I am braced for heartbreak after Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 2’s Thalia Grace casting. As a daughter of Zeus (Lance Reddick), and given her history with Annabeth Chase (Leah Jeffries), Grover Underwood (Aryan Simhadri), and Luke Castellan (Charlie Bushnell), Thalia is poised to be a pivotal character in the series. I was glad that season 1 took time to briefly establish what happened to Thalia, informing both Percy Jackson (Walker Scobell) and the audience that she sacrificed herself to save her friends and was transformed into a pine tree that now protects Camp Half-Blood.
The Sea of Monsters, which is what season 2 will adapt, ends with the Golden Fleece healing the poisoned tree, with this magic leading to Thalia being expelled from it. Zeus’ daughter only appears at the end of the book, though. However, since Smart has already been confirmed to be playing Thalia in Percy Jackson season 2, this likely means that the character’s role will be larger than it is in the source material. While I am excited by this prospect, it also suggests that Thalia’s story in the Disney+ series will even be more heartbreaking than in the books.
Percy Jackson Season 2’s Thalia Grace Casting Confirms It’s Going To Break My Heart
Thalia’s Traumatic Past Will Be Shown
Thalia had a difficult childhood, with her mortal mother more fixated on regaining the attention of her father than on raising her. To make matters worse, monsters were more drawn to Thalia than to other demigods due to her being a child of Zeus, one of the “Big Three” Greek gods, with the monsters’ pursuit making her noble sacrifice necessary. The various layers of this backstory are gradually revealed throughout Rick Riordan’s books, but the events have already occurred before they are described, and are discussed in hindsight.
Percy Jackson
‘s Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades made a pact after World War II that they would no longer sire demigod children, a promise that all three gods went on to break.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians s eason 2 can likely make this backstory more vital by showing firsthand what Thalia endured as a child and when she sacrificed herself, so her friends could safely reach Camp Half-Blood. In the books, when Annabeth and Grover tell Percy what happened to Thalia, I felt sorry for her, but it was difficult to fully connect with what she experienced, as I did not truly get to know her until the third book. I am expecting season 2 to show her being neglected by her mother, along with her heroic sacrifice, which will be gut-wrenching to watch.
What Thalia’s Role In Percy Jackson Season 2 Will Be
Flashbacks Will Lead To A Dramatic Finale Entrance
In order to faithfully adapt The Sea of Monsters, Thalia should not properly appear in the present-day story until the closing moments of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 2 finale. This doesn’t mean, however, that Smart won’t be involved beforehand. Thalia should only be in flashbacks that flesh out her backstory, allowing viewers to get to know her before she unexpectedly emerges from the pine tree. This will help establish her as a major character in season 3 and beyond, with all viewers, even those who have not read the books, already fully invested in her story.
Thalia’s flashbacks can also be narratively important in Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 2 through the effect that they have on Annabeth, Luke, and Grover. They are still haunted by what happened to their friend, with flashbacks helping the show further explore how Thalia’s loss continues to impact each of them and the decisions they are making. This will make it all the more shocking and emotional when Annabeth and Grover reunite with Thalia at the end of the season. Disney+ must execute this properly since this moment can be one of the most poignant moments in the series.
Where You’ve Seen Tamara Smart Before (& Why She’s Perfect For The Role)
She Co-Starred In A Series With Another Percy Jackson Actor
Tamara Smart is best known for her role as young Jade Wesker in the Resident Evil television series, which also starred Reddick, who played Zeus in season 1. This adds a fitting layer to Smart being cast as Thalia, since she is now playing the daughter of Reddick’s Zeus. I am saddened that Smart and Reddick will not be able to share any scenes together in Percy Jackson due to Reddick passing away in 2023, however. That said, I am still grateful for their behind-the-scenes connection that can make Zeus and Thalia’s story in the show more special.
Lance Reddick passed away on March 17, 2023, at the age of 60.
In addition to the Resident Evil series, Smart’s other notable roles include Juliet Butler in Disney+’s Artemis Fowl movie, Enid Nightshade in The Worst Witch, Kelly Ferguson in A Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting, and Louise Fulci in Are You Afraid of the Dark? Given Thalia’s importance to the books after The Sea of Monsters, and the success of the Disney+ adaptation, Percy Jackson and the Olympians should keep Smart booked and busy for the next several years. She is a vital addition to the story, and I am ready for her to make Thalia’s story even more heartbreaking.
