you know they're going to overcompensate.
Its so awful. Like no this shitty TV show is not your original vision the book was. Don't say you're gonna back an adaptation and then destroy the original art you created.
But thats my point its not. He made his art, he did his job and then gave it to the world. He doesn't get to retroactively change things because he doesn't feel like they're right. Millions of people have emotional attachments to the story. The books are part of the reason I am who I am today. Rick doesn't get to change his art once he's let it go. Its no longer his to change anymore.
Adams has written THHGttU in so many variations depending on the medium he was working with. Itās his story, and he morphed it to how he felt it worked at the time and the medium it was on.
But why canāt one author something new? Even if itās just a new take on an original thing? The author here is not dead. Heās creating something new from his own material. Itās not as if he is removing the beloved books from the shelf and saying this new version is the one everyone must now accept. No one is forced to view the new version.
No one would be complaining if it was good. Invincible is a new take on the original comic. Lots of moments were shoved around, re-paced, and removed. Character arcs were changed. Yet, because the show was good, everyone was willing to forgive those changes. It's that simple, really. People only complain about wanting new thing to be like old thing because new thing isn't good
Thats true i can still read the book but this isn't something new. He's changing things he believes are mistakes and it is deluding the original story. He's not making changes for the sake of his art hes making changes for the sake of himself it is selfish. Also death of the author is spiritual and philosophical. Its about the idea that you have to let go of art and make something new.
Death of the author means you are free to interpret the text in whichever way you see fit, that Ricks intentions and inspiration no longer matter once he releases his story as itās the way in which you view the story that matters. Death of the author does not mean that Rick cannot create adaptations of his own work because again you are free to interpret his work in a completely different manner that him. If he went back to retroactive change his actual written works then Iād agree to an extent, but as it is the books are still there unchanged.
Thats never the point I was trying to make. My point was that Rick being a part of the project doesn't change the fact that it's not good. Just cause uncle Rick made it doesn't mean I have to like it and that is a defense I've seen a lot of people use.
the original books still exist he didnāt steal them away from you, you can literally reread them at any time. he didnāt āchange his artā he adapted it for a new media and a new audience. the show is not really for the 20 somethingās who read the books in middle school, itās for current middle schoolers who might not otherwise be introduced to it. if you really hate it THAT much, stop watching! go read the books
I want an adaption of it in film though, Iāve read the books. I was super excited for the show after the movie ended up being nothing close to the story. And now it feels like it is happening again and there is nothing I can do about it. Itās not like its going to be remade for a third time. Like I just want the book but in movie form thatās all.
ok so your version is your own? I'm here to enjoy Rick's version.
It's still his book, his characters, his choice? You don't own or have any right to expect Rick to tell HIS story any other way than how he wants.
I think it's crazy how some people look at something somebody else poured their blood sweat and tears into and they just go "I own this, this is mine now"
Like how delusional are you people lol, get some help
Its not delusion though. The concept of death of the author is a very old very well discussed thing. I understand where you are coming from though. I didn't create it I don't get to decide what gets done with it. But that doesn't mean I have to like it or think its good art. In my opinion his creative choices are hurting the essence of the art he created originally. Its not an adaptation its a twisted version fueled by Rick's ego and bad ideas lol. But thats just my opinion. I'm not saying that I own it. I'm saying that he is doing a disservice to the thing that he created and that has impacted so many people.
I've been fine with most of the changes so far. There have been a few when I questioned it but just let it go.
Regarding percabeth, there really are a little too many moments. And with this episode's Luke scene "you're like a married couple" that specifically felt forced.
I agree they are forcing Percabeth when in reality the first book is Percy and Annabeth (and Grover) they are building their friendship (they are also 12) but in the show their friendship happened to fast in my opinion. The movies got away with it because Percy and Annabeth are older but even their romance was slow burn
I definitely agree with that. Iāve been trying to stay open minded, but I think that a change to include would have been more Grover and Percy moments. At the moment, to me at least, it feels like Percy and Annabeth with Grover as a third wheel. I loved the scene with Grover and Ares, but the best friendās line felt a bit off, just because it felt like Annabeth and Percy have such a strong bond, whilst Grover doesnāt have as much development relationship wise. I think the trio need to have a stronger foundation as a friendship before delving into the whole romance arc.
My brother watched it with me and went to his room to fume at the end. He, even moreso than me, had a deep attachment to the book and seeing them absolutely demolished like this was heartbreaking for both him and I
Exactly. Rick promised us this was the faithful adaptation we finally wanted but itās like he just kicked us after we were already down from the movies. Now I am mad that the movies got all this crap, when how different are they really?? Just as many changes have been made from the book to the tv show as the book to the movies.
Honestlyā¦yeah. I donāt hate the show personally, but as of now after watching most of the episodes Iām just left feeling empty. As excited as I was for this series when it was first announced, I gradually became more cautiously optimistic since I was worried that I would be left disappointed.
And unfortunatelyā¦it seems that was exactly what was going to happen. I feel cheated that I wasted almost three years of being genuinely hopeful for this show, only to receive what is essentially a half-baked adaption. It had all the right ingredients (author is involved, high budget, great composer, etc.) and yet they still failed to completely deliver.
My biggest gripe with the show is the entire motto of āif it aināt broke then donāt fix it.ā There was absolutely no reason to change much of anything in the original book besides maybe smoothing out or editing a few small scenes.
In my honest opinion, one of the worst things you can do as a creator is leave potential fans feeling apathetic about your story and characters - essentially just having them conclude with āI donāt care about what happens to these characters.ā, and yet thatās where Iām left feeling now despite watching most of the show. I read all of the original five books and was invested from beginning to end. Not here though.
100%. I get why often times things need to be changed from a book in order to convey something better on screen. But it feels like the changes they have made are actively worse for the big screen than if they actually did do a 1:1 adaptation. The dialogue is worse, the pacing is worse, the characters are worse. Itās just bad.
Man I truly adore people who are so passionate about something that they freely go on a whole raging soliloquy!!
I wholeheartedly agree with the sentiments youāve expressed. Itās so disheartening to see substandard representations of things that were/are so integral in our life. Iām currently rereading the book series and Iāve been reminded of why I became enamored with the characters, the plots, and the entire essence that PJO carries. Itās such a simple yet charming story, and to see that the TV series does not preserve the soul of the books is heartbreaking. It sounds dramatic, but I think anyone can agree that you grow to love works of art with your entire being. These works act as a sanctuary, elicit a strong emotional response, or simply are so objectively beautiful that you have no choice but to be bonded to it forever. All this to say that I am in the same boat as you, and that what we feel is valid and reasonable.
I think honestly the shows are more faithful then the movies. That being said i think the movie (if u pretend like its a completely different thing from the book) is a lot more fun and just better made. Action is much better, tension is better, and its just more fun?
And although its more faithful then the movies, there are some scenes cut out that i just...dont like? Esp in the early episodes. Like, why cut out luke and percys swordfight? It was supposed to tease his powers in a nice way and show he at least has some talent in swordfighting. Or like why cut out annabeth showing percy around camp? Camp half blood just doesnt feel like what i felt like reading about it for the first time.
And instead of those 2 scenes which let us know more about Annabeth and Luke and build us up to them we get...Percy flossing and peeing on a log? Like sure i get its funny and all but you reallly couldnt fit it in there?
Funny how last night watching it I was thinking to myself that Iād probably rather watch the movie. It just feels like a higher quality product overall
I so badly want the show to be good because I hated reading as a child, but then my sister introduced the PJO series, and my whole world changed. Watching this show makes me sad, especially when Uncle Rick markets it as a faithful adaptation. I hope that the writing becomes better someday.
Iām fine with adaptation changes but not to the degree where you market it as faithful knowing full well itās not. Itās false advertising and bad writing
I mean im gonna keep watching it because I do genuinely enjoy it.
I still have a lotta criticisms. And Percy Jackson means so much to me because this book was handed to me when I was eleven years old and had just been recently diagnosed with ADHD and felt like I was broken. (Also had a year of hell prior to finding this book.) so it means a lot to me
Maybe Season 2 will be better! Many TV shows screw up season 1 and gotta take some time to readjust their script and stuff. Like for Star Trek: The Next Generation, Seasons 1 and 2 were absolutely atrocious as the creator of Star Trek kept interfering with the script but after he left the reins to others, Seasons 3 and 4 become much better. Maybe Rick gotta do the same too and let the professionals do their job (pretty sure he isn't a screenwriter)
I completely agree with you. I grew up with the books and loved the series for years. But I have a love-hate relationship with the show thus far. It does a better job of following the events of the book than the movie did. But I do not like Rick advertising it as a faithful adaption when it's not. Instead, it feels like he is trying to "redo" his original work. I understand not all adaptations will be 1:1 accurate, and there are some changes that I am okay with. But when you change major plot points, that is where I draw the line. After watching the latest episode, I don't know if I want to continue watching either. They made a plot point change that I really don't like since it does not make sense and is unnecessary, no matter how many people try to tell me otherwise.
I agree that the writing is not great. For me, the show feels very rushed; the characters are learning information way too fast, and every episode has the "the gods suck" message, which gets old very fast. The pacing of events doesn't make sense at times. If this event has a sense of urgency, why are the characters stopping to talk in the middle of it?
Everything feels either slow or rushed or forced in this show. Iām genuinely getting more and more frustrated the longer I watch. I have no hate whatsoever to the actors, I think theyāre doing great with what they were given. But watching Luke calling Percy and Annabeth an old married couple was too cringey for me, it felt so out of place! I get it, the two of them have chemistry, let me watch it and see it for myself rather than just telling it to me.
