Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 2 introduces Tyson, an important character in the overall series. The cast of Percy Jackson season 2 has expanded since season 1, adding Timothy Simons and Courtney B. Vance, while making actors like Charlie Bushnell and Dior Goodjohn series regulars.

This turned out to be a good move, with reviews for Percy Jackson season 2 noting the impressive performances of its cast. This has been acknowledged since the ending of Percy Jackson season 1. In season 2, though, new performers like Daniel Diemer are taking the spotlight. Diemer plays Tyson, a new character who is just as crucial to the overarching story as he is to Percy.

Tyson Is Percy’s Cyclops Half-Brother In Percy Jackson Season 2

Tyson is first introduced in the opening moments of Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 2, episode 1. He is depicted as a cyclops, a mythical creature with immense strength, fire immunity, mimic abilities, and one eye, whom Sally Jackson rescued from the streets. Tyson finds himself taken to Camp Half-Blood alongside Percy and Annabeth, leading to another significant reveal about his character.

After helping to defend Camp Half-Blood from giants, Tyson is recognized as the son of Poseidon, making him Percy’s half-brother. In the world of Percy Jackson, it is noted that Poseidon often fathers cyclops children, primarily with ocean spirits as their mothers. This explains why Tyson is a cyclops while Percy is a half-mortal demigod, as Percy’s mother was human.

How Tyson Is Different From The Books In Percy Jackson Season 2

Although the fundamentals of Tyson’s character are consistent in both the Percy Jackson book series and the Percy Jackson and the Olympians TV show, some slight changes have been made in the latter. Perhaps the most significant change is the reveal of Tyson’s nature as a cyclops. In the show, Percy and Sally are aware that Tyson is a cyclops from the beginning.

This contrasts with the book, where The Mist—the magical veil that separates the human world from the mythical realm—disguises Tyson. Percy only discovers that his friend is a cyclops after several battles with other mythical monsters when Annabeth advises him to look through The Mist to see the truth.

The decision to omit this reveal was likely made to accelerate the narrative of Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 2 while retaining some of Tyson’s key moments. Beyond this aspect, Tyson remains fairly similar to his portrayal in the books.

Percy Jackson Season 2 Sets Up Tyson’s Backstory & Character Arc

As all good character-driven stories do, Percy Jackson and the Olympians lays the groundwork for Tyson’s backstory and his future character arc. Tyson is portrayed as a fairly childlike and timid character who fears monsters and being alone. This aspect is hinted at in the first two episodes of Percy Jackson season 2.

Tyson shares with Percy about a Sphinx who once told him about his mother while showing scars on his back. This suggests Tyson’s history as a homeless monster who was targeted by other creatures in the mythological realm.

This sets up Tyson’s evolution into a stronger character as <em>Percy Jackson and the Olympians</em> progresses. It would be too spoiler-filled to delve into how that transformation occurs here, but future seasons will further develop Tyson after his strong debut in this second season’s opening episodes.