Luke Castellan: Our turn.
Percy Jackson: Our turn for what?
Luke Castellan: Burnt offerings. The gods like the smell, so it gets their attention before you say a prayer.
Percy Jackson: They like the smell of burnt mac & cheese?
Chris Rodriguez: They like the smell of begging.
Luke Castellan: You burn what you’ll miss the most. Then they know you really mean what you’re about to say, so they listen.
Where does this quote come from? (Source)
This quote comes from a TV series ‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’. The scene where this moment comes from is in Season 1 Episode 2, with the title of ‘I Become Supreme Lord of the Bathroom’ (1×02). Percy Jackson is based on a book series of the same name written by Rick Riordan. The series Percy Jackson and the Olympians is produced by Disney Branded Television and 20th Television (Disney+)
- TV Series: Percy Jackson and the Olympians (2023)
- Season: 1
- Episode: 2
- Episode Name: I Become Supreme Lord of the Bathroom
- Production: Disney Branded Television, 20th Television (Disney+)
Why we collected this quote
We collected this because it’s a cynical but interesting summary of how the gods operate. It highlights the transactional relationship between gods and demigods.
What does this quote mean? (Meaning & Context)
As the campers burn their food for offerings, Luke and Chris explain the harsh reality to Percy: the gods don’t just want respect; they want to be begged. It exposes that the gods often ignore their children unless they are being worshipped or convinced.
Book vs TV Series
The dinner ritual of giving burnt offerings is in the book, where Luke simply tells Percy the gods “like the smell.” It feels ritualistic and normal. But the show’s line is way more cynical, establishing a harsher world right away. By saying the gods prefer the “smell of begging,” the show emphasizes the theme of the gods being transactional, manipulative, and emotionally neglectful of their children. It’s a very harsh, cool way to set the stage.