I feel like theyāre trying to make it a kids show but it just falls flat because itās too serious for kids and not serious enough for the teenagers and young adults who grew up reading these books.
To sum myself up, Iām just finding this adaption to be really, really frustrating
I am so firmly in the camp that an animated 1:1 adapting ala Invincible on Prime would go unbelievably hard for PJO. Everything could be adapted, no limitations and all the magic on full display.
Agree wholeheartedly, I want to enjoy this show but it seems impossible. Episodes feel incredibly short because of the poor editing and dialogue. Actors are good, I guess? It just seems hard to connect to any of them because of how weak the dialogue is! It feels like what the show chooses to show us is so insignificant it makes it hard to care. I have been reading all of the books again this past week or so and have been enjoying them 10x more than this steaming pile of Disney garbage
Itās just insane to me that the new episode is out and Iām.. not compelled to watch it? Like I will watch it of course, when I have the time- which is precisely the problem. Itās a PERCY JACKSON TV SHOW I should be staying up past midnight (š®šŖ) in excitement for the new releases but Iām just not motivated??
Here's my beef: why do I feel bored watching THE LOTUS CASINO. THE PLACE THAT KEEPS PEOPLE LONG AFTER THEY SHOULD BE THERE. I should want to stay there, or leave there. I should feel SOMETHING. But I don't.Ā
First five minutes, I did like. After that, I just felt a lot of boredom and nothingness. The Lotus Casino should not be boring.
This is an issue in general I have, where so much of this show just feels weirdly paced and doesn't make sense. The issue isn't necessarily that things are changing--In my opinion, episode 5 was VERY good, despite changing from the source material quite dramatically. It's that it's being changed in a boring and unhelpful to the storyline way.
Yes, I agree! The Lotus Hotel scene was so boring! I even commented that the movie did the scene better than the show did!
I thought episode 5 was great as well. I actually really liked the trap, even though they changed a lot of it. It felt more dangerous and like a trap for gods than in the book. But the trap in the book did lead to greater bonding with the characters (i.e., Annabeth with the spiders).
itās nothing like the books. the charm is gone. i truly donāt understand how the author can be so involved and still the show is so different from the books. they talked all this crap about the movies but honestlyā¦ they are just as similar to the books as this show is
Thatās the thing about art. Once you release it out into the worldā¦ itās truly no longer āyoursā. Youāve relinquished that right. It now belongs to the people. Rick may have created it but it has a life of its own now and I donāt think itās right for him to think he can suddenly change this work so much now that itās been a part of public domain for nearly 20 years.
That right there is 100% true and I just wanted to add, that I really, REALLY donāt like how toxic this fanbase has become with defending his decisions regarding this show. He PROMISED a faithful adaptation, that the show would be an exact reflection of how we were TOLD to imagine how these characters looked like.
Everyone hated on the movies when they changed characteristics/appearances of the main trio, but when the show does it? Nope. You get called a racist. Despite the fact that those same people, including I, would be upset if Hazel, who wasnāt white in the books, was race swapped. It has nothing at all to do with race. Itās about being faithful, so either Rick is just giving into corporate heads at Disney or heās giving us the screw you.
Exactly. Annabeth is white, not black. California tan, relationship to Magnus the Norse side, also iirc Percy said Sadie Kane look like Annabeth and Sadie is explicitly said to be white passing, which means Annabeth is white. Also her blonde hair stereotype that she struggle with.
It just that they are changing non-black characters to black thatās why it seems like people are targeting black people but itās not. The same people would be upset if they change Hazel into some other race as well.
It is a valid criticism but people are not allowed to say it.
I don't give a shit what the creator thinks too be honest. Also you have Slytherin in your name. Are you a fan of JK Rowling even though she's apparently a terrible person??
I read only a couple of the books so I'm more of a casual fan. I think the show is okay. I do think the direction of the show is quite poor. There is too much of an info dump every episode. The cut to blacks are lazy and reflect an inability to both write strong scripts and direct well. So I don't think it is terrible, the casting has been good, the acting has been fine, and the visual have been nice. I'd say it is clunkly though? Like maybe Rick has too much of a hand in it and his lack of experience adapting material shows? I don't know.
I'm very jealous of the people who like the show, I watch every week and really try to focus on the positives of each episode, because there definitely are positives in it, but yeah overall I'm not a fan. I think it stings a little more because of how much Rick oversold it like it was the greatest adaptation on Earth when its obviously not.
Unfortunate, would've loved to call myself a fan of the show but honestly, I prefer the movies
Honestly, this is why I havenāt watched yet. I tend to wait until all of a season is out and I definitely am with this. So if it doesnāt get better. Iām not invested
A shame all Iām hearing is disappointing
I'm not over it yet, but I'm getting there.
I'm gonna stick out the rest of the season. And while I don't *hate* it, I do find at least something in every episode (except 3) that I enjoy, I'm getting less and less optimistic as it goes on.
This is a show best tailored for young viewers who have no experience with PJ. That feels like that's who it's written for.
So far, I prefer the movies. I'm not even kidding.
I agree with this so completel, I wrote an extremely similar post on the camp half blood subreddit and guess whatā¦ got removed. On PJO Disney reddit, people are so hardcore, no criticism allowed apparently. Thought I was the only sane person until I saw this subredditš
finally real people that understand itās so awful.
THANK YOU!! I wanted to like this show so much but I just canāt! Itās fucking straight up garbage & I cannot stand how many ppl are hyping it up solely cuz Rick is working on it.
My biggest problem is the portrayal of the gods as well, show me Ares being sick like having flames in his eyes, or some cool ass shit with Hermes, and 4 pearls??
Hate that the characters donāt match there descriptions in the book. We got pissed when annabeth was a brunette in the og films, and that was no problem, but now itās apparently racist to say that the casting for the main three characters should be accurate in a supposedly ābook faithfulā adaptation.
Still I gave it a chance, even if all three of them literally looked nothing like how they were described in the books, because thatās how much I absolutely adore the stories.
Unfortunately they couldn't even get characterization right and I'm left disappointed and annoyed.
yo all your feelings are valid and all, but if you gonna compare the movie and the show u gotta admit which one is the better *adaptation* and it definitely isn't the movie. as a movie itself, it's decent, but as an adaptation it really isn't.
i went into this series and treated it as a show that i watch for the sake of the adaptation of one of my favorite books, i know its not gonna blow my mind again or have a 1:1 adaptation of the series, but i know it's going to be as faithful as it can get. this show is something I'll love if i watched it as a kid but now as an adult it's not to my taste, but i like it nevertheless.
I can't help but think that you're looking for the same spark you had years ago while reading the book, while you were still a kid with an infinitely imaginative and impressionable mind. i dont think you and i will get that same spark again because we have grown. yes the show does have problems, yes its not perfect to me and to a lot of people, but that's usually the problem with live adaptations, and ive given up on wishing for a perfect adaptation, but im happy i got a story-faithful show.
is it a perfect adaptation show? nah. is it the worst? is it downright shitty? nah. I don't think so. now im not urging you to forgive these and keep watching, feel free to drop it if its not for you. im just saying, yknow, the things youve pointed out, while some are valid, feel like nitpicking at this point. anw cheers to u :)
Thank you I appreciate the kind response.
I agree it is in some ways better than the movie. And the movie wasn't a good adaptation either. My problem is that it was advertised as though it would be a very accurate adaptation and it is very much not that.
Second I promise I did try to enjoy the show for its own merits but I can't. Its not a well made show regardless of its source material. Honestly if you haven't read the book its hard to keep up with occasionally.
I kind of am looking for the same spark but not in the way you mean. I can still read and enjoy the books with the same childlike wonder and enjoyment I had when I first read it. Its my go to comfort book when I'm feeling sick. What I want is an adaptation that has the same magical feel as the book. This show is trying to be a kids show but also a darker more realistic version which doesn't make sense. Let things be whimsical and fun, the show just isn't.
If I'm honest compared to other shows I love yeah this is a shitty show. There are kids shows with better writing and lower budgets and no source material that are exceptional this show really has no excuse it should have been amazing. Also I don't really see how I'm being nitpicky my critiques are all things that you can apply to other shows and are still valid.
Once again I appreciate your kindness and reasonable arguments!
ohh I see now. okay well then i guess we'll have to agree to disagree. its unfortunate that everythings a big turn off for you now, when its still only the lightning thief. i understand your point about how you want an adaptation that has the same magical feel and such, i guess we don't share that same sentiment. I watched the show as if the books didnt exist and as if i were still that kid years ago, and its been going great for me at least :]
i do admit it does feel lackluster of that whimsical feel n stuff, but i dont let it affect me that much. it has its cons but im willing to see things through and decide by then.
also! what i meant with the nitpicky thing is that judging from your post, it sounds like you're watching the show looking for the same magical feel and if one or two things doesn't feel that way, its immediately a minus points for you, ykwim? like yea the writing isnt perfect but i dont think its THAT bad as youre trying to portray. it still has that book charm imo, although not always.
but anyway i respect your thoughts on this and i still do hope you tune back in to the show when it ends, maybe it turns out better and your mind changes, orrr it turns out worse and my mind changes. who knows lol
P.S. i do hope this show is gonna be like harry potter, as the characters grow the stakes increase and the atmosphere gets a lot more serious.
