This Is Probably Super Late But, Ares Is Portrayed As Sexist And Abusive In PJO But He Is The Only God

The Small Fandoms

Can we just get some love for the small fandoms? The tiny ones? The barely there ones, with people who've read the books, but can't find anyone else who has, even though there are people out there?

Ponniyan Selvan, The Dandelion Dynasty, The Inheritances Games, Jeeves, Snow Like Ashes, Raybearer, Enola Holmes, Sheena Meyer (LITERALLY NONEXISTENT) Murder Most Unladylike and others (add them in the comments)

All right, OP, some of this is honestly ridiculous.

I don't mean to be rude and I'm not pro Annabeth Chase, but I need to point some things out.

How is Annabeth being mean to Percy here? She thought that he might have known something about stealing or the solstice. She didn't know that he didn't know. Judging by the information that she has and the circumstances that they're in, of course she'd think that he would know something about it!

Even if she was incorrect, she's not being mean here. And if you're talking about her smirking as she scraped drips off his chin, of course she'd smile-it's a little funny to spoon feed someone and see their expression when they're unconscious.

There's nothing in this scene to indicate anything mean.

2) How is Annabeth looking intimidating being mean to Percy? She's meeting him fully conscious, not just passed out. Of course she's going to look at him now that he's awake and conscious of his surroundings. Of course she's going to take note of him and analyze him. There's nothing wrong with this.

3) That's not mean. That is literally a comment on a fact. Percy drools when he sleeps and she told him so. How is that being mean?

4) As said in the second point, looking at someone critically when you're meeting them fully conscious for the first time isn't mean. Given Annabeth's surroundings and environment and how long she's been there, of course she's going to look at him critically!

5) Just because her expression hardens when she sees him looking does not make it mean or malicious. Actually, it was natural. Annabeth blushes when looking at Luke. Percy notes it. Annabeth is embarrassed when she sees Percy looking and hardens her expression. Logic.

10) Annabeth is........literally staring at him. Just staring at him. Percy says that he can't tell whether she's grossed out or angry-it's never stated or confirmed whether she's angry, and based on her reaction, she's not angry. She's impressed, actually, and she says that she wants him on her team for Capture the Flag.

11) Just because Annabeth doesn't get all sweet and reassures him that no, it's ok, you did nothing wrong, Percy, it's all fine! doesn't mean that she's being mean. She just gave him some instructions and didn't even mock his apology-she just said whatever and then left. None of that is mean.

18) You're taking this out of context to make it seem mean.

Right before this, Percy said that they had her mother to thank for fighting Medusa. He indirectly insulted Athena-that had to hurt for Annabeth. Of course she flashed him an irritated look!

She's not entirely right here, but she's not entirely wrong. Percy couldn't control meeting Medusa, but he didn't notice until it was too late while both Grover and Annabeth noticed. Of course she'd be a little mad.

19) *Sigh*. Ok, this is not being mean. There is nothing to indicate this being mean. It's a lighthearted, sarcastic joke. Nothing malicious or even unintentionally malicious.

22) Once again I ask you what is mean. Was it the fact that she ripped the love scarf away from him? It could have been a malicious object-Annabeth had enough experience to know while Percy didn't. She was warning him to stay away from it and possibly saving him!

23) You are once again taking something out of context!

They were hurtling at a very fast speed and the seatbelts were helping them. Percy, however, told Annabeth to unfasten her seatbelt! Of course she asked if he was crazy!

24) What about that is mean? She's right. What Percy did wasn't smart. Insulting a god is never smart. She stated a fact there.

26) I wondered if I'd find this here after reading the others.

This is a joke. A joke. She's not intentionally being mean-she's just cracking a joke. Percy protests, but he's not even offended by it after that. You are blowing this way out of proportion.

27) The hit here was because he was trying to get her out of her paradise. She wasn't thinking clearly-she wasn't able to think clearly because she was having fun and he was trying to pull her out of it. And it's not malicious like the gut punch at Westover Hall in TTC.

31) She's literally telling him to take care and sending him off. She has a stupid nickname for him-yes, it doesn't come from a good place, but we have to remember that she's literally twelve years old at that point. Of course she'd use a silly nickname like that for him. There's nothing wrong with it at that point in time.

I'm not pro Annabeth. I prefer to remain neutral, but some of this is downright foolish, and it seems like you're just villainising Annabeth at some point for no reason.

If you're going to hate on Annabeth, please do it with sound reasoning and logic. Don't take text out of context to paint Annabeth Chase as this crazy mean girl when she's not.

Every Time Annabeth is Mean to Percy in the Riordanverse

This is something that I’ve been considering writing for a while but didn’t particularly want to put the work into until I was rereading The Titan’s Curse and came across a very specific line that went “She punched me in the gut.” I was so consumed with rage that I immediately began to reread the whole series and marked down every single instance that Annabeth was a dick to Percy. 

