209: Our Review of The Odyssey (2026)

Our final part of our Epic: The Musical review is here! We are joined again by Avelaka to talk about the second half of the songs on the concept album. Discussions include the “synth-y cello,” the consequences of your actions, man vs. monster (or, muppet), the meaning of ruthlessness as mercy, the spirit of Lin Manuel Miranda, the whoosh of it all, and how much we love Penelope. Thank you to all our listeners for convincing us to listen to Epic, we loved it!Be sure to follow Avelaka’s production company, Mochi Films (@amochifilmsprod) if you haven’t already!Podcast Links: SUPPORT US ON PATREON: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/camphalfpod?fan_landing=true⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SUPPORT US ON KO-FI: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/camphalfpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SEND US AN AUDIO MESSAGE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/Camphalfpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠JOIN OUR DISCORD: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/gzHYsUbdgr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MERCH: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.zazzle.com/store/camphalfpod

Welcome back to Summer Camp Half-Podyssey! Our long-awaited review of Epic: The Musical is FINALLY here. We are joined by a return guest, our friend Avelaka, resident theater kid. We set out originally to do one episode on Epic, but ended up talking for so long that we have to do two parts. Ya’ll were right – this musical is great. We discuss the origin of Jorge Rivera-Herron’s music and then dive into the first 4 sagas. Discussions include Manasa’s opinions on musicals, ruthlessness, pondering the yeet, and the Wife Guy-ification of Odysseus.We’ll be back with Avelaka to discuss the rest of the sagas, but in the meantime, be sure to follow her production company, Mochi Films (@amochifilmsprod) and follow along as they begin production on their new short film!Podcast Links: SUPPORT US ON PATREON: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/camphalfpod?fan_landing=true⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SUPPORT US ON KO-FI: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/camphalfpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SEND US AN AUDIO MESSAGE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/Camphalfpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠JOIN OUR DISCORD: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/gzHYsUbdgr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MERCH: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.zazzle.com/store/camphalfpod 

Welcome to Summer Camp Half-Podyssey! We’re back for some fun, summer episodes all about Odysseus. Starting off, naturally, with a review of the new movie starring Matt Damon. We give our unfiltered, inexpert review of the movie based completely on vibes and our in-depth Percy Jackson knowledge. Topics of discussion include: nuance, Matt Damon’s arms, Matt Damon’s stunt double’s arms, bad dialog, oral literature, Wife Guys (™), body horror, Free People Calypso, the Horrors of War, and whatever the heck is wrong with Robert Pattinson (affectionate). Erin got overstimulated. Manasa likes battle scenes. Next up, we’ll be covering more Odyssey-related media, starting with EPIC the musical!Podcast Links: SUPPORT US ON PATREON: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/camphalfpod?fan_landing=true⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SUPPORT US ON KO-FI: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/camphalfpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SEND US AN AUDIO MESSAGE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/Camphalfpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠JOIN OUR DISCORD: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/gzHYsUbdgr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MERCH: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.zazzle.com/store/camphalfpod

We’re finally caught up on all the Riordanverse books (again!) (minus Kane Chronicles!). These chapters are arguably the most chaotic chapters we’ve ever read. Dolus and Apate mess with The Mist. Everyone is a cat. Everyone is then in Halloween costumes. Will is a banana? Pirithous is eventually caught, and really wants to be punished. He’s a man who loves rules. Hecate shows up to help restore everything to the way it was. Semele is restored to her prior form as Semele Thyone. Dionysis reuintes with his mom, and the book is wrapped up in a heartwarming way. We give our overall thoughts on the book and what changes we’d make, and then discuss what’s next for the pod!Podcast Links: SUPPORT US ON PATREON: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/camphalfpod?fan_landing=true⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SUPPORT US ON KO-FI: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/camphalfpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SEND US AN AUDIO MESSAGE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/Camphalfpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠JOIN OUR DISCORD: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/gzHYsUbdgr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MERCH: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.zazzle.com/store/camphalfpod

New Percy Jackson news to discuss! Also new monsters to deep dive on! Chaos breaks out in these chapters. Hazel exposes Pirithous’s evil plan to capture a god and manipulate minor gods with his secret weapon. He tries to manipulate all the mythics. These chapters have a pretty poignant political message, sandwiched in between confusing plot points. Kelli comes back, and she still sucks! The campers show up to help Hazel. The Mist breaks, and Nico loses all sense of reality. Then, he becomes a Controller - I mean, Semele controls him (IYKYK). Manasa teaches us about the Eidolon!Podcast Links: SUPPORT US ON PATREON: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/camphalfpod?fan_landing=true⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SUPPORT US ON KO-FI: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/camphalfpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SEND US AN AUDIO MESSAGE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/Camphalfpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠JOIN OUR DISCORD: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/gzHYsUbdgr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MERCH: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.zazzle.com/store/camphalfpod