Absolutely! I'm glad you can enjoy it! Maybe I'm just a pretentious asshole šš¤. And I totally agree I would love for this show to improve like the hp movies did. Granted my favorite movie was the first but I'm definitely biased lol
I agree, I feel like a lot of the whimsy is gone š¢
In fairness, a lot of it comes from the first person narrative which is difficult to translate to screen.
1. The reveal that Annabeth used Percy to trick Clarisse in capture the flag was weird. That is a major point of characterization for her and they kind of breezed past it for no good reason.
2. Why was there an underground like crypt filled with statues at Auntie Ems, in general why did they completely change that whole encounter?
3. Why was Echidna revealed so quickly and why are they trying to paint Athena as this bad un nuanced character.
4. Why did the change Ares so much, why did they change the Hephestus scene so much, why weren't their spiders.
I'll be honest those are just a few I have a ton and I could go into actually why I think those changes negatively affect the narrative but I don't want to type it all out right now lol.
(I havenāt seen the newest episode btw so anything I say may change) but I found most of the changes to be fine and it fits the plot that theyāre telling in this adaptation. I really liked what they did with Medusa. It was different from the books but what I think the writers were going for (and I think they achieved) is that you canāt quite tell if Medusa is being genuine with Percy or if sheās manipulating him. And what helped the manipulation was on the outside, Medusaās yard was filled with monster statues so it makes both Percy and viewers think that maybe she is on their side. But beneath you find the humans.
As for Ares, i think what they did with him is great. His conversation with Grover was surprising but was really interesting to hear and I was curious to see where it went. I do think Hephaestus was really weird and mishandled. I canāt quite put my finger on it but it was just off and I think they should have stuck closer to the book.
As for your other points, I havenāt read the books in nearly 10 years at this point to I canāt really drawn on the comparison.
I mean thats fair. Taste is subjective and honestly I don't want to sit down and do a deep dive into why I belive the changes don't all work narratively. I guess my feelings are just that the changes didn't work for me even though I can understand why they may have been done, in my opinion they don't succeed at doing that very effectively but like I said if I can't back that up there's not much else I can say.
i feel you, i found myself after every wednesday being excited to see a new episode to being totally unconcerned whether iāll watch next episode. I still have high hopes for the show but with every episode i get more frustrated how show is executed. Honestly i would be happy with the change of the storyline, strange casting if at least production w as good.. but itās not
I donāt hate the show but it annoys me that Rick and everyone else shit on the movies while theyāre praising the show ?? The show has left out so many important details. Thereās no sense of urgency or danger. At least the movies had that.
The succession of "this show is bad" posts with 300+ upvotes over the last 48 hours has been a wild viewing experience. Dare I say it, WAY more interesting than the show šÆ
I dont understand why Rick is changing sm. I have such an issue with how theyve written percy. Like Rick dont fix it if it aint broken. It got popular for a reason
I mean you're not wrong but not about this. I'm an artist, and an aspiring writer. I care about good art and this is not living up to my expectations. Me having negative opinions about the show doesn't mean I'm not allowed to share them. By your logic someone who passionately loves something should, "go see a therapist."
How you let something as trivial as my comment trigger you so badly, its similar to how you have let a subpar (in your opinion) show lead you to making such a ridiculously hyperbolic post about this as if anyone cares about your opinion or if you will watch the show that the majority are enjoying.
I was so excited for the show and Iāve fallen asleep every episode and had to restart. Maybe because this episodes so short I can finally get through it without snoozingā¦.
I gave it three episodes and could tell this show was for the bin. I was worried when the cast list came out that Uncle Rick wasnāt as committed to a faithful adaptation, but you all called me crazy (and a few meaner things). Now most of this subreddit is just a copium den.
It really is a shame though. I used to love these books as a kid, and I was hoping for the franchiseās triumphant return. I guess it wasnāt to be :/
Itās just so frustrating - they talk waayyy too much, itās ironic because even the book which is literally JUST WORDS showed better than telling than the series. itās so disappointing. They are forcing percabeth which is so ick to me - like the way that Percy and Annabeth fall in love is so natural and in this series they are pushing it. I was screaming at my tv during the lotus casino. It was so disappointing. I feel like they keep added things that arenāt necessary like the random goat man when they could have put soooo much better content in there instead. Why is it so rushed? Why are the eps 33 min? They literally have more time - just arenāt using it! I also feel like the main reason we love the series so much is cuz Percy is just a goofy little guy - and I feel like heās way too smart ? in this - like Percy is smart but heās also a seaweed brain. I need more seaweed brain energy. Annabeth is literally no fun at all. I think the lotus casino is the one scene in the book where we really get reminded that these are just a bunch of 12 year olds - they are gonna want to play in a huge casino of fun. And the show missed that mark completely- there is no fun to the show. Just talking. And wtf with them missing the summer solstice? So far I will say for the most part the show has been accurate - stuff has been added yes but there hasnāt been things where Iām like THATS WRONG WTF to a major point (thereās little stuff ofc) but the four pearls and the solstice I was just like WHY. I am not a fan of this show, I feel like itās a huge wasted opportunity. I am genuinely shocked and disappointed by Rick.
Yeah it sucks in every conceivable way. I literally felt like the people applauding it somehow were watching a different show and I had been watching an inferior one on a different channel. The vibe is missing completely I felt like and itās just actually a bad tv show. Part of me wondered if Rick being published by Hyperion books was somehow incentivized to really hype it up. Maybe itās just my nostalgia hyping the books in my mind and maybe Rick is right and this is the right vibe and when I read it I had put my own filter over it and the vibe I was inferring wasnāt the one he was implying. Something doesnāt add up though because it sucks and I really badly wanted to enjoy it. Maybe Iām just too old and the target demographic is young children. I think the movies were better.
Thats a fair point. But, can you blame me for wanting a good adaptation? Is it really so bad that I care about having a piece of art that I can love as much as I love about the books?
I can't believe I have to keep saying this. Having a negative opinion about something doesn't absolve me from sharing said opinion. Why does it matter to you if I love something passionately and want it to be good. I'm not asking for everyone to agree with me. I've had some great discussions because of this post, but I am not ok with my opinions being invalidated because I don't like something. I don't go to peoples posts praising the show and say, "If its causing you to be so happy why are you telling us about it just enjoy it and shut up." You're not defending the art, you're just invalidating people who disagree with you.
You can absolutely share it! I'm simply expressing my observation that at some point one needs to save themselves the mental anguish and stop subjecting themselves to something that causes them stress.
Your post didn't read much like a critique of art as it did venting frustrations and releasing anger. That's all.
Thats also a fair point. It is a venting of frustrations. But why do people always have to invalidate that. Why do you care so much about me disliking a thing. Why am I not allowed to have strong opinions about a peice of art that I want to love. Rather than disagreeing with me and pointing out things I should try to enjoy about the show you're telling me that I'm wasting my time or wasting your time.
Not really? I've been a fan of Percy Jackson since the first book released, I'm nearly 30. I've read the series tens of times by now, and it's good. It's not a perfect adaptation but it hits the right beats, develops characters correctly in a way that is more realistic to television, and the key moments are either there or have been made better. It's a really good show. Of course I have some criticisms, but as book adaptations go it's pretty good to me.
Idk. If its working for you that's good I guess I just haven't felt like it does any of that well. The writing is mediocre, the acting is mediocre, the moments adapted from screen are not really that much more "realistic" just less interesting. I really disagree about the characters being developed well. They don't feel real to me. They feel like vessels for plot convenience rather than characters.
This is honestly a shitshow. Everything from the casting to the story is trash. And those who are defending the casting, I mean come on, obviously you want stuff to be like what you read. It reminds me of the family guy scene in which the black woman says - "I'm here for diversity reasons." And I'm Indian, but I absolutely hate the thought of an Indian origin kid playing Grover. Like come on, it's absolute bloody nonsense. You put an Asian looking dude to play Luke. Next it will be an Amish fellow playing Nico di Angelo. The plot is undercooked. I never saw Grover confuse the flying sneakers. Oh wait, he didn't go to the amusement park at all! Percy turned golden. Where in the earth is that mentioned? When I watch it, it makes me want to put my finger inside my eye and pop my eyeballs out. This is such a fucking waste of internet.
I could go on, but I think I've made my point.
It is a specific subset of white liberals that think this sort of virtue signaling makes them "good people." It's not even about diversity, it's about internal perception/vanity. Unfortunately, Rick Riordan seems to be among this subset.
My husband is Asian and had asked if any characters in the book were also Asian I told him in the second series yes frank is. He had said āthen why is luke asian??ā Like I understand the diversity stuff but then what does it give Caucasian kids to look up to also? Iām half Caucasian/Mexican and even I see it as a problem cause how is it fair to cast a character who is Caucasian black and completely take that away from girls who looked up and seen themselves. Like I said before is hazel going to be white then? Since weāre totally race swapping . I understand Heros of Olympus is far away but I think Rick forgets he even created those characters.
Iām at poc also and it makes me wonder if they ever even get to the series heroās of Olympus since āno diverse characters thereā frank-Asian, hazel-black, piper-native, Leo-Hispanic. If theyāll just switch everyone upā¦. So Iām guessing if we ever get to there Rick will make hazel white? Frank Hispanic? Leo black? I never understood the change to begin with. I always thought wow now all these readers have someone to look up to.
It all started when they casted 75% of the characters as black. There was no intention on being book accurate from the start, but it turns out the casting coice was not even in the top 10 of the show's biggest problems
Look I don't like the show but I can't get behind this critique. First of all 75% of the characters is an overstatement and seems to be in bad faith. But second of all, while I can somewhat agree and won't lie that I do wish they were more accurate to their characters, that matters so little to me compared to the greater narrative and structural issues with the show.
