Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Relationship Between Percy, Annabeth, and Luke

The Portrayal of Romance in Percy Jackson & the Olympians

Percy Jackson & the Olympians is slowly building the relationship between the titular hero and Annabeth Chase, and the Disney+ show has made the right choice leaving out one romance subplot from the books.

Leah Jeffries as Annabeth Chase and Charlie Bushnell as Luke in Disney's Percy Jackson

While there are relationships in Rick Riordan's novels, Percy Jackson focuses more heavily on themes of family and friendship. The show is following in the source material's footsteps in that regard, even as it alludes to Percy and Annabeth developing feelings for one another.

Percy Jackson and Annabeth riding in a boat in the Tunnel of Love

In the Percy Jackson books, there are suggestions that Annabeth has feelings for someone else, complicating the romance blossoming between her and Percy. Fortunately, the Disney+ show doesn't seem to be including this layer of their relationship. Instead, it depicts mostly platonic bonds between the demigods at Camp Half-Blood.

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

Percy and Annabeth will break this trend, but it's for the best that the other subplot goes unexplored.

Percy Jackson looking off with Annabeth in the background in Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 1 episode 4

Annabeth's Feelings for Luke

The Percy Jackson books allude to Annabeth having feelings for Luke, especially early on in the series. These feelings are made more complicated by The Lightning Thief's twist ending, which devastates Annabeth greatly.

Luke (Charlie Bushnell) and Percy Jackson (Walker Scobell) in Disney's Percy Jackson season 1, episode 2.

Disney's Percy Jackson & the Olympians show hasn't suggested that Annabeth has feelings for Luke, painting a more platonic picture of their relationship. Luke refers to Annabeth as a 'sister,' and she seems to view him in a similar light.

Leah Jeffries as Annabeth smiling at her magical New York Yankees cap in Percy Jackson episode 2

It's possible she simply isn't discussing her feelings with Percy and Grover, but her brief interactions with Luke haven't shown any of the awkwardness that typically accompanies teenage crushes.

Walker Scobell and Charlie Bushnell as Percy Jackson and Luke looking at the winged shoes of Hermes in Percy Jackson and the Olympians episode 3

As such, Disney's Percy Jackson seems to be changing this aspect of the books — and that's for the best.

The Impact of Cutting Annabeth's Crush on Luke

Disney's Percy Jackson show is making the right choice by cutting Annabeth's crush on Luke, as this romantic subplot doesn't add much to the story, even in the source material.

Annabeth will be heartbroken at the end of Percy Jackson & the Olympians season 1 regardless of whether she has romantic feelings for Luke or views him as a brother.

Having feelings for him won't change anything between the duo, but it will complicate her relationship with Percy — something the TV show doesn't need to focus on amid more interesting storylines.

The series would be better off building Percy and Annabeth's bond, which can be refreshingly devoid of such drama.