#pjo 2

NOT JUST GROVER, BUT EVEN PERCY IN A WEDDING DRESS!!

[ gif creds @animefreak3232 ]

God I love Clarisse's storyline so far this season.

In season one they set up her character so well. She's introduced and she's immediately hostile, and uses intimidation to gain the upper-hand. She's mean, and she targets Percy at her own expense but it's a real gut-wretching scream that comes out of her when her spear is broken. I mean the performance is tremendous, and it really emphasises how she sees the spear as a connection to her father, which is a core part of her identity.

And now in this season, even though we're only three episodes in, the insight we get into Clarisse's character is so valuable. I mean we just see her being a normal teenage girl, and see how insecure she really is in her own skin. She's capable in combat, but she knows she isn't well liked.

She puts herself out there when she flirts with Chris(please God let her have one non-tragic romantic relationship in the show), and it's weird and it's bad but she's grinning and she's obviously so excited to be talking to her crush. But then she's shut down and hears these girls laughing at her and Percy is making that stupid face so of course she tries to turn it on him. It just shows that she really is insecure and uncomfortable with eyes on her, specifically when they can see her vulnerability.

And she perseveres through the chariot race because that's just the kind of person she is, where she has a goal and she gets tunnel-visioned and she finishes well. It's the reason she gets the quest.

God the SELECTION I feel like this is where we really start to see just how scared she really is. She's nervous through the entire selection process, and doesn't have anyone in mind before Annabeth volunteers herself. It really just shows us how isolated she really is, and how she doesn't have a close and loyal circle looking out for her like Percy does. Clarisse is hyper-aware of her own weaknesses and she knows she's inexperienced on quests, which is why she chooses Annabeth and is going to choose Percy before Annabeth stops her, and then she chooses Chris.

But then Annabeth up and leaves with Percy(obviously Annabeth didn't plan it but still, she's gone), and Clarisse is honestly left alone. She trustes Annabeth, but her trust was betrayed and she's feeling insecure in her relationships with other people because of it, and therefore feels she can only trust herself.

Ares shows up and it is so obvious that she is terrified of him(he's not outright threatening, but I mean come on, he's the god of war, he's going to be intimidating). She's nervous and she's doing all the wrong things and not quite impressing him despite being his strongest living demi-god child - I think deep down she knows that she will never truly get his approval, but she yearns for it deeply and that's why she starts conflict in camp, because she thinks that kind of violence will appeal to him.

And just her on the ship, with all of the undead crew disregarding her authority as captain. She tries to do what works at camp, which is intimidation, but she fails. In the end, she wins them over with a speech, a moment of genuine connection and understanding, which I think is going to be a real lesson to her on cooperation, and leadership.

Also, her speech is just a great insight into her character because she is just talking to herself in this moment.

"Aren't you tired of losing?"

All of season one, we see how her social position at camp is losing it's value since Percy arrived. From her spear being broken, to Percy getting a quest, and then Annabeth going with Percy on the quest. She can't even win over her crush. She's feeling beat-down and she's tired of it, tired of feeling like a failure, and tired of being helpless.

I'm cutting out some of her speech to emphasise what I think is important for her character specifically.

"Maybe this is more than just another tour of duty. Maybe this is a... second chance... to change how you're seen."

Here, Clarisse's reflection over the time between seasons is most evident. She knows she's not well liked by the campers, and that she's seen as weak by her father. People gloss over her successes to point out her failings constantly, and it frustrates her because those achievements are evidence of what she is good at and what she values herself on.

So, she wants to use this quest to prove her worth. The use of 'second chance' here really emphasises redemption, and a turn-around in Clarisse's character where she can redeem herself, break out of her shell of insecurity, and therefore becoe a better person, grown up from her flawed perspective in season one. However, she has only begun this journey, and is still driven by the wrong reasons.

"To take this win, and shove it down the throats of everyone who's ever doubted you."

Clarisse still wants to use this win as leverage for social power. Her anger is driving her, her feelings of injustice because she does not understand the value of friendliness or likeability over medals and achievements. It's a belief that stems from her relationship with her father, the god of war, who of course values efforts in war over anything.

What I think Clarisse is going to learn this season is that her vulnerability isn't a weakness, and that it builds stronger relationships than intimidation does. Leadership would be a great role to see her step into to convey this character growth, especially considering how she rallys groups of demigods in the books.

If Luke gets the fleece it will helps with his healing and if the other get it they will bring Thalia back and she can be the one to complete the great profecy (cause Kronos things she would be on his side).

So basically, for him it doesn't even matter who gets it the end, his main porpouse with this task was to seed more chaos and figths among the demigods so that he can come for them as "the only solution" because "see how you are all figthing each other amd your parents, your gods don't even care? But I care. I will be the one to mend your wounds and bring you all toegheter. I am the one you can trust."