Percy Jackson and the Olympians star Charlie Bushnell says there are plenty of reasons to like Luke in Season 2

Disney
Actor Charlie Bushnell - Source: Getty

If you thought that Luke Castellan is merely a treacherous ex-best bud in Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 1, it may be about time that you reconsider.

According to actor Charlie Bushnell's conversation with Deadline, Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 will make fans look at his character differently.

This time, the son of Hermes is not only the secretive big bad guy with nefarious plans. Instead, he has stepped forward with confidence and charisma to be the leader who has a motivation behind his actions. Moreover, a different look has been established with Luke’s attire, and his wardrobe has improved.

More significantly, though, Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 explores Luke’s emotions. The audience gets to witness his pain, anger, and feelings of betrayal. These emotions bring depth to Luke’s character. Even as he is still very dangerous, he is also more human than before.

Talking about his character's arc in the upcoming season, Buschnell said:

"He is one hundred and ten per cent redeemable....I think he makes some like amazing points and I think we're gonna sway a lot of people to his side, hopefully."

Keep reading to know more.


A more powerful, more human Luke in Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2

Luke feels like a much bigger player in Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2, not just in the story, but in a personal capacity. Charlie Bushnell has spoken about how much he enjoyed stepping into Luke's power, showing him as more than just a one-note villain. He is driven, confident, and full of purpose, even if the said purpose puts him directly against Percy and the others.

In Season 1, Luke's betrayal was a surprise. He was the one person Percy had trusted, and so the betrayal felt personal. Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 shifts that around. Luke is no longer hiding in the shadows; he's out in front, gathering a following, and forcing his view of what the world should be. That shift makes him feel more dangerous and more interesting.

What really shines through, though, is the complexity with which Luke has been created: he's not cruel for cruelty's sake. He actually believes in what he's doing, and that conviction makes him charming and makes viewers want to root for him.


The wardrobe glow-up

Luke's story in Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 is not only about what he's feeling but also about how he's looking. One of the unexpected discussions about him is his fashion upgrade. He's got beyond the simple Camp Half-Blood shirt and progressed to wearing something that exudes confidence. Charlie Bushnell even joked in a conversation with Decider that Luke is now radiating "new male model college student" vibes.

It feels like a small detail, but it's significant. Luke's new style shows us what he is growing into. He's no longer just a follower in the shadows but a demigod with a presence, a purpose, and a personality of his own.

This is because the more polished look also marks the transformation of Luke in the series. He is no longer hiding or planning behind the scenes. He is now in the open as someone who knows what he is capable of doing and is ready to do it. Love him or hate him, Luke is definitely making an impact.


Compelling motivations that blur the hero/villain line

It's obvious that Bushnell enjoys the process of playing the character of Luke, who is definitely more complex than a simple villain, and Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 highly leans into that. That said, Luke is a character who honestly believes he is fighting for a good reason, just a reason with which not everyone will agree, of course.

The interesting thing about Luke is that it’s not only a reaction to Percy, as a character. It's a reaction to the whole Greek mythology setup and how the gods are dealing with their sons and daughters. That's a pretty big, emotional message, and it lends a lot of meaning to the scenes with Luke.

You might not agree with what Luke's doing, but you can understand why he's doing it. Bushnell’s portrayal of Luke in Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 makes it clear that there’s more to Luke than the bad guy image. He’s always on the move, always changing, and always a character who may not be liked but who cannot be ignored or hated.


For more such insights on Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2, keep following Soap Central.

Edited by Nimisha