Percy Jackson Season 1 Episode 3 Recap: 7 Biggest Story Reveals

The Oracle Gives Percy A Quest

Percy Jackson and the Olympians episode 3 begins with Percy entering the attic of the big house at Camp Half-Blood. There, Percy encounters the Oracle of Delphi to receive a prophecy, something required by all demigods who wish to embark on a quest. The Oracle continues the humorous modern updates of the Percy Jackson book series by taking Gabe's form, Percy's stepfather. After doing so, the Oracle utters Percy's first-ever prophecy: 'You shall go west and face the god who has turned, and you shall find what was stolen and see it safely returned. You shall be betrayed by the one who calls you friend, and fail to save what matters most in the end.'

Walker Scobell as Percy Jackson next to the Oracle of Delphi from the Percy Jackson movies

The lines spoken by the Oracle led Percy to choose Annabeth and Grover as the companions for his quest. The reasons for this stem from the third line in the prophecy: 'You shall be betrayed by the one who calls you friend...' In an attempt to remove the possibility of him being betrayed, Percy picked Annabeth as he could never see himself being friends with her. Concerning Grover, Percy picked him as he trusts the Satyr with his life. Percy Jackson episode 3 ends with the character telling Annabeth and Grover this, hoping that he has negated the prophecy's prediction of him being betrayed.

Walker Scobell, Leah Sava Jeffries, and Aryan Simhadri as Percy, Annabeth, and Grover in the cast of Percy Jackson

Thalia's Fate and Hades' Motivations

One of the more interesting teases of Percy Jackson and the Olympians episode 2 was the mention of Thalia, the forbidden daughter of Zeus who was seemingly killed when Luke and Annabeth first made it to Camp Half-Blood. Despite this assumption, Percy Jackson episode 3 confirms the true fate of Thalia. Grover explains that Thalia faced a horde of monsters to give Annabeth and Luke time to make it to camp. Thalia's father wished to preserve her life and honor her sacrifice, turning her into the pine tree that protects Camp Half-Blood with a magical barrier.

Charles Bushnell as Luke next to Thalia's pine tree in Percy Jackson's Disney+ show

Percy Jackson and the Olympians episode 3 reveals that the Furies work for Hades, and the creatures have been sent by the god of the Underworld to capture Percy. The appearance of Alecto/Mrs. Dodds in Percy Jackson and the Olympians episode 1 led the titular character to assume that she wanted him dead. However, Percy Jackson and the Olympians episode 3 reveals that the Furies work for Hades, and the creatures have been sent by the god of the Underworld to capture Percy. It is unknown why this is the case as of the ending of Percy Jackson episode 3, though the reason ties into the overarching story of season 1.

Jay Duplass as Hades smirking in the Percy Jackson TV show

Medusa, Olympus, and the Empire State Building

In Percy Jackson episode 3, the titular garden gnome emporium belongs to Medusa. Medusa is a famous gorgon from Greek mythology, a woman with snakes for hair who turns people into stone by looking at them. In Percy Jackson episode 3, Medusa's somewhat tragic backstory is revealed. Medusa tells Annabeth that the former was a devoted priestess to Athena, Annabeth's mother. However, Medusa states that Poseidon - Percy's dad - was caught romancing Medusa in Athena's temple. Athena, rather than take vengeance on Poseidon for his mistreatment of Medusa, punished the priestess. Athena said that she felt slighted by Medusa, cursing her so that any man who ever looked at her again would not live to tell the tale. This explains her hair of snakes, and the tragic story of Medusa the gorgon. Medusa naturally began to despite Poseidon and Athena for this, explaining to Percy that she felt a sense of kinship with Percy's mother as they were both used by the same monster. She offers Percy help in saving Sally if he gives up Annabeth and Grover, something he declines out of loyalty.

Medusa and Percy in Percy Jackson and the Olympians

Percy declining Medusa's deal in Percy Jackson and the Olympians episode 3 leads the gorgon to view Percy and Annabeth the same way she views their respective parents. As a result, she attempts to kill them as a message to the gods that their unjust ways cannot go unpunished. This forces the trio of Percy, Annabeth, and Grover to kill Medusa, with the former cutting off her head. Percy then mails the head to Olympus as both an act of defiance against the gods' cruelty towards Medusa and also an offering, as he, Annabeth, and Grover may need help on their quest.

Jessica Parker Kennedy as Medusa from the Percy Jackson and the Olympians trailer

The final major story reveal of Percy Jackson and the Olympians episode 3 involves the location of Olympus in modern America. In Ancient Greece, the pantheon of the gods lived aptly atop Mount Olympus. However, with Percy Jackson's tendency to modernize ancient Greek aspects, Percy Jackson episode 3 reveals the location of the gods' country in the USA. This also comes with the first appearance of Lin-Manuel Miranda as Hermes, who is shown delivering Medusa's head to Olympus. Percy Jackson episode 3's ending reveals that the entrance to Olympus is the Empire State Building in New York City. Hermes enters the elevator in the Empire State and uses a magical key to unlock a button to the 600th floor. Given that the Empire State only has 102 floors, it is made clear that Olympus is situated high in the clouds above New York. This will play a part in future episodes of the show, as well as future seasons, solidifying Olympus' location as a major story reveal for Percy Jackson and the Olympians episode 3.

The Empire State Building lit up blue in New York City