Screen adaptations of books are often a swing and miss, but on the rare occasion, we get a depiction so perfect that it’s seemingly pulled directly from the pages.

Such is the case of the Disney+ original series Percy Jackson and the Olympians. Inspired by Rick Riordan’s best-selling fantasy novel series, the story centers on 12-year-old modern demigod, Percy Jackson (Walker Scobell), who’s just coming to terms with his newfound divine powers when the sky god Zeus accuses him of stealing his master lightning bolt. With help from his friends, Grover (Aryan Simhadri) and Annabeth (Leah Sava Jeffries), Percy must embark on an adventure of a lifetime to find it and restore order to Olympus.

The new on-screen depiction of Percy Jackson and the Olympians is a refreshing addition to the YA fantasy world. The episodic nature mirrors an odyssey that viewers experience with the young heroes. The Disney+ adaptation ties themes of chosen family, a desire for belonging, and a sense of home. That theme is most evident in the lesson the titular character Percy Jackson unravels as he discovers his demigod origins.

“He learns a valuable lesson when he gets to Camp Half-Blood that everyone has a place. You know, he walks around for 12 years, his whole life, thinking there’s no place for him and that he was alone. But everyone has a place, and [Percy’s] is Camp Half-Blood,” Scobell tells Reckon.

Scobell embodies Percy in a way that you could believe the character was always written for him. His balance and understanding of Percy’s humor, anxiety, fearlessness, and heart as an adolescent navigating changes is a reminder of why the book series was so popular. Scobell has more than proven himself by portraying Percy in a way that halts any previous doubts about his casting.

Early on, the PJO adaptation received pushback online from some fans of the books due to cast appearance changes. Percy’s hair in the series is now blonde instead of jet black, and the diverse casting announcement for the rest of the trio, most notably that of young Black actress Leah Sava Jeffries as Annabeth Chase, a canonically white character, caused an uproar. But on May 10, 2022, Riordan released a statement entitled Leah Jeffries is Annabeth Chase to nip the racism veiled as pleas for authenticity in the bud. Riordan praises Jeffries’ casting in the post, stating, “She will become exactly the way you imagine Annabeth … [this is] an adaptation that I am proud of, and which fully honors the spirit of Percy Jackson and the Olympians.”

After recently watching the first four episodes and speaking with the cast and executive producers, Riordan’s statement rings true. The Disney+ adaptation of PJO sticks to the core theme of embracing differences and that this fantasy world of mythical mayhem is for everyone. It’s a mythic odyssey that follows adolescent demigods and their protector on a quest that reveals more about themselves, this magical world, and their friendship. It also provides young viewers and the whole family with a relatable tale to tune into weekly.

Jeffries’ Annabeth Chase is what you’d imagine if the character leapt to life from the page, embodying the essence of Athena’s daughter. Each episode reveals a new layer of humanity, girlhood, and witty strength as Jeffries adds to the library of Blackness existing in fantasy. For Jeffries, showcasing Annabeth’s strength was vital to how she portrayed the role with hopes that other Black girls would see themselves in her.

“What I want [Black girls] to take from this really is how independent and strong [Annabeth] is. A lot of times in certain shows and movies, they’ll have [us] as the girl that maybe gets bullied or … whatever. But in [PJO], she is fearless, strong, and independent. And, I want them to take that as, you know, ‘that could be me.’ I don’t want them to think that us Black girls are not strong because we are. That’s how I feel [about] Annabeth and how other girls could [see] this [character] in other parts of just themselves,” Jeffries tells Reckon.

But alongside these demigods is Aryan Simhadri’s Grover, whose role in the trio as the glue and protector is an underrated but integral part of why this iteration of the beloved IP works. He’s like the big brother who appeals to Percy and Annabeth’s better sensibilities. But for Simhadri, this element of the role came naturally; being a few years older than his co-stars, he leaned into this new territory of pseudo-guardian.

“It’s interesting. It’s something that I’ve never played before, and it’s definitely something I’ve never been before, and even off set, I was a little cautious coming into the show because Walker and Leah were so much younger than I was at the time. But they were so mature [that] I didn’t have to babysit at all — a little bit, but yeah, it’s nice that I can trust them to hold their own,” Simhadri tells Reckon.

The PJO trio’s chemistry makes sense once you see them in action as their characters grow their friendship on this quest, showing that these three young actors were the best choice for the job. When asked about the trio’s dynamic in the series, Jeffries says:

“Sometimes, it’s always them two people who just would never get along, and it’s always that one person in the middle that’s like, “Will, you guys put your differences aside, please.” And that person is Grover. So I think that that’s how it is. But definitely, after a while and noticing that the other person is not [as] bad as what you had imagined, I think that’s what builds the relationship going into other series and will [grow] into more chemistry each time.”

Percy Jackson and the Olympians premieres with the first two episodes on December 20 on Disney+, with new episodes streaming weekly.