Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 Episode 1-2 recap: The unsanctioned quest to heal Thalia's tree

Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 is finally out. Percy and Annabeth reunite for the first time since the season 1 finale, but this time, Grover isn't there with them. Instead, the two are joined by Tyson, a cyclops who is a secret link with Percy. The first two episodes set up what fans will get over the next six episodes of Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2.

"Percy Jackson sails to the Sea of Monsters to rescue his friend Grover and save Camp Half-Blood."

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Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 Episode 1 recap:

"I Play Dodgeball with Cannibals", the Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 premiere revolves around Percy, Annabeth, and Tyson trying their best to save Camp Half-Blood. It also introduces the camp's new Activities Director, Tantalus. The synopsis for the episode reads:

"Percy, Annabeth, and Tyson race to defend Camp Half-Blood from dangerous forces."

Here are some of the major events in the season 2 premiere:

• Grover's quest

Grover told Percy and Annabeth that he got his searchers' licence, meaning he can start the quest to find Pan, the God of the Wild, in the season 1 finale. The season 2 premiere opens with Grover in a forest, where he comes across the skeletal remains holding a musical instrument. Grover plays the instrument after taking it off his body, causing the trees to come to life.

This forces Alison "Ali" Simms (original character for the show) and her team to come out of hiding. They are tracking Grover, believing that he is in search of the Golden Fleece. But they soon realize that's not the case, and reveal themselves to be a part of Luke's rebellion. As Ali and her team prepare to fire arrows at Grover, the Satyr runs, but is captured by a tentacled monster.

The scene then shifts to NYC, where Percy is startled from his sleep by what he saw happen to Grover.

• Tyson

Percy is unsure about Grover's situation, but prepares to go to school. This is where viewers learn that a cyclops called Tyson is already living with Sally and Percy. The Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 episode reveals that Sally "adopted" Tyson from the streets. The two are also aware that Tyson is a cyclops, a change from the books.

As he and Percy are walking to the school, the two see a speeding taxi approaching them. Annabeth walks out of the Gray Sisters Taxi and informs them about seeing a vision of the camp under attack. Upon reaching the camp, the three are attacked by the Laestrygonians. While Percy and Annabeth enter the camp, the magical barrier prohibits Tyson from entering.

Annabeth permits him to enter, but as Tyson enters the camp, one of the Laestrygonians also manages to penetrate the magical border. But soon, Clarisse La Rue "kills" the Laestrygonian inside the border and proceeds to kill the other two as well. As that happens, Percy and Annabeth realize something.

• Luke poisons Thalia's tree

Percy and Annabeth figure out that the Laestrygonian attack was just a distraction and soon realize that Thalia's tree was in danger. However, he, Annabeth, and Tyson are too late as they see Luke poisoning Thalia's tree, meaning the strong magical protection will soon begin to wane. This is another change in Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2.

Luke poisoned the tree before the book even began, which is why Chiron was fired in the first place.

• Tantalus

Timothy Simons plays the mythical Greek figure in season 2. He has been temporarily hired by Zeus after firing Chiron. In the show's continuity, Zeus fires the beloved Activities Director of Camp Half-Blood after discovering that Chiron is also a son of the banished Titan Kronos. Tantalus and Percy share an icy relationship from the get-go go and he confines the boy to the Poseidon cabin.

Speaking of the Poseidon cabin:

• Posiedon claims Tyson

Tantalus orders Clarisse and her fellow soldiers to execute Tyson, given that he is a cyclops. Percy and Annabeth try their best to convince the camp of Tyson's innocence, but the soldiers are about to fire the arrow. That's when Poseidon claims Tyson, making him Percy's half-brother.

• Percy discovers a way to heal the tree

The episode also establishes the empathy link between Grover and Percy. As Percy is asleep, he wakes up to a dream-like vision that he shares with the Satyr. Grover explains that he is in Cyclops Polyphemus's cave. This is where Grover also shows Percy the Golden Fleece, which can heal anything.

This gives Percy the idea that the fleece can also heal the poisoned Thalia's Tree. He relays this information to Annabeth, and the episode cuts to black.

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Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 Episode 2 recap:

The second Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 episode focuses on Percy and Annabeth's efforts to get a quest sanctioned to retrieve the Golden Fleece. The synopsis for this episode reads:

"Percy and Annabeth contend with a new activities director as they try to locate Grover."

• Annabeth contacts Chiron

Percy and Annabeth devise a plan to contact Chiron. He is out in the open despite being confined to his cabin, prompting Tantalus to leave his office. As he leaves, Annabeth takes off her invisibility cap and uses an IRIS message to Chiron. He appears on the rainbow and is informed about Thalia's Tree and the attempt to retrieve the Golden Fleece.

However, Chiron also instructs Annabeth not to take Percy on the quest, as this has to do with the great prophecy. Meanwhile, Percy informs Tantalus about the campers being allowed to be out in the open in case of activities. Considering that the Tantalus announced a chariot race, and Percy is allowed to participate in it, despite banishment, the latter can be out in the open for preparation.

• Annabeth's "betrayal"

Percy and Annabeth decide to team up for the chariot race. They plan to win the race and get a quest to retrieve the fleece, sanctioned for a reward. The participants are allowed to cheat in this race, and therefore, Annabeth instructs her teammate to knock off Percy's chariot, following Chron's instructions. The race begins, and Percy and Tyson's chariot is knocked out.

Simultaneously, Annabeth also halts her chariot because the Stymphalian Birds start attacking the campers. Percy and Annabeth drive the birds away by playing a Mariah Carry song, making it one of the amusing moments in this Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 episode.

But Clarisse is declared the winner of the race and given the quest to retrieve the fleece. She chooses Annabeth and another son of Hermes, Chris Rodriguez. Tyson also informs Percy about Annabeth's instructions, which he hears because of his superhearing abilities. Hearing this, Percy decides to break the rules and go on a quest to save Grover anyway.

• Enter Hermes

The last act of the second Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 focuses on Percy's attempts to leave the camp. He asks his father for approval of this quest, and that's when Hermes returns and informs Percy that his quest is approved. Hermes also reveals a personal stake in Percy's mission as the former wants the latter to bring Luke back.

Hermes gives a boat and some capsules, which will play a role in the fifth episode of Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2, "We Check In to C.C.'s Spa & Resort".

Annabeth walks in and tries to talk Percy out of heading for this personal quest, but that's when Tantalus walks in to kill Percy. However, Tyson tackles the new Activities Director from behind, and the three hop on the boat. As they approach the cruise ship, the Princess Andromeda, Annabeth informs the other two that they can't ever return to the camp.

The three sorrowfully look at the camp, and this Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 episode cuts to black.

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The first two episodes of Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 are currently streaming on Disney+.