On December 13th, I had the pleasure of attending the pre-screening of the third episode of the second season of Percy Jackson and the Olympians, the new adaptation of Rick Riordan’s beloved book series.

In this second season, Percy returns to Camp Half-Blood on his second year, following the events of The Lightning Thief, only to discover that the camp is once again under the threat from the forces of Kronos. Grover has disappeared, and Percy must venture into the Sea of Monsters to retrieve the Golden Fleece – thus adapting the second instalment of his journey, The Sea of Monsters.

This fan-centered event, created by Penguin Random House in collaboration with Disney+, invited us to explore the details from both, the previous and upcoming season, shaping an immersive space filled with iconic elements from the series itself.

Upon entering the experience, attendees were handed a ticket to redeem at the legendary Hermes Express. There, at random, you could receive either a camper-style necklace, a Camp Half-Blood t-shirt, or one of the books from the saga. While this gesture felt generous on the organizers’ part, it also came across as slightly unbalanced. From my perspective, having attended similar events, it might have felt more inclusive to offer a standard pack (necklace and t-shirt), with books awarded randomly to a few lucky attendees later on. A detail that could certainly be refined for a future third season, making the experience feel more equitable for everyone involved.

Beyond this point, we encountered the three Grey Sisters, ready to read our future, if only we stopped to listen. Almost as if under their watchful guard stood a display case holding Luke/Hermes’ iconic flying shoes, drachmas, and several of the saga’s books. All of this unfolded amid a sea of people trying to capture every detail on camera. Entering felt like stepping into a mythological quest in the truest sense of the word.

To conclude this journey through the series’ many corners, we reached the legendary taxi used by the Grey Sisters to transport Percy, Annabeth, and Tyson back to Camp Half-Blood. It was undeniably epic and, unsurprisingly, surrounded by crowds eager to claim their own prophetic moment.

Then came the long-awaited moment: entering the main theater to watch the third episode. Armed with popcorn and water, we had no idea what awaited us. Without warning, Rick Riordan himself appeared on stage. Warm, kind, and utterly charming – whether he had memorised his Spanish lines or already spoke the language, none of us could tell – but he won us over instantly with his joy and generosity in sharing this moment with us. I confess I have yet to read the saga myself, it remains part of that eternal TBR pile, but meeting its creator and witnessing the love he holds for his “child,” as he calls it, has left me eager to finally immerse myself fully in this universe.

Shortly after, the main cast of the series joined us on stage, and how they’ve grown. It’s astonishing how much can change in just a couple of years. Yet the feeling remains the same. The actors spoke about their characters and how proud they were to be part of this world, and it was a privilege to hear them speak so openly. The fact that they were encouraged to voice what they liked or didn’t like is something I deeply admire, especially when working with young actors. With Rick Riordan involved as a producer, it’s easy to imagine how present and supportive he must have been on set, and I truly love that.

Finally, the episode itself was a whirlwind, an emotional tide of comings and goings. It ended as quickly as it began, leaving me utterly stunned. Time slipped by unnoticed; it was completely absorbing. And speaking as someone who hasn’t read the books but did grow up watching the films starring Logan Lerman (we will always love this boy), I can confidently say that the series has so much to offer, especially in this second season. The work of these actors is remarkable, and they’ve built something beautiful together, both on and off screen.

From the bottom of my heart, I hope you give Percy Jackson and the Olympians a chance. You won’t regret it. Adventure, gods, betrayal, friendship – what more could one ask for? And to close this chronicle, my deepest thanks to the teams of Penguin Random House and Disney+ for the invitation. I hope to bring you many more stories and events very soon.

Original chronicle by Sara Gómez Vélez; Photography from the Blue Carpet provided by Dani Diaz.

Translation and interpretation of the original text from Spanish by Adrianna Dagmara Lugowska.