One thing to note is that I’ve marked down every instance of Annabeth calling Percy “seaweed brain” as being mean. Friendly reminder that her nickname for Percy means “stupid” and has always meant stupid and will always mean stupid and that just because he’s used to it by now, doesn’t make it okay. 

On that note, this also turned into me writing down every time someone other than Annabeth insults Percy’s intelligence just because I was curious.

Without further ado, I present to you, The Lightning Thief.

(Alternating colors for easier reading)

TLT (pg 57) -  [interrogation of Percy]   The girl with curly blond hair hovered over me, smirking as she scraped drips off my chin with the spoon. [ … ] Somebody knocked on the door, and the girl quickly filled my mouth with pudding.

TLT (pg 64) - [describing Annabeth’s eyes] but intimidating, too, as if she were analyzing the best way to take me down in a fight. 

TLT (pg 64) - “You drool when you sleep.”

TLT (pg 83) - When we reached her, she looked me over critically, like she was still thinking about how much I drooled. 

TLT (pg 85) - She saw me looking, and her expression hardened again.

TLT (pg 85-86) - She grabbed my wrist and dragged me outside. I could hear the kids of cabin eleven laughing behind me. When we were a few feet away, Annabeth said, “Jackson, you have to do better than that.” [ … ] She rolled her eyes and mumbled under her breath, “I can’t believe I thought you were the one.” 

TLT (pg 86) - [Percy is annoyed] “Don’t talk like that!” Annabeth told me. “You know how many kids at this camp wish they’d had your chance?” 

TLT (pg 89) - [Clarisse is hazing Percy] Annabeth looked pained, but she did stay out of it. 

TLT (pg 90) - [Clarisse is hazing Percy] Annabeth stood in the corner, watching through her fingers. 

TLT (pg 92) - Annabeth stared at me. I couldn’t tell whether she was just grossed out or angry at me for dousing her.

TLT (pg 93) - “I’ve got training to do,” Annabeth said flatly. “Dinner’s at seven-thirty. Just follow your cabin to the mess hall.” [Percy apologizes] “Whatever.” 

TLT (pg 123) - [Annabeth sets Percy up to be bait for Clarisse, Percy confronts her] Annabeth shrugged. “I told you. Athena always, always has a plan.” 

TLT (pg 128) - Annabeth still taught me Greek in the mornings, but she seemed distracted. Every time I said something, she scowled at me, as if I’d just poked her between the eyes. 

TLT (pg 147) - [Annabeth has volunteered for the quest] “I’ve been waiting a long time for a quest, seaweed brain,” she said. “Athena is no fan of Poseidon, but if you’re going to save the world, I’m the best person to keep you from messing up.” 

TLT (pg 157) - [Percy is being optimistic] She gave me an irritated look. “It’s bad luck to talk that way, seaweed brain.” [Percy asks why Annabeth hates him] “I don’t hate you. [Percy disagrees] “Look…we’re just not supposed to get along, okay? Our parents are rivals.” 

TLT (pg 169) - She was silent for a few more steps. “It’s just that if you died…aside from the fact that it would really suck for you, it would mean the quest was over. This may be my only chance to see the real world.” 

TLT (pg 173) - [Percy lies to Medusa] “Your head is full of kelp.” 

TLT (pg 185) - [Percy doesn’t know the myths] Annabeth flashed me an irritated look. [explanation of the myth] Annabeth straightened. In a bad imitation of my voice she said: “It’s just a photo, Annabeth. What’s the harm?” 

TLT (pg 194) - [Annabeth wakes Percy after a nightmare] “Well,” Annabeth said, “the zombie lives.” 

TLT (pg 217) - [After Percy jumps off the Gateway Arch] Annabeth stood beside him, trying to look angry, but even she seemed relieved to see me. “We can’t leave you alone for five minutes! What happened?” 

TLT (pg 234) - [Percy asking Annabeth to go with him to get Ares’ shield] “Are you kidding?” She looked at me as if I’d just dropped from the moon. [ … ] “Me, go with you to the…the ‘Thrill Ride of Love’? How embarrassing is that? What if somebody saw me?” 

TLT (pg 234) - [Percy picks up Aphrodite’s scarf] Annabeth ripped it out of my hand and stuffed it in her pocket. “Oh no you don’t. Stay away from that love magic.” [ … ] “Just get the shield, seaweed brain.” 

TLT (pg 239) - [Percy has a plan] “Are you crazy?” 

TLT (pg 244) - [Percy backtalking Ares] Annabeth said, “That was not smart, Percy.” 

TLT (pg 251) - [Discussing what side they’ll pick] “Because you’re my friend, seaweed brain. Anymore stupid questions?” 

