Annabeth’s Most Iconic Scene In Percy Jackson Season 2 Broken Down By Star: “I Literally Almost Cried”

Warning: There are spoilers ahead for Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 2, episode 5, “We Check In to C.C’s Spa and Resort.”Leah Sava Jeffries breaks down Annabeth’s iconic scene in Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 2, episode 5, “We Check In to C.C.’s Spa and Resort.” This pivotal scene involves Annabeth and the Sirens, which occurs in the second Percy Jackson book, The Sea of Monsters.

In an interview with ScreenRant‘s Liam Crowley for Percy Jackson‘s season 2 cover story, Jeffries spoke about how she “literally almost cried” and was “genuinely scared” by the Sirens. She also emphasized how important this encounter is for Annabeth, the practical challenges of shooting the scene, and getting to film with Andra Day. Check out Jeffries’ comments below:

It was a huge character development moment. Sometimes it’s hard because it’s not filmed on the same day. So it’s like one day you go from having a scene where you’re finally reconnecting with Grover after many months, and then you go straight to the next day where you’re looking for him. And that’s kind of how it was with the Sirens’ scene.

This is honest to goodness truth and in a good way: that was one of the hardest days of my entire filming life. I’m not even joking. It was freezing cold outside, because the way we filmed it, it was half blue screen and half practical, and it was outside. There was freezing cold water, but then there was hot water. When they put the hot water on me, it freezes. Not even acting, my real self came out, and I was genuinely freezing. I literally was shaking Ms. Andra. She literally looked at me, and she was like, “Almost there. We’re so close.” Craziest day ever. I hope BTS was there. You guys need to see that. The actors for the Sirens were actually stunt people, and I was talking to them when they said cut. But when I had to film, when they were singing, it scared the actual chisels out of me. I literally almost cried. I was genuinely scared, fearing for my life.

That built my character development. This is what I need to go through in order to give people the best adaptation of what they need to see. I really hope that everyone loves it.

The Percy Jackson show changes the Sirens’ scene in several ways, including these monsters and getting past them becoming heavily intertwined with what happens to Annabeth and Percy on Circe’s (Rosemarie DeWitt) island. Circe and the Sirens are two different threats that occur at different stages of Annabeth and Percy’s quest in the source material.

Another big change is that Annabeth believes her mother, Athena (Day), saves her. However, it is actually the Sirens deceiving Annabeth and giving her what she wants to see–her mother’s love and validation–as they lure her in.

Despite these changes and the surprise of Day’s series debut as Athena, the intent of the scene remains the same, as Annabeth confronts her fatal flaw of hubris and allows herself to be vulnerable. This allows her to reach a higher level of self-discovery and creates an even closer bond between herself and Percy Jackson (Walker Scobell), who is the one that actually saves her from the Sirens.

In order to do the scene justice, Jeffries had to push herself to her limits as an actor, from being doused in freezing and hot water to the genuine fear she experienced while experiencing the Sirens’ song. She was willing to go to these lengths to give “the best adaptation” possible during a crucial step on Annabeth’s larger journey.

Not only does this set the stage for much of what will happen with Percy and Annabeth in future seasons, but it also helps to further develop Annabeth’s relationship with her mother, and when she actually gets to interact with her later on.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 3 was renewed months before season 2’s debut and is filming. It will adapt the third book, The Titan’s Curse, building on Annabeth’s development from the Sirens’ scene and her complicated relationship with Athena.