Review: ‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’ Season 1 Episode 5 “A God Buys Us Cheeseburgers”

In Season 1, Episode 5 of the Disney Plus series Percy Jackson and the Olympians, titled “A God Buys Us Cheeseburgers,” the story continues the quest of Percy (Walker Scobell), Annabeth Chase (Leah Sava Jeffries), and Grover Underwood (Aryan Simhadri) to the Underworld to save Percy’s mother, Sally Jackson (Virginia Kull), and find the Master Bolt. Following the Arch incident, Percy reunites with Annabeth and Grover, but not before Annabeth notices the Moirai, the Three Fates, weaving at the Arch, indicating that someone will die soon. This is indicated when one of the Fates, Atropos (Joyce Robbins), cuts a thread.

Percy tells his two friends they need to head to Santa Monica, where a nymph said his father Poseidon will help them. However, they cannot take a train because the police are after them due to the train and the Arch incident with the Chimera. Therefore, the trio heads to Santa Monica on foot along the long road until they are met by the God of War, Ares (Adam Copeland), who is driving his motorcycle to meet them.

Ares instructs the trio to meet him at a diner called the Dinel. When the three demigods arrive, they see Ares, who arrived early, starting a war on Twitter. Ares enjoys starting a war on Twitter and also tells Percy he enjoyed the chaos Percy brought during his journey, like the incident at the Arch which aroused the FBI’s attention and led to an interview with Percy’s stepfather, Gabe Ugliano (Timm Sharp), who turned against Percy because he is a jerk. Ares is also ecstatic about a possible war between Zeus and Poseidon for the missing Master Bolt, which both sides don’t have. The God of War indicates the ruthlessness of the Olympians with an example of Zeus having Kronos puke his siblings out before cutting his father into a million pieces and imprisoning those pieces in Tartarus. Ares adds that the Olympians fight, betray, and backstab, which is why he loves his family so much. Nevertheless, Ares is willing to help Percy and offers him and his friends safe passage, via smuggling on a truck, to Santa Monica and to the Underworld to confront Hades.

Despite Ares’ genuine yet sarcastic support, he tells the trio he will only help if they bring back his shield, which he left at an amusement park called Waterland. Percy and Annabeth head to the amusement park while Grover stays behind as Ares’ hostage to ensure the shield is brought back in one piece. When they get to Waterland, Annabeth learns the amusement park was built by the God of Craftsmen, Hephaestus, due to the park’s mechanics being made of celestial bronze. The duo then question why Ares’ shield is in Hephaestus’ amusement park and come to the belief that Hephaestus locked away the shield because the God of Craftsmen is still angry at how Ares was romantically involved with his wife, Aphrodite, millennia ago. They soon find the shield in the tunnel of love next to a golden throne. The problem is that Percy has to sit and be petrified on the golden throne to release the shield. Annabeth cries following Percy’s gold petrification, and this is noticed by Hephaestus (Timothy Omundson). Hephaestus is touched by Annabeth’s care for Percy and her selflessness so much that he releases Percy from his golden petrification. After freeing the son of Poseidon, Hephaestus promises to tell Athena of her daughter’s courage so that the Goddess of Wisdom can forgive her past transgression.

At the Dinel diner, Grover and Ares eat supper as they wait for Percy and Annabeth to return. Grover starts a conversation with the God of War by telling him they met before at the solstice on Olympus. Ares said it was the most boring event in his life because he had to meet his kids, whom he hated, and watch the demigods’ presentations. However, Grover’s point is that someone stole the Master Bolt during the solstice, which has to be someone with a huge grudge against Zeus yet is shrewd and stealthy enough to steal away from Olympus without being noticed. Ares tries to steer the conversation away when Grover asks why Ares never tried to find the lightning thief to prove he is smarter than Athena. This action made Grover suspicious that Ares was somehow involved in letting the lightning thief get away just to start a war. Soon, Percy and Annabeth return to the diner with Ares’ shield.

Ares completes the deal by smuggling them in an animal truck headed to the Lotus Casino in Vegas where Hermes hangs out. In other words, Hermes’ personal driver will take the trio on the truck to the Lotus Casino in minutes, where Hermes can help them if they play their cards right. Ares also gives Percy a bag of clothes, cash, and drachmas to summon Hermes. In the truck, Grover shares his belief in who stole the Master Bolt to Percy and Annabeth because of his conversation with Ares. The reason is that Ares likely had a hand in assisting the lightning thief just to start a war between Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades.

The Golden Throne of Hephaestus

Season 1, Episode 5 of Percy Jackson and the Olympians, titled “A God Buys Us Cheeseburgers” brings a mysterious and tense atmosphere to the series. The collaborative efforts of Director Jet Wilkinson, Writer Jonathan E. Steinberg, and the original author Rick Riordan contribute to the success of this episode. However, when comparing the episode to the source material in The Lightning Thief novel, there are notable differences in how the trio encounters Ares.

In the novel, Percy’s meeting with Ares occurs in a more impromptu and chaotic manner. Ares appears as a hitchhiker on the side of the road, and Percy and his friends reluctantly give him a ride. The encounter is characterized by the God of War’s unpredictability and a sense of danger, fitting his nature in Greek mythology.

On the other hand, the TV adaptation presents a more planned and deliberate meeting between Percy, Annabeth, Grover, and Ares at the Dinel diner. Ares’ involvement in starting a Twitter war adds a modern and humorous twist to the character, showcasing the show’s ability to incorporate contemporary elements while staying true to the core narrative.

The differences in how Ares is portrayed highlight the adaptation’s creative choices in translating the story from the page to the screen. While the novel captures the spontaneity and unpredictability of encountering a god, the TV series opts for a more structured and contemporary approach, using Ares’ Twitter war as a means to introduce the character.

Despite these disparities, both versions of the encounter serve the overarching narrative of Percy’s quest. Ares remains a pivotal figure, offering assistance to the trio in exchange for a favor, and his involvement sets the stage for the challenges and conflicts that lie ahead.

In conclusion, “A God Buys Us Cheeseburgers” successfully captures the essence of tension and mystery present in the source material, with the episode’s divergence from the novel in the portrayal of Ares adding a unique and modern flair to the story. The collaborative efforts of the director, writer, and original author contribute to the episode’s overall success in engaging viewers with Percy Jackson’s journey in the world of Greek mythology.

Rating: 9/10

Ryan Seun Woo Kwon: I am currently pursuing a major in Film & Media with a minor in History & Creative Writing at the University of California, Berkeley. Growing up in Portland, Shanghai, and Seoul has given me a multicultural perspective that I use to view social and historical events. With a strong passion for TV and film, wish to explore opportunities in narrative development, story writing, and production.
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