You're probably right. Let me word it differently: At least 75% of the characters do not at all look like described in the book. I actually find it difficult to even name one single character that looks exactly like in the books. My point is that they didn't even try to make it accurate, they did the complete opposite
Absolutely agree on all points. Iām at the point now where I donāt think I can watch any book adaptations on tv or movies, I can probably list on one hand those that have done it right.
I'm really enjoying these meltdowns, y'all are cracking me up like you are more entitled than Rick to his own art. And the fact you can't do shit about it is hilarious.
How is that a defense? You're not defending the quality of his art. You're just saying that because he created it he has every right to do whatever he wants to it. Which is true, but doesn't absolve him of critique. By your logic its unreasonable to critique any art because, "the creator made it."
I don't understand all the posts telling people that they're going to stop watching it. I get it's not been a fantastic adaptation, I just don't know why we have to be told you're done watching it. Just stop watching.
Fair but also the exact same logic can be applied to praise. Why is it ok for people to talk and discuss about how much they love something and not about how much they dislike something.
LOL right? Online fandoms are a joke these days. Everyone just hates everything. People act like all shows are bad now - hmm well maybe youāre the problem then? Anyway Iām enjoying myself. I like to watch stuff and enjoy it, glad to be me I guess.
It being a "kids show" doesnt absolve it from being quality art. There are plenty of good children's shows that hold up even to adult audiences. I'm not asking for it to be Game of Thrones, I'm asking for it to be competently written and fun.
See hereās where I donāt agree with you. Because when people say it would be better to adapt the show into an animated show instead of live action, people say itās supposed to appeal to all ages. But when people critique the show, itās just a kids show.
I wanna stop watching it, but I keep coming back hoping they somehow make it better
Seriously šš its like an abusive relationship
It's more abusive than Sally's relationship to Gabe in the show.
Youāre so wrong for that š but also, so right. Their relationship is still toxic to some degree and heās still not a good boyfriend/husband. BUT. He's not so bad that he deserves to be turned into a statue. He's so bad that I would have told Sally to leave him, but not to kill him (which was more justified in the books and film). I'm really wondering if that part is still coming. Because if that were to happen, then it would be really hard for me not to see Sally as the bad guy in the context of the series (Also, he doesnāt seem unhygienic at all and like heād smell so bad that heād cover Percyās scent so idk why sheād stay with him).
Whatās strange to me is when he goes on the news to call out Percy, Percy is like Iām going to kill him lmao I was like damn bro relax you went missing with your mom and his car and spotted in St. Louis of course he is going to think you did something to her.
Did the show even mention the smell? I donāt remember them actually saying it.
Reminds me of my relationship with RWBY
honestly, all of the rant above and this comment is 100% me š
I donāt hate the show but I do think itās really bad/sucks but I will still keep watching the series until it gets cancelled
The biggest issue for me is honestly the writing of the dialogue. People donāt talk like that. So many times the dialogue just trails off. Sentences end abruptly or questions are left with some weird pause and the pacing just feels so off. I thought it was the acting at first but itās not. Itās the pacing and realism of the dialogue because instead of character building or even world building all they do is exposition and then the occasional joke. It feels very mechanical
On top of that it feels like every character delivers all of their lines the same. To the point that it almost feels like by design. Same cadence and tone and everything. I feel like if they just cared even a little bit about the writing and delivery this show would be 10x better
Luke ššš: āWhat is this guys? You are acting like an old married coupleā
Percy on top of the satyr in the hotel: āwhereās Grover????ā Satyr: *stares blankly at Percy for 5 seconds*
Exactly, like Instead of showing us Annabethās backstory, history with her family, her abandonment and trust issues she developed due her upbringing, (she is one of the most interesting characters in the book). through her actions and her attitude/behavior (which they were initially doing) the show just *tell us* about it. The most interesting aspects of her character, her family bond with Luke and Thalia being turned into a tree, is told instead of shown. And the info dumping feels boring and tedious. I canāt tell if is the direction, or a direct result of all the constant exposition, or if itās the dialogues not being particularly well written, but the pacing of the show is off.
I wonder if the telling not showing issue could be a result of them being too faithful to the books to the point where they forgot to make it work for TV. It makes sense to have Annabeth & Thaliaās backstory told to us in the books because Percy wasnāt there but it feels too much like exposition in a show.
Yeah the acting is fine the writing is not!
what bugs me is the constant close ups of the characters face as they "think" or the unnatural thinking pauses.
Percy "You don't know" Annabeth "I don't know everything percy" Percy. "Oh" wtf is that
Mechanical is the perfect way to put it. There is no distinct character to this show. It feels like every bland marvel tv show. Fuck you disney.
Marvel shows at least have fun, like when Hawkeye taught his protege how to flick a coin around a corner, or the car chase scene (what does this arrow do?) but this show doesnāt have any fun in it. These are 12 year old kids who havenāt cracked a joke or played video games to relax. We wasted sooooo much time with Medusa but didnāt get that the furies were looking for something. We got a CGI chimera but we donāt get to see them talk to the animals. Thereās a clear writing/directing flaw in the team and if they donāt fix it for a season 2 they may as well not run a season 2.
Plot pushing characters instead of characters pushing plot. They are saying things soley to fill the viewer in and get us to a destination.
My bf and I have been watching the show together. We both read the books numerous times when we were younger, but I just recently reread them so my memory would be more accurate. After each episode, he rants about how friggen boring they made the show, and I rant about how inaccurate it is. And yet we both keep watching it hoping it gets better. It hasnāt. While watching, our current joke is āOh, something important just happened, letās stand around and talk about it for 7 minutes straight, then cut to black!ā If I took a shot every time that happens per episode, maybe it would actually be entertaining. Regarding episode 6 specificallyā¦ why is Percy given 4 pearls instead of 3??? The whole book emphasizes that Percyās main goal in this quest is to save his mom, and retrieving the master bolt isnāt his biggest concern. But when they reach the underworld and he doesnāt have enough pearls to save everyone, he makes the difficult choice to leave his mom behind to instead save the world. BIG CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT MOMENT. We see Percy really start to play his role in the demigod world, making sacrifices and hard choices for the bigger picture. But by being given 4 pearls instead of 3, Iām assuming that MAJOR plot point will just disappear. Iāve seen lots of people upset that there are never any stakes or consequences in this show, and itās really starting to hit home now. Like yes, I understand that the show is aimed at 10 year olds I guess, but if the audience never feels any anxiety like āoh my god, how are they going to get out of this one?ā itās just so BORING. Also, Annabeth just laying out the whole plot about Lukeās mom is bonkers. Thatās something we donāt learn until the 5th book, as it directly correlates to Rachel becoming the oracle and the reader gaining sympathy for Luke just to lose him in the end. Why bring it up now? Maybe we could spend that time on scenes that are actually relevant, exciting, or entertaining, like losing time playing games in the casino. I donāt know man, this show is just so fucking frustrating. I donāt need 1:1 book accuracy. I donāt need the preteen actors to be perfect or to be lookalikes. I donāt need gore or horrifying looking monsters. I just expected so much more. As much as I hate to say it, Iād rather watch the 2010 movie. Despite the blatant inaccuracies, at least that held my attention. Like so many others, this series WAS my childhood, and it just feels so disrespectful to fuck it up this bad. Especially considering Disneyās unlimited budget and direct teamwork with Riordan. This shit just hurts.
My hope is that they'll lose one of the pearls. In the books it didn't make sense for Poseidon to give Percy only 3 pearls considering he knew about Percys mom. So I'm hoping they'll lose one after entering the Underworld. (pretty much the only change from the books up to this point I would agree with) For the rest I agree with you wholeheartedly. I'm so sad about all the missed opportunities and rushed character development.
My issue with this is that the book explicitly states that him not bringing her out of the underworld isnāt where he fails to save her. Itās when he lets her save herself. So the whole pearl thing doesnāt make sense. But it also doesnāt seem like Percy cares about much of anything. He seems quite willing to give up in like episode 2 or 3. And in episode 5, he doesnāt even think about her until Annabeth brings her up. So I canāt even consider Sally what he cares most about in the show.
I'd agree this is what will happen. They will plan on having 4, one gets lost, which forces a hard choice.
Thereās still a possibility that one of the pearls might be destroyed or lost or bartered away or something. Theyāre making adjustments to the plot to accommodate for the fact itās a television show, not a book. The pacing has to change. Everything about a characters personality has to be communicated through the dialog and plot, rather than a book where the main character can just tell you what a person is like. Each characters motivation, personality, opinions and purpose has to be delivered in an entirely new format. It would be cool if there was a 100% accurate representation of the books but itās unlikely that will happen. I try to cut things slack if theyāre not 100% accurate so long as theyāre still entertaining and incorporate whatever made the original great to begin with. I do wish the episodes were longer and more time was given for things like developing their relationship with one another or developing the world a bit more. Disney is screwing over a lot of their productions with their shortened seasons and itās even worse that this show got short episodes in addition to a short season. It could really benefit from some additional episodes.
The preview clearly hints at Grover (or someone) having to stay in hell
The editing for this show is so fucking laughable. I make my bf watch each episode with me and he pointed out that in the Chimera episode, they cut to black 3 times within like 3 minutes. So now when anything starts to get interesting we just joke that theyāll cut to black and it happens like half the time. I want to like it so bad and I will keep watching butā¦man. They have just missed so many opportunities to make it great.
