The Mysterious Meeting of Grover and Ares: Unraveling the Secrets of Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Exploring the pivotal encounter between Grover and Ares and its connection to the dark events of the winter solstice.
The Last Encounter
Grover & Ares' last meeting wasn't too long ago. WARNING! This article contains spoilers for Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 1, episode 5 and Rick Riordan's The Lightning Thief book! Grover refers to the last time that he and Ares met before Percy Jackson and the Olympians episode 5, which appears to have been a crucial day for the show’s central mystery. After the trio battled Echidna and the Chimera in episode 4, Percy, Annabeth, and Grover are introduced to the god of war in Percy Jackson season 1, episode 5. Needing to retrieve his shield from a waterpark ride created by the Greek god Hephaestus (Timothy Omundson), Ares (Adam Copeland) tasks the demigods and satyr with the job while promising that he’ll provide them with transportation for their quest. However, to ensure Annabeth and Percy complete the task, Ares forces Grover to stay with him at the diner.
Ares talking to Grover in the diner in Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 1 episode 5
During their discussions about being a Twitter troll, Ares hating his children, and Grover being a fan of the Lobster War, the satyr reveals to the Greek god that the two had met before. While Grover indicates that they met at a solstice, he leaves out many of the details regarding when exactly this meeting occurs, with Ares even forgetting their prior introduction. Though Grover bringing up this meeting marks a change from Percy Jackson’s book, Riordan’s novel series and previous episodes from the Disney+ show hint at when the two last met, as well as the dark occurrence that made it so memorable.
The poster for Percy Jackson and the Olympians showing Percy holding the master bolt next to Annabeth and Grover
The Winter Solstice Encounter
Grover & Ares Seemingly Met At The Last Winter Solstice
By bringing up “the solstice,” it seems Grover is implying that he met Ares at the most recent winter solstice. The book revealed that Luke and some other campers went on a field trip to Olympus for the winter solstice, indicating Grover was one of the figures who tagged along. The winter solstice is one of the biggest meetings between the Greek gods throughout the year and occurs on either December 21 or 22, so approximately six months before Percy Jackson’s quest.
When Grover reveals that he was at the solstice, Percy Jackson’s Greek god of war suggests that the satyr was there protesting. Oddly, the Percy Jackson books didn’t mention protests from satyrs happening at the winter solstice or another event around that time. Given what actually happened on the night of that winter solstice, however, it makes sense that Ares would forget meeting the young satyr and the other details of that event.
The Winter Solstice Was When The Master Bolt Was Stolen From Zeus
The winter solstice in which Ares and Grover supposedly first met was the same occasion on which the Master Bolt was stolen from Zeus. The Percy Jackson books indicate that after an argument with Poseidon during the last winter solstice, Zeus realized his bolt went missing and quickly blamed the sea god. However, there were plenty of other suspects there that night, such as the demigods on the field trip, other gods like Ares himself, and even Hades, with the winter solstice being the only time the latter is allowed to visit Olympus. With dark magic also having stronger power during the winter solstice, this event incited significant chaos for Percy Jackson and the Olympians’ story.
The Intriguing Revelations
The revelations about Grover and Ares' last meeting shed light on the mysteries surrounding Percy Jackson and the Olympians. The connection between their encounter and the theft of the Master Bolt during the winter solstice adds a layer of complexity to the unfolding story. As the plot thickens, the significance of their meeting becomes increasingly apparent, hinting at deeper secrets and unforeseen consequences. With new episodes of Percy Jackson and the Olympians being released, the intrigue and suspense continue to build, leaving fans eagerly anticipating the next revelations.
