Relationship Focus: Family and Friendship
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. 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.
Leah Jeffries as Annabeth Chase and Charlie Bushnell as Luke in Disney's Percy Jackson
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. While Percy and Annabeth will break this trend, it's for the best that the other subplot goes unexplored.
Percy Jackson and Annabeth riding in a boat in the Tunnel of Love
Percy Jackson & the Olympians streams on Disney+.
Luke (Charlie Bushnell) and Percy Jackson (Walker Scobell) in Disney's Percy Jackson season 1, episode 2.
Annabeth's Feelings for Luke
The Percy Jackson books don't depict a full-on love triangle, but they do occasionally 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. Nothing ever happens between Annabeth and Luke, but Percy gets jealous of the other demigod. Annabeth also outwardly admits she had a crush on Luke in The Mark of Athena, the third book in Riordan's Heroes of Olympus series.
Charles Bushnell as Luke next to Thalia's pine tree in Percy Jackson's Disney+ show
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. 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. As such, Disney's Percy Jackson seems to be changing this aspect of the books — and that's for the best.
Leah Jeffries as Annabeth smiling at her magical New York Yankees cap in Percy Jackson episode 2
The Right Choice for the Show
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.
Percy Jackson looking off with Annabeth in the background in Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 1 episode 4
In addition to the fact that Annabeth's crush never goes anywhere, Luke is a bit older than Annabeth and Percy in Percy Jackson & the Olympians. The demigod is 19 when the series opens, while Annabeth and Percy are both 12. This age gap would make any romantic subplot between the trio uncomfortable and inappropriate. And while Annabeth having unrequited feelings might be believable, such a revelation wouldn't have much of a point. Plus, it's almost more tragic that Annabeth views Luke as the family she never had. This means her family will disappoint her yet again.
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
The last thing Percy Jackson & the Olympians needs is a love triangle between Percy, Annabeth, and Luke — even if the latter isn't really invested. Love triangles in television shows and movies are overdone, and many of them are underwhelming. In the case of Percy Jackson, it would simply exist to complicate things between Percy and Annabeth for the sake of dramatic tension. Luke won't be around as much in later seasons of the Disney+ series, and his appearances will not leave time for romance. The series would be better off building Percy and Annabeth's bond, which can be refreshingly devoid of such drama.