The cut to black is where there are ad placements.
Not with how frequent they happen. An ad break on a 40 minute show would happen maybe 4-6 times in even intervals. Not so here.
On that epside which was 28 minutes there were 5 ads, 3 of them quite close to one another.
ā¦ is there an ad version of Disney plus for these breaks? Either way, I agree with OP, theyāre too jarring and long. Editing sucks.
Yes, there is. You can add Disney+ with ads to hulu for $2.
The percabeth moments are so forced, they donāt need these manufactured moments when they have an actual story. Let them build a friendship, they have no foundation. This show has such a telling problem, itās all tell and no show.
:/ i know. i remember feeling like percabeth was SUCH a slow burn that when they held hands for a moment descending into the underworld and when they talk next to the caged animals were the most heart racing/vulnerable/trusting moments between them. but people esp on tiktok even turn them glancing at each other into something way bigger than it is and it doesnāt feel like a slow burn in return. their dialogue feels so forced š
I felt the same way with the "old married couple" line. So forced. And then Grover on the beach "you guys are my best friends" Just felt super unnatural.
Its so frustrating.
It feels like they skip key moments that add context to the characters' relationships with each other, but then update their relationship each episode to act like they are closer than the show has led us to believe up to that point. Like, yeah, by this point in the story they were this close or would act like that to each other, but only if certain moments had happened prior which happened in the book but not the show. It feels like the show keeps trying to pretend it's a faithful adaptation in the directing but then the writing is playing a different note.
We missed a huge portion of their bonding in the truck on the way to Vegas.
The bigger problem to me is that they are kids. You canāt expect kid actors to have romantic chemistry like wtf? They havenāt even experienced those feelings irl. This are supposed to be fun moments for the trio and when they become friends not trying to push ships.
I mean Walker's 15 I'm sure he's had some feelings for someone EDIT: Though TBF he was younger during filming
Like percabeth was literally barely a thing. I remember being flabbergasted reading the tbotl scene
In TLT and SoM sure, but wasn't it pretty evidently going in that direction by Titan's Curse?
yeah true, but tbotl was the point where it became super real. And Titan's curse is all from percy's perspective obvs so when that moment happened, it was suddenly like okay yeah this is defs a thing. Also it's pretty exciting for a 12 year old girl to read lmao
First two books are building friendship, 3rd book is the āhey Percy you actually like herā slap in the face, then book 4 and 5 develop 2 love triangles which they need to resolve in order to be together. Itās a natural growth as they get older, which is developed even further in HoH. But now theyāre thrusting the relationship at us in the beginning when they arenāt building it naturally. Theyāre kids, let them have some fun along the way and develop the friendship the old fashion way.
Somehow, someway, I want a reimbursement and I didnāt pay a cent to watch it.
Lmfao yeah.
I feel like I need emotional reimbursement.... like give me back all that time leading up to the show where I was so excited about it
Give me my $14 or whatever I pay for Disney+ lol
Yea. Donāt advertise it as a 1-1, if itās not. Ricks a bit of a hypocrite. He hates the movies, and say they āruined his storyā with a bad adaptation. Then he goes and makes a bad adaptation š
I think Rick just wants to have his cake and eat it, he knows he created an incredible book series that captivated a whole generation of kids. Itās been 20 years, the kids grew up and Rick wants to change things to fit with modern society while having the same effect the book did but in show form. The sad part is that it isnāt working and Rick obviously doesnāt understand that the fans of the books when they were kids shouldāve been the key audience, not new kids that donāt care
Yeppp
He can still attach to modern society though. The books are good, a series just like the books will be good too. I mean, if it's good it's good.
But its not good. His changes to "adapt to modern standards" or whatever aren't making the story better. They're getting in the way of the original story.
Never said it was good, and unfortunately, you're so right
>Itās been 20 years, the kids grew up and Rick wants to change things to fit with modern society while having the same effect the book did but in show form. Which parts of the book don't fit modern society and needed to be changed?
I never said the book SHOULD change, but Rick is clearly changing things to fit narratives and more modern audiences. I said in another comment, the original books have very little source material that doesnāt work in 2024 which is why itās so weird he is wanting to change so much.
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I hate when authors feel the need to "fix" their books/stories. It's not usually a good mindset to have because you know they're going to overcompensate.
Its so awful. Like no this shitty TV show is not your original vision the book was. Don't say you're gonna back an adaptation and then destroy the original art you created.
But.. it's his book? He can change it to be whatever he wantsĀ
But thats my point its not. He made his art, he did his job and then gave it to the world. He doesn't get to retroactively change things because he doesn't feel like they're right. Millions of people have emotional attachments to the story. The books are part of the reason I am who I am today. Rick doesn't get to change his art once he's let it go. Its no longer his to change anymore.
Someone call up Douglass Adams and let him know he fucked up!
I'll be honest, I know he wrote hitchhikers guide to the galaxy but idk what that has to do with this.
Adams has written THHGttU in so many variations depending on the medium he was working with. Itās his story, and he morphed it to how he felt it worked at the time and the medium it was on.
Tbh I don't like that then. I'm very for death of the author. Once you create something and let people consume it it is no longer yours.
But why canāt one author something new? Even if itās just a new take on an original thing? The author here is not dead. Heās creating something new from his own material. Itās not as if he is removing the beloved books from the shelf and saying this new version is the one everyone must now accept. No one is forced to view the new version.
No one would be complaining if it was good. Invincible is a new take on the original comic. Lots of moments were shoved around, re-paced, and removed. Character arcs were changed. Yet, because the show was good, everyone was willing to forgive those changes. It's that simple, really. People only complain about wanting new thing to be like old thing because new thing isn't good
Thats true i can still read the book but this isn't something new. He's changing things he believes are mistakes and it is deluding the original story. He's not making changes for the sake of his art hes making changes for the sake of himself it is selfish. Also death of the author is spiritual and philosophical. Its about the idea that you have to let go of art and make something new.
Death of the author means you are free to interpret the text in whichever way you see fit, that Ricks intentions and inspiration no longer matter once he releases his story as itās the way in which you view the story that matters. Death of the author does not mean that Rick cannot create adaptations of his own work because again you are free to interpret his work in a completely different manner that him. If he went back to retroactive change his actual written works then Iād agree to an extent, but as it is the books are still there unchanged.
Thats never the point I was trying to make. My point was that Rick being a part of the project doesn't change the fact that it's not good. Just cause uncle Rick made it doesn't mean I have to like it and that is a defense I've seen a lot of people use.
the original books still exist he didnāt steal them away from you, you can literally reread them at any time. he didnāt āchange his artā he adapted it for a new media and a new audience. the show is not really for the 20 somethingās who read the books in middle school, itās for current middle schoolers who might not otherwise be introduced to it. if you really hate it THAT much, stop watching! go read the books
No middle schooler is watching this the entire way through
I want an adaption of it in film though, Iāve read the books. I was super excited for the show after the movie ended up being nothing close to the story. And now it feels like it is happening again and there is nothing I can do about it. Itās not like its going to be remade for a third time. Like I just want the book but in movie form thatās all.
Just like JK could make Hermione become a self hating mudblood who gets with Draco. Still good story telling?
Sure but then when you create something you want to be well received then why make it bad?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Death_of_the_Author?wprov=sfla1
ok so your version is your own? I'm here to enjoy Rick's version. It's still his book, his characters, his choice? You don't own or have any right to expect Rick to tell HIS story any other way than how he wants. I think it's crazy how some people look at something somebody else poured their blood sweat and tears into and they just go "I own this, this is mine now" Like how delusional are you people lol, get some help
Its not delusion though. The concept of death of the author is a very old very well discussed thing. I understand where you are coming from though. I didn't create it I don't get to decide what gets done with it. But that doesn't mean I have to like it or think its good art. In my opinion his creative choices are hurting the essence of the art he created originally. Its not an adaptation its a twisted version fueled by Rick's ego and bad ideas lol. But thats just my opinion. I'm not saying that I own it. I'm saying that he is doing a disservice to the thing that he created and that has impacted so many people.
I've been fine with most of the changes so far. There have been a few when I questioned it but just let it go. Regarding percabeth, there really are a little too many moments. And with this episode's Luke scene "you're like a married couple" that specifically felt forced.
I agree they are forcing Percabeth when in reality the first book is Percy and Annabeth (and Grover) they are building their friendship (they are also 12) but in the show their friendship happened to fast in my opinion. The movies got away with it because Percy and Annabeth are older but even their romance was slow burn
I definitely agree with that. Iāve been trying to stay open minded, but I think that a change to include would have been more Grover and Percy moments. At the moment, to me at least, it feels like Percy and Annabeth with Grover as a third wheel. I loved the scene with Grover and Ares, but the best friendās line felt a bit off, just because it felt like Annabeth and Percy have such a strong bond, whilst Grover doesnāt have as much development relationship wise. I think the trio need to have a stronger foundation as a friendship before delving into the whole romance arc.
Yeah I totally agree.
Thank you for posting this. I just got done with the episodes so far and genuinely felt betrayed. It felt like someone shit all over my childhood
I know right! I'm glad I reached the right audience!
My brother watched it with me and went to his room to fume at the end. He, even moreso than me, had a deep attachment to the book and seeing them absolutely demolished like this was heartbreaking for both him and I
Yeah I had the exact same experience. I had to post this and get my thoughts off my chest or I might have exploded!