TLT (pg 257) - [Grover can only bless wild animals] “So it would only work on Percy,” Annabeth reasoned.

TLT (pg 263) - [Percy trying to get Annabeth’s attention at the Lotus Hotel] She looked up, annoyed. “What?” [ … ] “Hey!” She screamed and hit me, but nobody else even bothered looking at us. 

TLT (pg 282) - [Percy saves Grover and Annabeth from Crusty] “Be faster next time.” 

TLT (pg 370) - [Percy wakes up after almost dying] “You idiot,” Annabeth said.

TLT (pg 374) - She pursed her lips. “You won’t try anything stupid during the school year, will you? At least…not without sending me an Iris-Message?” 

TLT (pg 374) “Take care, seaweed brain.” 

TLT total number of times Percy is called stupid: 10 

TLT number of times Annabeth calls Percy stupid: 7

TLT number of times others call Percy stupid: Gabe (1). Grover (1). Thalia (1). 

Every day, I’ll reblog this post with the next book so keep an eye out for that.

A potential reason for why Rick didn't make Ares love his children, and an explanation for why he should have

So, in the PJO series, Rick makes Ares hate his children. Or, if not hate, at the very least ignore them and be abusive to them like all the other gods.

And I've always found this an odd choice, because in the myths, Ares really loved his children more than the other gods. He killed his daughter's rapist, who was a son of Poseidon, whom we also know loved his children, and so of course Ares probably knew that Poseidon would retaliate, right? And Poseidon is more powerful than Ares and he could definitely hurt him if he wanted to.

And Ares still kills Poseidon's son anyway, because he raped his daughter Alcippe, knowing that he would most likely be punished for this and he still does it. That just speaks volumes of love when he could've ignored his daughter for his own safety.

He also gives Hippolyta a magical belt that makes her stronger because she's the best out of all the Amazons, implying his pride about it.

He tries to avenge his son Cycnus when Heracles slays him-and Cycnus DESERVES IT, he literally stole Apollo's sacred grove and his offerings, and Ares still tries to avenge his death (they were even riding chariots together when Heracles encountered them, do what you will with that).

And a lot of people say that Rick made Ares neglect his children for the sake of the plot, but here's my counter argument-

Rick should've made Ares love his children TO STRENGTHEN PERCY'S BELIEF IN FIGHTING FOR THE GODS.

Imagine not knowing if you're even fighting on the right side. Imagine wondering if Kronos really was right, does your godly parent care about you?

And then imagine seeing Ares come down and talk to his children and encourage them.

And you're envious that they get to see their parent and you don't, but you also feel that fighting spirit come into you. This man, right here, he's showing that the gods can change, that they're not all bad, that there's something worth fighting for on their side.

(Also cue the angst and comedy of Ares and Percy hating each other and Ares being a good parent to his kids and actually being there for them while the whole Poseidon and Percy shebang goes on).

I’m gonna say it - practically everything Nico ever did getting retconned as “because he had a crush on Percy” is some of the most amatonormative shit I’ve seen in my entire life.

True words. True words.

It's extremely annoying that many people think that a person would move mountains and do impossible things only for someone whom they love romantically. This is just not true.

There are people who would do this for their friends. Menelaus said that he would drive out the people of an entire kingdom just so that Odysseus could come and rule there with his people, and he didn't like Odysseus romantically.

It seems that Rick Riordan cannot for the life of him put platonic relationships before romance-or rather, he can't do this without involving a virginity oath. His heteronormativity is crystal clear when you take a critical look at his books and Nico and Leo's unnecessary romantic relationships.

Let Nico speak Italian

One thing that bothered me when I reread The Tower of Nero was Nico only speaking Italian when he's really upset.

Nico only speaks Italian when something really bad has happened and he feels bad........so Italian is associated with something horrible happening.

But why does he only speak Italian when he's really upset? Why can't he just speak Italian normally? What's wrong with it? What's the reason to make him speak his mother tongue only when he's extremely emotionally distressed?

Taken on its own, it's not particularly bothersome to me, but when it's combined with Rick's other instances of racism, it's extremely annoying.

Ok, I need to tell all of you something.

Even if your posts don't get notes, that doesn't mean that someone is seeing them.

People are looking at your posts, they're reading them again and again, even if they're not nothing them.

I've read truckloads of posts that I have not noted. I've read them again and again. I haven't noted them, but I still read them.

Don't think that your posts aren't noticed if they're not noted.

Share this with people, ok? They need to know.

Of course she's not a lifeless strategy making machine! She's so much more than that. It's a shame how she's reduced to some cold-hearted girl when she's often the opposite in the books. Flanderisation and misogyny at work again.

Your point regarding her history and trauma is valid.........I think that this is a case of respectfully agreeing to disagree.

I think that something interesting to do would be to have her realise that Percy's powers WERE useful while maintaining her discomfort and having her explore this.......this isn't really a response to your reblog, just my thoughts on how it could be more interesting.

