I am braced for heartbreak afterPercy Jackson and the Olympiansseason 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 establishwhat 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 playingThalia inPercy Jacksonseason 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 thatThalia’s story in the Disney+ series will even be more heartbreaking than in the books.
How To Read The Percy Jackson Books In Order
The Percy Jackson and the Olympians television adaptation is coming to Disney+. To prepare for the show, here’s how to read the books in order.
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 ofthe “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 season 2 can likely make this backstory more vital by showing firsthand what Thalia enduredas 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
In order to faithfully adaptThe Sea of Monsters,Thalia should not properly appear in the present-day story until the closing moments of thePercy Jackson and the Olympiansseason 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.
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Thalia’s flashbacks can also be narratively important inPercy Jackson and the Olympiansseason 2 through the effect that they have onAnnabeth, 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 whenAnnabeth 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 AnotherPercy JacksonActor
Tamara Smart is best known for her role as young Jade Wesker in theResident Eviltelevision 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 inPercy Jacksondue 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 Jul 02, 2025, at the age of 60.
In addition to theResident Evilseries,Smart’s other notable roles include Juliet Butler in Disney+’s Artemis Fowl movie, Enid Nightshade inThe Worst Witch, Kelly Ferguson inA Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting, and Louise Fulci inAre You Afraid of the Dark? Given Thalia’s importance to the books afterThe Sea of Monsters, and the success of the Disney+ adaptation,Percy Jackson and the Olympiansshould 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.
Percy Jackson & the Olympians
Cast
Percy Jackson and the Olympians follows the journey of Percy Jackson as he embarks on a perilous quest to return Zeus’s master bolt. Joined by friends Annabeth and Grover, Percy confronts mythical challenges, seeking to avert a divine war and discover his place in the world.