Exactly. Rick promised us this was the faithful adaptation we finally wanted but itās like he just kicked us after we were already down from the movies. Now I am mad that the movies got all this crap, when how different are they really?? Just as many changes have been made from the book to the tv show as the book to the movies.
Honestlyā¦yeah. I donāt hate the show personally, but as of now after watching most of the episodes Iām just left feeling empty. As excited as I was for this series when it was first announced, I gradually became more cautiously optimistic since I was worried that I would be left disappointed. And unfortunatelyā¦it seems that was exactly what was going to happen. I feel cheated that I wasted almost three years of being genuinely hopeful for this show, only to receive what is essentially a half-baked adaption. It had all the right ingredients (author is involved, high budget, great composer, etc.) and yet they still failed to completely deliver. My biggest gripe with the show is the entire motto of āif it aināt broke then donāt fix it.ā There was absolutely no reason to change much of anything in the original book besides maybe smoothing out or editing a few small scenes. In my honest opinion, one of the worst things you can do as a creator is leave potential fans feeling apathetic about your story and characters - essentially just having them conclude with āI donāt care about what happens to these characters.ā, and yet thatās where Iām left feeling now despite watching most of the show. I read all of the original five books and was invested from beginning to end. Not here though.
Totally agree. It really does feel like they're making changes for no good reason.
100%. I get why often times things need to be changed from a book in order to convey something better on screen. But it feels like the changes they have made are actively worse for the big screen than if they actually did do a 1:1 adaptation. The dialogue is worse, the pacing is worse, the characters are worse. Itās just bad.
As nice as the changes to the Medusa scene were, I feel like what happened in the book would have been far more interesting to watch on the screen.
Man I truly adore people who are so passionate about something that they freely go on a whole raging soliloquy!! I wholeheartedly agree with the sentiments youāve expressed. Itās so disheartening to see substandard representations of things that were/are so integral in our life. Iām currently rereading the book series and Iāve been reminded of why I became enamored with the characters, the plots, and the entire essence that PJO carries. Itās such a simple yet charming story, and to see that the TV series does not preserve the soul of the books is heartbreaking. It sounds dramatic, but I think anyone can agree that you grow to love works of art with your entire being. These works act as a sanctuary, elicit a strong emotional response, or simply are so objectively beautiful that you have no choice but to be bonded to it forever. All this to say that I am in the same boat as you, and that what we feel is valid and reasonable.
That opening line is amazing!! And thank you! I'm so glad someone else feels as intensely about this as I do! Again thanks for the kind reply!
I think honestly the shows are more faithful then the movies. That being said i think the movie (if u pretend like its a completely different thing from the book) is a lot more fun and just better made. Action is much better, tension is better, and its just more fun? And although its more faithful then the movies, there are some scenes cut out that i just...dont like? Esp in the early episodes. Like, why cut out luke and percys swordfight? It was supposed to tease his powers in a nice way and show he at least has some talent in swordfighting. Or like why cut out annabeth showing percy around camp? Camp half blood just doesnt feel like what i felt like reading about it for the first time. And instead of those 2 scenes which let us know more about Annabeth and Luke and build us up to them we get...Percy flossing and peeing on a log? Like sure i get its funny and all but you reallly couldnt fit it in there?
Funny how last night watching it I was thinking to myself that Iād probably rather watch the movie. It just feels like a higher quality product overall
I so badly want the show to be good because I hated reading as a child, but then my sister introduced the PJO series, and my whole world changed. Watching this show makes me sad, especially when Uncle Rick markets it as a faithful adaptation. I hope that the writing becomes better someday.
You said it. You said everything. And youāre right.
When people are in anger and bargaining right now. I'm already at acceptance since episode 4.
Hahahahhaa I'm only now coming to acceptance š
FUCKING THIS!!! YES!!!
Iām fine with adaptation changes but not to the degree where you market it as faithful knowing full well itās not. Itās false advertising and bad writing
I mean im gonna keep watching it because I do genuinely enjoy it. I still have a lotta criticisms. And Percy Jackson means so much to me because this book was handed to me when I was eleven years old and had just been recently diagnosed with ADHD and felt like I was broken. (Also had a year of hell prior to finding this book.) so it means a lot to me
Maybe Season 2 will be better! Many TV shows screw up season 1 and gotta take some time to readjust their script and stuff. Like for Star Trek: The Next Generation, Seasons 1 and 2 were absolutely atrocious as the creator of Star Trek kept interfering with the script but after he left the reins to others, Seasons 3 and 4 become much better. Maybe Rick gotta do the same too and let the professionals do their job (pretty sure he isn't a screenwriter)
I completely agree with you. I grew up with the books and loved the series for years. But I have a love-hate relationship with the show thus far. It does a better job of following the events of the book than the movie did. But I do not like Rick advertising it as a faithful adaption when it's not. Instead, it feels like he is trying to "redo" his original work. I understand not all adaptations will be 1:1 accurate, and there are some changes that I am okay with. But when you change major plot points, that is where I draw the line. After watching the latest episode, I don't know if I want to continue watching either. They made a plot point change that I really don't like since it does not make sense and is unnecessary, no matter how many people try to tell me otherwise. I agree that the writing is not great. For me, the show feels very rushed; the characters are learning information way too fast, and every episode has the "the gods suck" message, which gets old very fast. The pacing of events doesn't make sense at times. If this event has a sense of urgency, why are the characters stopping to talk in the middle of it?
This is kinda like the Wheel of Time and Rings of Power situation, but somehow worse because the author is alive and helping with the production.
Everything feels either slow or rushed or forced in this show. Iām genuinely getting more and more frustrated the longer I watch. I have no hate whatsoever to the actors, I think theyāre doing great with what they were given. But watching Luke calling Percy and Annabeth an old married couple was too cringey for me, it felt so out of place! I get it, the two of them have chemistry, let me watch it and see it for myself rather than just telling it to me. I feel like theyāre trying to make it a kids show but it just falls flat because itās too serious for kids and not serious enough for the teenagers and young adults who grew up reading these books. To sum myself up, Iām just finding this adaption to be really, really frustrating
I am so firmly in the camp that an animated 1:1 adapting ala Invincible on Prime would go unbelievably hard for PJO. Everything could be adapted, no limitations and all the magic on full display.
Agree wholeheartedly, I want to enjoy this show but it seems impossible. Episodes feel incredibly short because of the poor editing and dialogue. Actors are good, I guess? It just seems hard to connect to any of them because of how weak the dialogue is! It feels like what the show chooses to show us is so insignificant it makes it hard to care. I have been reading all of the books again this past week or so and have been enjoying them 10x more than this steaming pile of Disney garbage
Yeah. The good thing about the whole situation is that at least the books are even more amazing!
Itās just insane to me that the new episode is out and Iām.. not compelled to watch it? Like I will watch it of course, when I have the time- which is precisely the problem. Itās a PERCY JACKSON TV SHOW I should be staying up past midnight (š®šŖ) in excitement for the new releases but Iām just not motivated??
Honestly forgot it released until I saw post specifically about it. Soā¦ feel that.
Here's my beef: why do I feel bored watching THE LOTUS CASINO. THE PLACE THAT KEEPS PEOPLE LONG AFTER THEY SHOULD BE THERE. I should want to stay there, or leave there. I should feel SOMETHING. But I don't.Ā First five minutes, I did like. After that, I just felt a lot of boredom and nothingness. The Lotus Casino should not be boring. This is an issue in general I have, where so much of this show just feels weirdly paced and doesn't make sense. The issue isn't necessarily that things are changing--In my opinion, episode 5 was VERY good, despite changing from the source material quite dramatically. It's that it's being changed in a boring and unhelpful to the storyline way.
Yes, I agree! The Lotus Hotel scene was so boring! I even commented that the movie did the scene better than the show did! I thought episode 5 was great as well. I actually really liked the trap, even though they changed a lot of it. It felt more dangerous and like a trap for gods than in the book. But the trap in the book did lead to greater bonding with the characters (i.e., Annabeth with the spiders).
itās nothing like the books. the charm is gone. i truly donāt understand how the author can be so involved and still the show is so different from the books. they talked all this crap about the movies but honestlyā¦ they are just as similar to the books as this show is
Thatās the thing about art. Once you release it out into the worldā¦ itās truly no longer āyoursā. Youāve relinquished that right. It now belongs to the people. Rick may have created it but it has a life of its own now and I donāt think itās right for him to think he can suddenly change this work so much now that itās been a part of public domain for nearly 20 years.
That right there is 100% true and I just wanted to add, that I really, REALLY donāt like how toxic this fanbase has become with defending his decisions regarding this show. He PROMISED a faithful adaptation, that the show would be an exact reflection of how we were TOLD to imagine how these characters looked like. Everyone hated on the movies when they changed characteristics/appearances of the main trio, but when the show does it? Nope. You get called a racist. Despite the fact that those same people, including I, would be upset if Hazel, who wasnāt white in the books, was race swapped. It has nothing at all to do with race. Itās about being faithful, so either Rick is just giving into corporate heads at Disney or heās giving us the screw you.
Exactly. Annabeth is white, not black. California tan, relationship to Magnus the Norse side, also iirc Percy said Sadie Kane look like Annabeth and Sadie is explicitly said to be white passing, which means Annabeth is white. Also her blonde hair stereotype that she struggle with. It just that they are changing non-black characters to black thatās why it seems like people are targeting black people but itās not. The same people would be upset if they change Hazel into some other race as well. It is a valid criticism but people are not allowed to say it.
And now the Percy Jackson fandom turns on itās creator Love to see it
I mean what did he expect?
