Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 1 finale, “The Prophecy Comes True,” Spoilers Ahead
Percy Jackson and the Olympians teases Poseidon’s incoming appearance like a pet owner dangling a stuffed toy and then pulling it to unreachable heights. He’s there in the shadows—the most prominent presence next to the three core kids, and yet, we don’t see him. Last week’s penultimate episode, “We Find Out the Truth, Sort Of,” finally alters the course and brings Toby Stephens’ King of the Sea to our screens in a hauntingly gorgeous conversation with Virginia Kull’s Sally Jackson. Worth every beat in that moment, but the father and son meeting we get in the finale is everything we could’ve hoped for.
But before we get into Percy and Poseidon, we need to go back to the quiet corner of the restaurant. Sally and Poseidon’s conversation is so haunting—so raw and riveting in its writing that I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it since watching. It’s a moment that stays with you, however brief, because it’s overflowing with so many layers that there’s no other way to look at it. They are two characters who shouldn’t have gotten together, but it’s clear from that moment that there’s so much more than a forbidden romance. There’s a significant dose of love beyond the hardships, tremendous respect, and something almost untouchable. Thus, when Poseidon promises to be by Percy’s side when he needs him the most, it becomes a worthwhile reality in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 1 finale.
The conversation between father and son could’ve gone in a myriad of ways, and how Craig Silverstein’s dialogue with Jet Wilkinson’s directing frames the performances adds tremendous depth to a moment that could’ve otherwise been good but not great. Instead, through the integrated efforts and thoughtful decisions, it results in the type of scene that speaks to the series’ essence while touching on humanity with such intricacy that it packs multiple punches jolts. Poseidon was always going to show up when his kid needed him the most, and thus, coming in between a confrontation with Zeus feels that much more extraordinary. You know it’s happening the moment that it does, yet the knowledge doesn’t change how earned it feels.
To top it all off, the quiet moment between the two is so simple, so intricately tethered to who they are as characters, that it makes the interaction far more special than any other conversation could’ve been. Genetics and whatnot are one thing, but when Percy asks Poseidon if demigods dream, then follows it by inquiring about whether he’s ever dreamed of his mother, something phenomenal sparks through the innocence and heart. It is, in short, an unmatched way for father and son to speak. Both Stephens and Walker Scobell are remarkable in conveying a sea of emotions in a brief moment as wordless sentiments say all that’s necessary for now. At the same time, Poseidon’s confirmation that they do dream shows both the audience and Percy that he isn’t just a deadbeat father—he’s so much more. He’s been there. He’s been keeping an eye. He’ll be there again when Percy needs him.
It needs to be reiterated that Walker Scobell is especially brilliant at embodying so much with so little at a young age. How he goes from shocked to hopeful to heartbroken in a span of a few seconds is undeniably excellent, resulting in an even more powerful depiction of a reunion that’s been a long time coming. As we know, there’s so much more to this story, but this short scene cements that Percy Jackson isn’t alone. The Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 1 finale ultimately ties this theme of community and prophesy throughout the entire episode, bringing the story back to Percy and his mother to reveal how much of it is all for her.
With this in mind, it begs the question of how much Poseidon’s actions are for Sally, too. The expressions he wears aren’t that of a one-and-done hit-it-and-quit-it libertine demigod—there’s something more for Sally and the forbidden romance that should’ve never happened. There’s a lot of love still lingering there—a lot of what-ifs and maybes swirling through the water. And how Season 2 potentially shows this, if (hopefully) when it does, it could result in something so extraordinary.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 1 finale is as close to perfect as it gets. It wraps up what’s necessary while leaving all the untouched stories we didn’t get to waiting in the shadows. It gives us enough to satisfy by touching base with all the seeds that have been planted, and it makes every instant a real treat. From the writing to the directing and every single performance, it ensures that the first season stands as an exceptional debut.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 1 is now streaming on Disney+.