Percy Jackson Season 1's Villain Twist Fully Explained: Why They Really Stole The Bolt (2024)

Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for the Percy Jackson & the Olympians season 1 finale, The Lightning Thief, and The Sea of Monsters.

season 1, episode 8 exposes the villains of the series, and one finale twist reveals who stole Zeus' Master Bolt, along with their very understandable motivations for doing so. During Percy Jackson season 1's finale, all the predictions from the Oracle's prophecy come true, if not in the ways that Percy expects. He faces the Olympian god who's turned, delivers Zeus' Master Bolt to Mount Olympus, and faces betrayal at the hands of a friend.

The friend who betrays Percy is a demigod from Camp Half-Blood, and he's exposed during Percy Jackson season 1's ending. Ares plays a role in the theft of Zeus' Master Bolt and Hades' Helm of Darkness, and an even more intimidating force sets season 1's treachery in motion. Kronos is the real Big Bad of Percy Jackson & the Olympians, but he needs a demigod to steal from the gods on his behalf — and one of Percy's friends makes a perfect mark for the King of the Titans.

Hermes' Son Luke Castellan Stole The Master Bolt & Helm Of Darkness In Percy Jackson

The villain twist at the end of Percy Jackson season 1 reveals that Luke is the friend who betrays Percy — and the person who stole Zeus' Master Bolt and Hades' Helm of Darkness. The finale builds towards this revelation through conversations between Percy and Luke, during which the latter hints that the gods have good reason to fear their demigod children. Luke alludes to the fact that demigods are dangerous because they can break the rules, and he proves this sentiment through his actions at the beginning of Percy Jackson season 1.

Luke steals both of the gods' objects prior to Percy Jackson season 1, then frames Percy for the crimes. He also gifts Percy Hermes' flying shoes so that they'll bring him — and the Master Bolt — down to Tartarus when he arrives in the Underworld. During the finale, Luke tells Percy that he doesn't actually want to betray him; instead, he intends to recruit the other demigod to his and Kronos' cause. Unfortunately for him, Percy isn't onboard with his plans.

Why Luke Sided With Kronos Over The Gods (What Really Happened On His Quest)

Luke's motivations for siding with Kronos over the Olympians and Camp Half-Blood are teased throughout season 1, as Luke feels a great deal of resentment towards his father, Hermes. When he admits what he's done, Luke tells Percy that Kronos opened his eyes to how terrible the gods are, especially when it comes to parenting. Given that this is Percy Jackson season 1's main criticism of the gods, it's difficult to argue with his logic. It's clear Luke blames Hermes for what happened to his mother, whose mental state suffers from her being a Seer — and later, according to the books, attempting to host the Oracle.

Hermes doesn't step in to save Luke's mother, and he holds this against his father. The Olympian god also sends Luke on the quest that gives him his scar, serving as another point against him. Hermes tasks Luke with obtaining a golden apple from the Garden of the Hesperides, but Luke fails after facing Ladon, the dragon guarding it. The Percy Jackson books explain that this is how he got his scar, which serves as a constant reminder of his trauma. He's also forced to return to Camp Half-Blood in disgrace, which only makes him more bitter towards Hermes, who he feels should have given him a better quest.

Ultimately, Hermes' negligence is the reason Luke turns against the gods, but it's clear he doesn't appreciate any of the Olympians. Seeing how they neglect their children changes Luke's allegiance. As Chiron notes at the end of "The Prophecy Comes True," it's something Percy can almost relate to. And knowing Kronos' plans for Earth, it's no wonder Luke would rather serve him than Mount Olympus.

Luke's Plan To Help Kronos Bring Back The "Golden Age" Explained & Why He Needs Percy

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Luke's willingness to help Kronos stems from his own hatred of the Olympian gods, but Kronos has more on his mind than revenge. While the Titan hopes to get back at Zeus for sending him to Tartarus, he also wants to restore the "Golden Age." The Golden Age is the time period during which Kronos lorded over humanity, coming on the heels of the Titan disposing his father. In Greek mythology, men and gods lived among one another (via Greek Boston), which may explain why this goal is appealing to Luke.

The Golden Age is described as a peaceful period full of comfort and abundance, during which humans could live for hundreds of years. Riordan's story treats Kronos' return to power as a terrible outcome, suggesting that the utopia it's associated with has been fabricated by the Titan himself. Humans did lack complex thought and free will during the Golden Age, so it's understandable that the mortals in Percy Jackson don't want to return to it. While the gods have their issues, Kronos is treated as a worse ruler, and the story seems to side with Zeus.

As for why Kronos needs Percy to enact his plans, there are a few possible reasons. While Luke doesn't attempt to recruit Percy during The Lightning Thief, The Sea of Monsters reveals that Kronos gets closer to returning each time a demigod rejects the Olympians. Percy is also a powerful demigod, and his ties to Poseidon would undoubtedly create problems in Olympus if he were to turn. Viewers will need to wait until Percy Jackson season 2 to see more of Kronos' plans for Percy.

How Disney's Percy Jackson Season 1 Changes Luke's Villain Reveal From The Book

Luke betrays Camp Half-Blood and Olympus in the Percy Jackson books, but his villain twist plays out differently in the Disney+ show and the source material. In The Lightning Thief, Luke reveals himself to Percy, but he doesn't try to recruit him for Kronos' cause. Instead, he attempts to kill his so-called friend with a scorpion. He explains his plans in more depth, then departs using his sword, Backbiter. This happens some time after Percy returns from his quest, and it isn't prompted by the accusations against Clarisse. There's no sword fight between Luke and Percy, and Annabeth doesn't interrupt their confrontation.

Disney's Percy Jackson show likely changes Luke's big reveal for multiple reasons, including to raise the stakes of the finale. While Percy nearly dying at the end of The Lightning Thief is a big deal, a sword fight offers a more thrilling and action-packed conclusion to season 1. Luke attempting to bring Percy away with him also gives more humanity to the young demigod, proving that he's not so lost that he intentionally wants to kill his friend. In general, Percy Jackson & the Olympians is giving Luke a bit more depth. With any luck, that will continue into season 2 and beyond.

TV-PG

Action

Adventure

Fantasy

Based on the novel series by Rick Riordan Percy Jackson & the Olympians is an action-adventure fantasy television series created for Disney+. When Percy Jackson is framed for the theft of Zeus' almighty thunderbolt, Percy must clear his name, all while harnessing the powers inherited by his father, Poseidon, at a camp created for demi-gods.

Cast

Walker Scobell , Leah Sava Jeffries , Aryan Simhadri , Jason Mantzoukas , Megan Mullally , Glynn Turman , Adam Copeland , Virginia Kull , Lance Reddick

Seasons

1

Writers

Rick Riordan , Jonathan E. Steinberg

Streaming Service(s)

Disney Plus