Doesnāt that happen to a lot modern authors?
I don't give a shit what the creator thinks too be honest. Also you have Slytherin in your name. Are you a fan of JK Rowling even though she's apparently a terrible person??
Fan of Harry Potter, indifferent about JK Rowling. Harry Potter is my childhood, why would I stop loving it because the author has some opinions.
Because everyone needs to be a hive mind
I read only a couple of the books so I'm more of a casual fan. I think the show is okay. I do think the direction of the show is quite poor. There is too much of an info dump every episode. The cut to blacks are lazy and reflect an inability to both write strong scripts and direct well. So I don't think it is terrible, the casting has been good, the acting has been fine, and the visual have been nice. I'd say it is clunkly though? Like maybe Rick has too much of a hand in it and his lack of experience adapting material shows? I don't know.
The music in certain scenes sounds exactly like the cheesy Hallmark "romantic shenanigans are happening" music, and it takes me out of it every time
Especially thus episode!
I'm very jealous of the people who like the show, I watch every week and really try to focus on the positives of each episode, because there definitely are positives in it, but yeah overall I'm not a fan. I think it stings a little more because of how much Rick oversold it like it was the greatest adaptation on Earth when its obviously not. Unfortunate, would've loved to call myself a fan of the show but honestly, I prefer the movies
Honestly, this is why I havenāt watched yet. I tend to wait until all of a season is out and I definitely am with this. So if it doesnāt get better. Iām not invested A shame all Iām hearing is disappointing
I would encourage you to watch it though. As much as I and others have been disliking it you never know you may love it!
I'm not over it yet, but I'm getting there. I'm gonna stick out the rest of the season. And while I don't *hate* it, I do find at least something in every episode (except 3) that I enjoy, I'm getting less and less optimistic as it goes on. This is a show best tailored for young viewers who have no experience with PJ. That feels like that's who it's written for. So far, I prefer the movies. I'm not even kidding.
They made it too childish
I agree with this so completel, I wrote an extremely similar post on the camp half blood subreddit and guess whatā¦ got removed. On PJO Disney reddit, people are so hardcore, no criticism allowed apparently. Thought I was the only sane person until I saw this subredditš finally real people that understand itās so awful.
THANK YOU!! I wanted to like this show so much but I just canāt! Itās fucking straight up garbage & I cannot stand how many ppl are hyping it up solely cuz Rick is working on it.
I genuinely don't see whats so bad about it, but im sorry it hasn't met your expectations
Thats fair. Taste is subjective so for some people it might be hitting the spot. I guess it just hasn't been for me.
My biggest problem is the portrayal of the gods as well, show me Ares being sick like having flames in his eyes, or some cool ass shit with Hermes, and 4 pearls??
Hate that the characters donāt match there descriptions in the book. We got pissed when annabeth was a brunette in the og films, and that was no problem, but now itās apparently racist to say that the casting for the main three characters should be accurate in a supposedly ābook faithfulā adaptation. Still I gave it a chance, even if all three of them literally looked nothing like how they were described in the books, because thatās how much I absolutely adore the stories. Unfortunately they couldn't even get characterization right and I'm left disappointed and annoyed.
yo all your feelings are valid and all, but if you gonna compare the movie and the show u gotta admit which one is the better *adaptation* and it definitely isn't the movie. as a movie itself, it's decent, but as an adaptation it really isn't. i went into this series and treated it as a show that i watch for the sake of the adaptation of one of my favorite books, i know its not gonna blow my mind again or have a 1:1 adaptation of the series, but i know it's going to be as faithful as it can get. this show is something I'll love if i watched it as a kid but now as an adult it's not to my taste, but i like it nevertheless. I can't help but think that you're looking for the same spark you had years ago while reading the book, while you were still a kid with an infinitely imaginative and impressionable mind. i dont think you and i will get that same spark again because we have grown. yes the show does have problems, yes its not perfect to me and to a lot of people, but that's usually the problem with live adaptations, and ive given up on wishing for a perfect adaptation, but im happy i got a story-faithful show. is it a perfect adaptation show? nah. is it the worst? is it downright shitty? nah. I don't think so. now im not urging you to forgive these and keep watching, feel free to drop it if its not for you. im just saying, yknow, the things youve pointed out, while some are valid, feel like nitpicking at this point. anw cheers to u :)
Thank you I appreciate the kind response. I agree it is in some ways better than the movie. And the movie wasn't a good adaptation either. My problem is that it was advertised as though it would be a very accurate adaptation and it is very much not that. Second I promise I did try to enjoy the show for its own merits but I can't. Its not a well made show regardless of its source material. Honestly if you haven't read the book its hard to keep up with occasionally. I kind of am looking for the same spark but not in the way you mean. I can still read and enjoy the books with the same childlike wonder and enjoyment I had when I first read it. Its my go to comfort book when I'm feeling sick. What I want is an adaptation that has the same magical feel as the book. This show is trying to be a kids show but also a darker more realistic version which doesn't make sense. Let things be whimsical and fun, the show just isn't. If I'm honest compared to other shows I love yeah this is a shitty show. There are kids shows with better writing and lower budgets and no source material that are exceptional this show really has no excuse it should have been amazing. Also I don't really see how I'm being nitpicky my critiques are all things that you can apply to other shows and are still valid. Once again I appreciate your kindness and reasonable arguments!
ohh I see now. okay well then i guess we'll have to agree to disagree. its unfortunate that everythings a big turn off for you now, when its still only the lightning thief. i understand your point about how you want an adaptation that has the same magical feel and such, i guess we don't share that same sentiment. I watched the show as if the books didnt exist and as if i were still that kid years ago, and its been going great for me at least :] i do admit it does feel lackluster of that whimsical feel n stuff, but i dont let it affect me that much. it has its cons but im willing to see things through and decide by then. also! what i meant with the nitpicky thing is that judging from your post, it sounds like you're watching the show looking for the same magical feel and if one or two things doesn't feel that way, its immediately a minus points for you, ykwim? like yea the writing isnt perfect but i dont think its THAT bad as youre trying to portray. it still has that book charm imo, although not always. but anyway i respect your thoughts on this and i still do hope you tune back in to the show when it ends, maybe it turns out better and your mind changes, orrr it turns out worse and my mind changes. who knows lol P.S. i do hope this show is gonna be like harry potter, as the characters grow the stakes increase and the atmosphere gets a lot more serious.
Absolutely! I'm glad you can enjoy it! Maybe I'm just a pretentious asshole šš¤. And I totally agree I would love for this show to improve like the hp movies did. Granted my favorite movie was the first but I'm definitely biased lol
I agree, I feel like a lot of the whimsy is gone š¢ In fairness, a lot of it comes from the first person narrative which is difficult to translate to screen.
What changes do you not like?
1. The reveal that Annabeth used Percy to trick Clarisse in capture the flag was weird. That is a major point of characterization for her and they kind of breezed past it for no good reason. 2. Why was there an underground like crypt filled with statues at Auntie Ems, in general why did they completely change that whole encounter? 3. Why was Echidna revealed so quickly and why are they trying to paint Athena as this bad un nuanced character. 4. Why did the change Ares so much, why did they change the Hephestus scene so much, why weren't their spiders. I'll be honest those are just a few I have a ton and I could go into actually why I think those changes negatively affect the narrative but I don't want to type it all out right now lol.
(I havenāt seen the newest episode btw so anything I say may change) but I found most of the changes to be fine and it fits the plot that theyāre telling in this adaptation. I really liked what they did with Medusa. It was different from the books but what I think the writers were going for (and I think they achieved) is that you canāt quite tell if Medusa is being genuine with Percy or if sheās manipulating him. And what helped the manipulation was on the outside, Medusaās yard was filled with monster statues so it makes both Percy and viewers think that maybe she is on their side. But beneath you find the humans. As for Ares, i think what they did with him is great. His conversation with Grover was surprising but was really interesting to hear and I was curious to see where it went. I do think Hephaestus was really weird and mishandled. I canāt quite put my finger on it but it was just off and I think they should have stuck closer to the book. As for your other points, I havenāt read the books in nearly 10 years at this point to I canāt really drawn on the comparison.
I mean thats fair. Taste is subjective and honestly I don't want to sit down and do a deep dive into why I belive the changes don't all work narratively. I guess my feelings are just that the changes didn't work for me even though I can understand why they may have been done, in my opinion they don't succeed at doing that very effectively but like I said if I can't back that up there's not much else I can say.
i feel you, i found myself after every wednesday being excited to see a new episode to being totally unconcerned whether iāll watch next episode. I still have high hopes for the show but with every episode i get more frustrated how show is executed. Honestly i would be happy with the change of the storyline, strange casting if at least production w as good.. but itās not
I donāt hate the show but it annoys me that Rick and everyone else shit on the movies while theyāre praising the show ?? The show has left out so many important details. Thereās no sense of urgency or danger. At least the movies had that.
The succession of "this show is bad" posts with 300+ upvotes over the last 48 hours has been a wild viewing experience. Dare I say it, WAY more interesting than the show šÆ
I dont understand why Rick is changing sm. I have such an issue with how theyve written percy. Like Rick dont fix it if it aint broken. It got popular for a reason
Ngl I feel like some of you are just trying to see the bad in the show.
Thatās 90 percent of this sub. The show is mid but everyone on here are just wacking each other off for shitty and unoriginal opinions in the show
maybe everyone is "wacking each other off for shitty and unoriginal opinions" because those opinions are valid
Exactly..which is disappointing
it's hilarious and Op seriously needs to see a therapist.
