Percy Jackson Season 2’s Finale Made A Big Change From The Books To Thalia That I Had To Ask About

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Be warned, this article contains spoilers for the season 2 finale of Percy Jackson and the Olympians, titled “The Fleece Works Its Magic Too Well.” The episode is now available to stream on Disney+ and Hulu.

The season finale of Percy Jackson and the Olympians is finally here, and it’s packed with big moments! As a book fan, I was especially intrigued by a major reveal about the history of the new character, Thalia Grace. I recently spoke with Tamara Smart, the actress who plays Thalia, about filming that pivotal scene, and now I’m excited to share what she had to say.

Tamara Smart Discusses That Big Scene With Zeus In The Percy Jackson Finale

You probably figured it out already, but I’m talking about the explanation of why Thalia ended up trapped as a pine tree by her father, Zeus, on Half-Blood Hill. We learned earlier in the season – just like in the books – that Thalia bravely saved her friends from a group of Furies, but died doing so. Instead of letting her soul go to the Underworld, Zeus transformed her into a pine tree.

In a significant departure from the original story, the series revealed that Zeus was responsible for defeating the Furies and transforming Thalia into a tree. He did this after Thalia rejected her connection to him and chose to leave Camp Half-Blood. According to the writer, Smart, this decision wasn’t made lightly and involved a lot of careful consideration.

We discussed the scene extensively, both with the producers and on set. Rick’s decision to alter it was surprising, but ultimately a great improvement. This scene is particularly important because it differs significantly from the source material and is crucial for the development of the characters’ relationship.

Rick Riordan, the author of the Percy Jackson books, is a producer on the show. He previously told me that seeing Tamara Smart’s portrayal of Thalia was a surprisingly positive experience. Smart explained that Riordan approved the significant change from the Sea of Monsters storyline, and she went on to say:

Thalia clearly has a strong dislike for the Gods, especially Zeus, and this new development significantly alters the story. It impacts why Percy arrives at camp and affects the growth of nearly every character throughout the series. We all had ideas about the overall tone, but Courtney and I hadn’t worked together before, so we spent time aligning our visions for the dynamic between our characters.

Tamara Smart makes a great point: the success of this season largely depends on the connection between her character and the new actor playing Zeus, Courtney B. Vance. The creative team took a big risk this season, and fans will likely have mixed reactions. However, it’s clear the writers and producers intentionally aimed to surprise viewers, and this season draws inspiration from Rick Riordan’s Sea of Monsters.

With a Disney+ subscription, you can now stream both seasons of Percy Jackson and the Olympians. Disney+ offers a plan with ads for as low as $11.99 per month. For an ad-free experience, it’s $18.99 a month, or you can save 16% by paying $189.99 for the year. See the deal here.

How Lance Reddick’s Death Factored Into This Major Zeus Scene

In an interview, actress Smart discussed working with Vance, who took over the role of Zeus after the tragic passing of Lance Reddick in 2023. Interestingly, Smart was cast as Thalia on the recommendation of Reddick’s wife. The two had worked together before – Smart previously played the daughters of Reddick’s character in the Netflix series Resident Evil. Smart also shared details about how she and Vance prepared for the film’s climactic scene.

While reading the scene, I felt a bit lost because we hadn’t yet cast the role of Zeus. I was trying to picture who would play him. Initially, I’d envisioned Lance in the part, but then the casting process began, and I knew we’d have to see who they chose. When Courtney was cast, it was great to learn she and the actor playing Zeus already knew each other – it’s always nice when there’s an existing connection between the performers.

With Thalia Grace joining the cast, fans are excited about the upcoming third season of Percy Jackson, which should be available on Disney+ later this year. The big question is: will she become an ally or a foe to Percy? We’ll have to wait and see!

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2026-01-22 05:39