I think I do vaguely remember Piper saying that Percy was dangerous and disliking him, though it's been sometime since I've read the books so I could be wrong about that. I'll search for it later.

If I'm being honest, I'm not sure if Annabeth actively wants to control him, but there are a lot of moments in their relationship that aren't very healthy. Percy is scared of her at times (at the beginning of TLO, in the Staff of Hermes, in the TKC and PJO crossover-he literally said that he had a healthy fear of her) and she herself said that she likes to 'keep him on his toes' which is not healthy at all, so I think my assumption is coming from there.

No offense meant! I'm glad you don't any. It feels like I come off as rude sometimes when I really don't mean to.

you'd think that Annabeth would be grateful for the many times Percy saved her life in Tartarus (falling after her, slowing their descent with the river, killing Arcahne, guiding her when she was blinded, scaring off Akhys, carrying her over the river in Nyx's mansion and protecting her at the doors of death) but nooo she's too angry about the fact that he scared her - by being strong enough to protect her :/

I was just rereading The Sword of Summer and TLT by Rick Riordan, and I came to parts where the Norse and Greek gods were called 'lowercase G gods,' while the Abrahamic gods were called, 'Capital G gods.'

Jeez, Rick, you really had to add that in, huh? You do realise that there are Hellenistic Pagans who view their gods as highly as Christians view their God and Muslims view Allah? Like, holy shit, you did not have to downgrade them like that. There was no need for that. No need at all.

This just reeks of blatant Abrahamic superiority, which is annoying but sadly unsurprising.

All I'm saying right now is that I can see why so many Hellenistic Pagans and Greek people hate PJO. There's nothing wrong with hating it for those reasons.

I find it deeply unsettling when Percabeth fans say that it was ok for Annabeth to judo flip Percy because he's practically invincible.

It's not ok to physically and violently take out your emotions on someone just because they're physically immune to it. This pretty much reeks of sexism because 'the girl is too weak to actually hurt the boy, so it's ok for her to hit him.'

It's not about whether he's strong enough or not. It's about the fact that she has no problem with violently, physically taking her emotions out on him and having no problem with it.

Percy Jackson's foundation is problematic

Ok, so, the OG PJO series is amazing for a lot of people. I mean, it's almost as famous as Harry Potter for a reason. It has an immersive world which is escapism which is really nice for a lot of people including me..........

But the series could definitely have been rewritten to be better. Such as not making Annabeth hit Percy so often (only playful hits, no so hard) making Ares love his children, making Artemis NOT SO PREDATORY-

But the thing is, even if the series was rewritten to exclude these.........

The very foundation of the Percy Jackson series is problematic.

The foundation of the Percy Jackson series is about overthrowing an abusive system and making the abusers pay attention and listen, and I'm not saying that that's a bad concept. It's actually one of the best concepts, but-

But it's what Rick Riordan used as an abusive system that's really wrong.

He used the Greek gods as abusive parents when in the myths they were the furthest things from it.

Excuse me. Zeus was not an abusive father to Apollo. He genuinely loved him. He only punished him when Apollo needed to be punished and deserved it. Zeus was a loving father to Artemis as well. He gave her what she requested and let her live in the wild as she pleased. Zeus also stopped Athena from practicing divination at Apollo's request. Zeus would not leave two children with an abusive alcholic mother.

Poseidon was not abusive and neglectful. In the myths, he punished Odysseus for blinding his son Polyphemus. And he let Sciron do as he pleased in the ocean, though Sciron was a terrible person.

Aphrodite frequently came to her son Aeneas' aid on the battlefield of Troy. She loved him very much and even told him to give up LOVE to fulfil his own destiny of becoming a king.

And it also depicts Athena and Hades as having demigod children, when in the myths, Athena has no children at all and Hades is faithful to his wife Persephone, only cheating on her with TWO people in only a few variations of the myths, while other myths have Hades loving Leuce and Minthe before Persephone.

It's problematic for Athena to have demigod children, even brain children, because she was a virgin goddess who had no children in the myths. Ancient Greece associated marriage and having children with losing your virginity.

It was symbolic, so Athena having children, even brain children, makes her lose her virginity.

And about Hades being faithful-he's stated to have had multiple children with women when Persephone goes to her mother, which is why she's so unhappy.

This is incorrect and terribly wrong.

But if Athena and Hades didn't have children, and if the Greek Gods weren't abusive parents, then this series wouldn't exist. These problematic themes are essential to the story, which is why PJO is so problematic itself.

Not to mention the whole 'flame of the West' crap that is a big collective forehead smacking moment.

So even if Percy Jackson could be rewritten, it'll always be problematic in one way or another.

(Not saying that you shouldn't enjoy it. I have a love-hate relationship with it).