This week, Nico is diving into his trauma and healing. We are diving into the Blemmyae! Back at camp, Nico connects with Savannah over their grief, and gets to be the supportive figure he always wished he had. Hazel is still stuck in the invisible park prison, but a mom comes to the rescue – Naomi Solace! Naomi tells the campers what’s going on with the mythics and Hazel, and they concoct a plan to save the day. Hazel talks about redemption and guilt with Asterion, while her friends make their way to her. Podcast Links: SUPPORT US ON PATREON: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/camphalfpod?fan_landing=true⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SUPPORT US ON KO-FI: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/camphalfpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SEND US AN AUDIO MESSAGE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/Camphalfpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠JOIN OUR DISCORD: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/gzHYsUbdgr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MERCH: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.zazzle.com/store/camphalfpod

We’re at the meat of this story – Nico, Will, and Hazel find out what’s been going on with the Court of the Dead. The mythics are being judged for being different. Erin is judging the plot of this book. The Court of the Dead hates change, and charges Asterion and our girl Hazel with Crimes. Manasa gives us some lore on Bloody Mary. Hazel is taken away by the Court and Nico has some really sad dreams. Then, we get to see where Hazel and the monsters have all been taken to. Manasa gives us a deep dive on the Griffin, and Erin thinks about Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer again, for some reason. Podcast Links: SUPPORT US ON PATREON: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/camphalfpod?fan_landing=true⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SUPPORT US ON KO-FI: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/camphalfpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SEND US AN AUDIO MESSAGE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/Camphalfpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠JOIN OUR DISCORD: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/gzHYsUbdgr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MERCH: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.zazzle.com/store/camphalfpod 

The campers all band together to come up with a plan to capture whoever is taking the mythics. Erin and Manasa get distracted talking about Barbie Fairtyopia. Erin’s dogs are playing so much during this episode that we didn’t bother to edit them out. They are a part of this. We deep dive on Laverna for a moment. Hazel, Nico, and Will head to downtown San Francisco to go to court. It's time for Riordanverse SVU (dun-dun). Then, Erin tells Manasa all about the myths the Karpos are based on, one of which is quite sad! Potatoes are the fruit of the earth. <3 Podcast Links: SUPPORT US ON PATREON: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/camphalfpod?fan_landing=true⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SUPPORT US ON KO-FI: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/camphalfpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SEND US AN AUDIO MESSAGE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/Camphalfpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠JOIN OUR DISCORD: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/gzHYsUbdgr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MERCH: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.zazzle.com/store/camphalfpod

Erin and Manasa begin their Percy Jackson podcasting by debriefing the Big Animorphs News, naturally (perchance… a new podcast idea??? Stay tuned). Will there now be explicit Animorphs references in the Disney+ PJO adaptation? Crossover musical episode? Just kidding (unless…). Erin points out that the plot of this book is just like Halloweentown 3, Halloweentown High. The mythics have a hard time fitting in with the demigods. We find some more plot holes. They learn about some mysterious threats plaguing the mythics and Nico. And then… the mythics start to disappear. First Arielle, then Quinoa. Then, Manasa gives us a deep dive on the Empousa, our favorite hot weird-legged woman. PS - there were some funny bloopers edited out this episode. It was a bit of an editing beast to fix. Please enjoy the snippet at the end after the outro ;) Podcast Links: SUPPORT US ON PATREON: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/camphalfpod?fan_landing=true⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SUPPORT US ON KO-FI: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/camphalfpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SEND US AN AUDIO MESSAGE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/Camphalfpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠JOIN OUR DISCORD: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/gzHYsUbdgr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MERCH: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.zazzle.com/store/camphalfpod

Erin starts off with pretending like she never was weird about the Minotaur. She’s gaslighting herself. We wonder if this is the same story as The Sun and the Star but with lower stakes. The mythics struggle to fit in at Camp Jupiter. Mr. D provides some telehealth therapy. Then, we are joined via audio messages by a listener Chloe, who gives us a super thorough deep dive on the Minotaur’s name. Erin provides our Minotaur Deep Dive (naturally) and spends a lot of time discussing the labyrinth and the minotaur in pop culture. We love to see it!Episode References:Monstrous Women Podcast Pasiphae Episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1Xc8cV3h4TofRJJX5Q1mK9?si=CpXdnVKxS-Kdgns-nBwSJg Article about the Minotaur and violence: https://lithub.com/the-beast-inside-what-the-myth-of-the-minotaur-reveals-about-human-nature/ Reverse Minotaur: https://deciphermedia.tv/assets/imgs/misc/reverse_minotaur.png Minotauromachy: https://aestheticrealism.org/terrain-gallery/art-history-criticism/chaim-koppelman-on-picassos-minotauromachy/Podcast Links: SUPPORT US ON PATREON: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/camphalfpod?fan_landing=true⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SUPPORT US ON KO-FI: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/camphalfpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SEND US AN AUDIO MESSAGE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.speakpipe.com/Camphalfpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠JOIN OUR DISCORD: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://discord.gg/gzHYsUbdgr⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MERCH: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.zazzle.com/store/camphalfpod