And Sally :D

• The prioritization of platonic/familial relationships over romantic ones [it was such a breath of fresh air after HOO, especially with how ship-heavy that series was].

• Having an imperfect protagonist whose flaws are actually problematic and require active self improvement for the series to progress, rather than a noble flaw like excessive personal loyalty.

• The series’ themes of redemption and forgiveness, and how you can’t undo your mistakes but you can grow and learn from them [the point of TOA is not about how Apollo being mortal for half a year negates all the harm he’s caused in the past, but how that time taught him that he CAN and SHOULD do better].

• ACTUAL STAKES!!! PEOPLE DIE! It hurts a lot, but I actually fucking care about what happens because I know that Apollo’s actions MEAN something. Him sabotaging himself by swearing on the Styx in THO had lasting consequences! And wow, how refreshing is that?

• The melancholic and open-ended finale. How Apollo recognizes the abuse that’s taking place within his family, but has yet to fully free himself from it like Meg has. The message that ending the cycle will take continuous effort, that it certainly won’t be easy, but he now has the strength to try. That means more to me than an easy and simple solution to his problems.

Jason is super quiet and rarely speaks (sometimes nonverbal sometimes he just doesn’t wanna talk)

and Leo is super loud nonstop talking. He could talk about things as insignificance as the shirt he’s wearing that day for hours and Jason would still sit and listen

sketch vs final + close-ups. lightning thief era percy in manhattan, suspicious monster in the background...🤨🤨🤺

The first time we’re even introduced to blue food in the series is when Sally gives Percy his welcome home candy bag in TLT. Which is immediately followed by Percy explaining that it's not actually supposed to be a random detail at all. It’s one of the few ways Sally is able to fight back against Gabe and his treatment of her. It’s this small bit of hope and rebellion she’s able to share with Percy despite everything. I think the Lightning Thief musical actually really nails how important the use of blue food is to both of their characters (they never miss tbh). For Sally it is this subtle but powerful act of rebellion that lets her maintain this small power above her abuser. While Percy is able to recognize himself in the food, blue food isn’t quite natural, but it exists, and there are still people out there like his mom who love it despite that fact. Blue food isn’t normal, it’s strange, but it’s special to them, and that’s all that matters.