When one door to the Underworld closes, another one opens on Percy Jackson and the Olympians Episode 7, “We Find Out the Truth, Sort Of.”
Like its predecessors, Percy Jackson and the Olympians Episode 7 zips through a lot of plot in thirty minutes, but still spends enough time building the Underworld up into feeling like a real place. From the appearance of Cerberus to the Fields of Asphodel, you get a nice little tour before meeting with the big bad guy.
Instead of swirling sulfur or fiery pits, the Underworld is gray and drab and almost post-modern, which is a nice corollary to Olympus being located in modern New York City.
Despite the show doing a speed-run through all the danger, there are still some gasp-worthy moments that will have you worried for our Demigods. Grover almost gets pulled into the pits of Tartarus by his flying shoes going berserk, and Annabeth has to make an early exit when she gets stuck in the fields.
Oh and they lose the fourth pearl, so book fans will be happy to know Percy didn’t have enough pearls to save his mom after all. Before he can make the heroic sacrifice to send her back and stay in the Underworld there’s some hilarious miscommunication with Hades.
Percy “Not the Lightning Thief” Jackson discovers the Master Bolt hidden in the backpack Ares gave him and assumes he was working with Hades. The only problem is Hades has no idea what he’s talking about.
Jay Duplass’ Hades is a little more understated than we’re used to seeing the god depicted but still cunning. His desire to stay out of his siblings’ drama seems downright admirable.
In fact, Hades also had something stolen, his Helm of Darkness, and thinks Percy is the one who has it. People really have to stop accusing poor Percy of things!
It’s important to remember we still don’t know who originally stole the bolt or helm since the gods cannot steal from other gods. So there are layers upon layers to this mystery.
So technically Percy finishes his quest and finds the Master Bolt, but now he’s got to solve this whole other problem of who set up him up. Somehow Percy realizes it must be Kronos, the Titan father of all gods, who is out for revenge and who he’s been hearing in his dreams.
Hades wants to offer sanctuary in exchange for keeping the Master Bolt to save his own skin in a war against Kronos, but Percy decides he has to finish his quest anyway and warn Olympus.
This means he doesn’t get his mom back, at least not yet.
This sacrifice made by Percy dovetails nicely with the flashbacks shown in the episode of Sally having to send Percy to boarding school and struggling to raise him outside of Camp Halfblood. Poor young Percy doesn’t understand why his mom is always trying to get rid of him, and Virginia Kull and Azriel Dalman will break your heart into a million pieces with this plotline.
For a kid’s show, it’s a very mature portrayal of the sacrifices and struggles parents have to go through doing something that’s in their child’s best interest even if it doesn’t feel like the right thing in the moment. Percy is learning on this episode that sometimes sacrifices must be made.
We also see our first appearance of Poseidon (Toby Stephens), whom Sally calls upon in the flashback for advice (the burnt offering of an ice cream sundae is a nice touch).
The scene communicates how much he does care for Percy, and Sally, and how badly he wants to help. But as the roar of thunder overhead when Sally asks if he wants to talk to Percy suggests he knows being involved in his son’s life will only bring more trouble from the gods.
Poseidon swears to stand beside Percy when the day comes that he is ready and knows who he is. It’s a really powerful moment, that sets Percy up for a finale that will have him go toe to toe with the gods.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians streams Tuesdays at 9 PM ET / 6 PM PT on Disney+.