Rick Riordan only had one thing on his wishlist this year and that was to reclaim the glory of his Percy Jackson and the Olympians franchise. Now that the Disney Plus series has granted this wish, one of the key storylines on Camp Half-Blood is why can't Dionysus drink wine on the show?
What happens if he does and what's stopping him? Well, it's complicated.
What is Dionysus a God of? Greek God Origins Explained
Dionysus is especially known as the god of wine and pleasure in Greek mythology. He also happens to be the son of Zeus and Semele (the daughter of the King of Thebes).
As for Rick Riordan's iteration of the Greek God, Dionysus is called 'Mr. D' and serves as director of Camp Half-Blood. He is the god of the grape harvest, wine, orchards, fertility, madness, parties, and theater.
But, despite being the god of wine, Dionysus can't seem to drink on the Percy Jackson show. What's up with that?
Who Plays Dionysus in Percy Jackson and the Olympians?
Jason Mantzoukas plays Dionysus aka the god of wine in Percy Jackson and the Olympians. Often known for his brief and hilarious sitcom appearances, Jason has a different take on depicting Dionysus in the Disney Plus show.
Jason has previously appeared in Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Community, and The Good Place, and even voiced major characters in animated series such as Close Enough (Alex Dorpenberger) and Invincible (Rex Splode).
READ MORE: Does Jason Grace Die in Percy Jackson and the Olympians?
Why Dionysus Can't Drink Wine in Percy Jackson and the Olympians
On Percy Jackson's first meeting with Mr. D or Dionysus, the Greek God tricked Percy into thinking he was his son. In doing so, Dionysus told Percy to fetch him a bottle of 1985 Château Haut-Brion by the galley.
It wasn't until Chiron, Percy's old school teacher Mr. Brunner, showed up that it was revealed Dionysus is not Percy's father. And a new piece was added to the teetotaling-Dionysus puzzle.
Chiron explained: "Mr. D knows that Zeus has forbidden him from consuming alcohol. And that demigods are able to do things for gods that gods are forbidden to do for themselves. Mr. D was taking advantage of that."
Why Did Zeus Forbid Dionysus From Drinking Wine?
The first season of Percy Jackson and the Olympians has yet to unveil the real reason why Dionysus is the camp director of Camp Half-Blood – or why he can't drink – but in the books this was all part of Zeus' punishment.
According to the Percy Jackson books, Dionysus had dared chase after a nymph that his father Zeus had had his eyes on, and got severely punished for it. He became 'Mr. D', the director of Camp Half-Blood for the next 100 years and was barred from drinking alcohol.
This includes not consuming any wine during his punishment, which explains why he opted for cans of Diet Coke instead, as seen in his first appearance in the Disney Plus series.
As Chiron mentioned, the gods often take advantage of the demigods due to their power to interfere with the rules the gods set upon themselves (and each other). This will become more evident as the series advances, and we'll eventually get to see how even the God of War himself has to slip through this loophole.
READ NEXT: Percy Jackson's Kill Count in the Books is Enormous Beyond Belief
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