4 moments from Camp Half-Blood and beyond we want to see on screen

If you call yourself a Greek mythology enthusiast, chances are it all came about from a not-so-little-known series called “Percy Jackson.” We’ve sat in our reading corners back in elementary, contemplating which Olympian was our long-lost parent (I was on Apollo’s cabin, thank you very much). And in all likelihood, we’ve experienced the disappointment after seeing it-who-must-not-be-named, a.k.a. The Movie Adaptation.

While we’ve probably developed a Logan Lerman obsession as a side-effect, the 2010 “Lightning Thief” movie left much to be desired. Ten years later, redemption is closer than you think. “Percy Jackson” may finally get the faithful adaptation it deserves, with author Rick Riordan directly involved.

From 12-year-old humor to god-interrupted quests, the children’s series has a treasure trove of scenes worth more than any drachma. So, from this point onward, beware: Spoilers are ahead. Not counting the “Heroes of Olympus” series (we’ll save that for later), here are four moments from the books we want to see on screen.

Dam Snack Bar

An inside joke for any proud owner of a Camp Half-Blood T-shirt, “Dam Snack Bar” is the “Percy Jackson” humor in a nutshell. The famous lines are found in the third book “The Titan’s Curse,” with Percy and the gang in the middle of a god-given (or god-cursed) quest, a welcome break from the chase scenes and sword-wielding fights for these powerful youngins. They find themselves in the Hoover Dam, where ancient monster Ophiotaurus and animated skeleton warriors loom. Still, even demi-gods need a break. They make a quick pit stop for snacks, and puns ensue. Read the quote in question for yourself:
“Let us find the dam snack bar,” Zoe said. “We should eat while we can.” Grover cracked a smile. “The dam snack bar?” Zoe blinked. “Yes. What is funny?” “Nothing,” Grover said, trying to keep a straight face. “I could use some dam french fries.” Even Thalia smiled at that. “And I need to use the dam restroom.” […] I started cracking up, and Thalia and Grover joined in, while Zoe just looked at me. “I do not understand.” “I want to use the dam water fountain,” Grover said. “And…” Thalia tried to catch her breath. “I want to buy a dam t-shirt.”

Quest for Daedalus

We love Percy, we do. He’s a big deal in Mount Olympus and Camp Half-Blood—son of Poseidon and whatnot—but we also want some spotlight on the other folks, like the brilliant daughter of Athena, Annabeth Chase. She’s a no (seaweed) brainer to take the helm as quest leader, as her intelligence proved to be a vital part of Percy’s own quests. In the fourth book “The Battle of the Labyrinth,” Annabeth finally gets the chance—with mixed reactions on her part. The quest’s mission is to find demigod Daedelus, son of Athena and creator of the Labyrinth, which houses the infamous minotaur.

Percy and Annabeth’s underwater kiss

The two leads’ connection began as an endearing friendship between two kids, till it simmered into teenage romantic tension. The famous underwater kiss in the fifth book “The Last Olympian” is a sweet culmination to the slow-burn relationship of Percy and Annabeth, as well as a perfect finishing touch to post-battle bliss. Just a few chapters ago, Percy had turned down immortality and god status to be by Annabeth’s side, so we’re guessing this pairing’s for keeps.

Anything Nico di Angelo

The “Percy Jackson” fandom’s collective emo son, Nico di Angelo, has his fair share of significant moments in the series. Suffice to say, it was unfortunate that we didn’t get to spot him in the movies—but with a new adaptation on the horizon, we might get Nico in our screens soon. A new character in “The Titan’s Curse,” the realization that he’s the offspring of Hades left readers and Percy awestruck. When skeleton warriors start appearing in Camp Half-Blood, he unknowingly creates a fissure on the ground, swallowing the creatures whole to save Percy’s life. In battle, he learns to summon the undead throughout the series, but a defining moment comes in “The Last Olympian,” where he and his estranged father join forces to fight Kronos. Still, this is just scratching the surface—Nico’s character further develops in the next series, “Heroes of Olympus.”

Still from “Percy Jackson and The Sea of Monsters”