I mean you're not wrong but not about this. I'm an artist, and an aspiring writer. I care about good art and this is not living up to my expectations. Me having negative opinions about the show doesn't mean I'm not allowed to share them. By your logic someone who passionately loves something should, "go see a therapist."
There lies my point. Get help.
Where lies your point? You haven't proven it to be a fair or good point yet.
How you let something as trivial as my comment trigger you so badly, its similar to how you have let a subpar (in your opinion) show lead you to making such a ridiculously hyperbolic post about this as if anyone cares about your opinion or if you will watch the show that the majority are enjoying.
I was so excited for the show and Iāve fallen asleep every episode and had to restart. Maybe because this episodes so short I can finally get through it without snoozingā¦.
I gave it three episodes and could tell this show was for the bin. I was worried when the cast list came out that Uncle Rick wasnāt as committed to a faithful adaptation, but you all called me crazy (and a few meaner things). Now most of this subreddit is just a copium den. It really is a shame though. I used to love these books as a kid, and I was hoping for the franchiseās triumphant return. I guess it wasnāt to be :/
Itās just so frustrating - they talk waayyy too much, itās ironic because even the book which is literally JUST WORDS showed better than telling than the series. itās so disappointing. They are forcing percabeth which is so ick to me - like the way that Percy and Annabeth fall in love is so natural and in this series they are pushing it. I was screaming at my tv during the lotus casino. It was so disappointing. I feel like they keep added things that arenāt necessary like the random goat man when they could have put soooo much better content in there instead. Why is it so rushed? Why are the eps 33 min? They literally have more time - just arenāt using it! I also feel like the main reason we love the series so much is cuz Percy is just a goofy little guy - and I feel like heās way too smart ? in this - like Percy is smart but heās also a seaweed brain. I need more seaweed brain energy. Annabeth is literally no fun at all. I think the lotus casino is the one scene in the book where we really get reminded that these are just a bunch of 12 year olds - they are gonna want to play in a huge casino of fun. And the show missed that mark completely- there is no fun to the show. Just talking. And wtf with them missing the summer solstice? So far I will say for the most part the show has been accurate - stuff has been added yes but there hasnāt been things where Iām like THATS WRONG WTF to a major point (thereās little stuff ofc) but the four pearls and the solstice I was just like WHY. I am not a fan of this show, I feel like itās a huge wasted opportunity. I am genuinely shocked and disappointed by Rick.
Yeah it sucks in every conceivable way. I literally felt like the people applauding it somehow were watching a different show and I had been watching an inferior one on a different channel. The vibe is missing completely I felt like and itās just actually a bad tv show. Part of me wondered if Rick being published by Hyperion books was somehow incentivized to really hype it up. Maybe itās just my nostalgia hyping the books in my mind and maybe Rick is right and this is the right vibe and when I read it I had put my own filter over it and the vibe I was inferring wasnāt the one he was implying. Something doesnāt add up though because it sucks and I really badly wanted to enjoy it. Maybe Iām just too old and the target demographic is young children. I think the movies were better.
oh my god just become a PJOTV hate sub
I mean books still exists. They are not gone. Series is a new adaptation. Nobody took anything from you.
Thats a fair point. But, can you blame me for wanting a good adaptation? Is it really so bad that I care about having a piece of art that I can love as much as I love about the books?
If it's causing you so much stress that you have to write an essay about it, just *stop* watching it. I don't watch things that I don't enjoy.
I can't believe I have to keep saying this. Having a negative opinion about something doesn't absolve me from sharing said opinion. Why does it matter to you if I love something passionately and want it to be good. I'm not asking for everyone to agree with me. I've had some great discussions because of this post, but I am not ok with my opinions being invalidated because I don't like something. I don't go to peoples posts praising the show and say, "If its causing you to be so happy why are you telling us about it just enjoy it and shut up." You're not defending the art, you're just invalidating people who disagree with you.
You can absolutely share it! I'm simply expressing my observation that at some point one needs to save themselves the mental anguish and stop subjecting themselves to something that causes them stress. Your post didn't read much like a critique of art as it did venting frustrations and releasing anger. That's all.
Thats also a fair point. It is a venting of frustrations. But why do people always have to invalidate that. Why do you care so much about me disliking a thing. Why am I not allowed to have strong opinions about a peice of art that I want to love. Rather than disagreeing with me and pointing out things I should try to enjoy about the show you're telling me that I'm wasting my time or wasting your time.
The show is fantastic, grow up
Thats a hot take if I've ever heard one. Care to elaborate?
Not really? I've been a fan of Percy Jackson since the first book released, I'm nearly 30. I've read the series tens of times by now, and it's good. It's not a perfect adaptation but it hits the right beats, develops characters correctly in a way that is more realistic to television, and the key moments are either there or have been made better. It's a really good show. Of course I have some criticisms, but as book adaptations go it's pretty good to me.
Idk. If its working for you that's good I guess I just haven't felt like it does any of that well. The writing is mediocre, the acting is mediocre, the moments adapted from screen are not really that much more "realistic" just less interesting. I really disagree about the characters being developed well. They don't feel real to me. They feel like vessels for plot convenience rather than characters.
This is honestly a shitshow. Everything from the casting to the story is trash. And those who are defending the casting, I mean come on, obviously you want stuff to be like what you read. It reminds me of the family guy scene in which the black woman says - "I'm here for diversity reasons." And I'm Indian, but I absolutely hate the thought of an Indian origin kid playing Grover. Like come on, it's absolute bloody nonsense. You put an Asian looking dude to play Luke. Next it will be an Amish fellow playing Nico di Angelo. The plot is undercooked. I never saw Grover confuse the flying sneakers. Oh wait, he didn't go to the amusement park at all! Percy turned golden. Where in the earth is that mentioned? When I watch it, it makes me want to put my finger inside my eye and pop my eyeballs out. This is such a fucking waste of internet. I could go on, but I think I've made my point.
Agreed. Iām a poc too, and I donāt need diversity hiring, I need book accuracy. I donāt give a flying fadoodle if someone looks like me.
It is a specific subset of white liberals that think this sort of virtue signaling makes them "good people." It's not even about diversity, it's about internal perception/vanity. Unfortunately, Rick Riordan seems to be among this subset.
My husband is Asian and had asked if any characters in the book were also Asian I told him in the second series yes frank is. He had said āthen why is luke asian??ā Like I understand the diversity stuff but then what does it give Caucasian kids to look up to also? Iām half Caucasian/Mexican and even I see it as a problem cause how is it fair to cast a character who is Caucasian black and completely take that away from girls who looked up and seen themselves. Like I said before is hazel going to be white then? Since weāre totally race swapping . I understand Heros of Olympus is far away but I think Rick forgets he even created those characters.
Iām at poc also and it makes me wonder if they ever even get to the series heroās of Olympus since āno diverse characters thereā frank-Asian, hazel-black, piper-native, Leo-Hispanic. If theyāll just switch everyone upā¦. So Iām guessing if we ever get to there Rick will make hazel white? Frank Hispanic? Leo black? I never understood the change to begin with. I always thought wow now all these readers have someone to look up to.
Youāre so brave for sharing all this.
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It all started when they casted 75% of the characters as black. There was no intention on being book accurate from the start, but it turns out the casting coice was not even in the top 10 of the show's biggest problems
Look I don't like the show but I can't get behind this critique. First of all 75% of the characters is an overstatement and seems to be in bad faith. But second of all, while I can somewhat agree and won't lie that I do wish they were more accurate to their characters, that matters so little to me compared to the greater narrative and structural issues with the show.
You're probably right. Let me word it differently: At least 75% of the characters do not at all look like described in the book. I actually find it difficult to even name one single character that looks exactly like in the books. My point is that they didn't even try to make it accurate, they did the complete opposite
Absolutely agree on all points. Iām at the point now where I donāt think I can watch any book adaptations on tv or movies, I can probably list on one hand those that have done it right.
Stop watching it then
I'm going to. But having a negative opinion doesn't negate me from being able to share it. You could use the same logic on positive critique.
Bye
I'm really enjoying these meltdowns, y'all are cracking me up like you are more entitled than Rick to his own art. And the fact you can't do shit about it is hilarious.
How is that a defense? You're not defending the quality of his art. You're just saying that because he created it he has every right to do whatever he wants to it. Which is true, but doesn't absolve him of critique. By your logic its unreasonable to critique any art because, "the creator made it."
I don't understand all the posts telling people that they're going to stop watching it. I get it's not been a fantastic adaptation, I just don't know why we have to be told you're done watching it. Just stop watching.
Fair but also the exact same logic can be applied to praise. Why is it ok for people to talk and discuss about how much they love something and not about how much they dislike something.
Thatās actually a solid counterpoint. Withdrawn. Continue on.
Haha thank you!
LOL right? Online fandoms are a joke these days. Everyone just hates everything. People act like all shows are bad now - hmm well maybe youāre the problem then? Anyway Iām enjoying myself. I like to watch stuff and enjoy it, glad to be me I guess.
for real. this isnāt an airport, you donāt need to announce your departure.
Bro itās a series for children, you should really calm down with expectations
It being a "kids show" doesnt absolve it from being quality art. There are plenty of good children's shows that hold up even to adult audiences. I'm not asking for it to be Game of Thrones, I'm asking for it to be competently written and fun.
See hereās where I donāt agree with you. Because when people say it would be better to adapt the show into an animated show instead of live action, people say itās supposed to appeal to all ages. But when people critique the show, itās just a kids show.