Chapter Text
Welcome! Here's a little reference list for each of the chapters and kind of what they are about. I doubt y'all are going to want to read the entire thing. So here you go!
This is by no means in chronological order, instead I've grouped the chapters by "vibe".
Octavian and Camp Half-Blood
In this one, I cover what Octavian may or may not have known about the Greek demigods. Ultimately, Octavian seems to have been open to working with Greeks but was far more aware (due to his gift of prophecy) than the other Romans that the alliance will probably fail.
Scene Analysis: Meeting Octavian
When they first meet, Octavian does not treat Percy as an enemy, but instead as a curiosity. He even attempts to be friendly but unforunately Percy seems to get a bad vibe from him, mostly due to Hazel's tone and words. It is clear from this scene that Hazel hates Octavian, though as far as I'm aware it is never explored why.
Octavian is Autistic Coded
Octavian has several traits that code him as autistic, in my opinion. In this chapter I discuss examples from the books.
Octavian didn't kill Gwen
In which I discuss why on a world building and character level, Octavian killing Gwen makes little sense. Both in terms of Octavian's character and Reyna's.
Octavian and Reyna, part 1
Where I parse out the relationship between Octavian and Reyna, since it's not entirely obviously. Basically, they are friends but they are also rivals. Since they are both incredibly stubborn this often results in them fighting.
Octavian's Fatal Flaw
Octavian's flaw is wrath. We see signs of this throughout the books. So while we are told Octavian is arrogant and egotistical, I think there's little evidence of that.
Octavian in Command
Basically going through and discussing what Octavian does as a commander. Also, his potential skills. Octavian is known as a "schemer" which I think translates onto the battlefield. Also a discussion of him potentially being good at artillery (ballista are basically big bows!).
Scene Analysis: Mark of Athena, the Dining Scene
Reading this scene from a Roman perspective, and discussing how the Greeks fail to actually win over the Romans even before Gaia even got involved.
Scene Analysis: House of Hades, the Rooftop Meeting
In which Octavian shows that he actually cares about Reyna. Rachel and Grover prove themselves untrustworthy (at least from Octavian's perspective). And Reyna is once more swayed by Annabeth.
Scene Analysis: Blood of Olympus, on Long Island
Discussion of Reyna's dream regarding Octavian and Mike. What we can establish regarding the title of Pontifex Maximus.
Octavian and Apollo (updated!)
Talking about Octavian and Apollo.
Did Octavian Chose Apollo?
Talking about Octavian's status as a legacy. Discussing his potential ancestry and the powers he might have inherited (specially: storms from Jupiter, frenzy from Mars). And why Apollo trusted him.
Scene Analysis: Blood of Olympus, Final Battle
How much did Octavian actually know? The possibility that Octavian was aware that if Gaia woke, he would die. There certainly seems to be a parallel between Octavian and Leo. It's just we have a perspective from Leo.
Octavian, Monsters & New Rome
In HOO and TOA, monsters become far more human. Certain monsters are established to live and work in New Rome. It's a confirmed that monsters have been auxiliaries in the past. They have enough intelligence and organisation to sign treaties.
Yet, they are still considered fundamentally evil by most demigods. Except for Octavian and, later, Claudia. Both of whom are legacies.
Octavian and Reyna as Foils
In this chapter I talk about how Reyna and Octavian are foils to each other. Not only in their personalities but also in how they see the concept of "Rome" and what it means to be "Roman".
Octavian's Fashion Sense
What is says on the tin. But includes a discussion on general fashion trends among Roman demigods including Hazel, Frank, and Reyna.
Long story, short. Octavian dresses like a rapper and probably likes hip-hop.
Who Supported Octavian?
Mostly what can be expected - 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Cohorts liked him (or at least supported his goals). The 4th and 5th less so. The only exception is Dakota, who seems to have a mostly neutral opinion on the guy.
Jason Grace and Octavian Series
Part 1
This part starts a series about the similarities between Octavian and Jason's arc. Its a little more chaotic than my normal stuff simply because this spans all 5 books and Jason's arc is obviously a lot more addressed (though lacking in many ways, as I discuss as well). In this part, I discuss how Jason also has the facade of "Romaness". In Octavian, this could be see in how he pretends to be tradition, right down to his clothing choices, while he know he's actually a reformer. So too does Jason have this facade. Though this one is a little more obvious!
Part 2
In this chapter I talk about the weight of duty placed on both Jason and Octavian at a young age. Unfortunately we have next to nothing about Octavian's position as augur, however, the logical conclusion is that it was Octavian's duty to become augur. Meanwhile, it was Jason's duty to be the leader of the legion. I also discuss how Jason never really belonged at the legion.
Part 3
In this chapter, I discuss Jason and Octavian and their possible relationship, building on the pittance we get in canon. Because frankly Jason have no memories of Octavian what-so-ever is bad writing and makes both their characterisation suffer. So I've flesh it out / theories some stuff based on character arcs and how Jason relates to his old memories.
Part 4
Continuing the discussions from the previous chapter
Part 5
First talking about healing the gods - since they both had this goal, it seems. Jason's journey from TLH to BOO basically brings Jason to the point Octavian was at in SON. Though Jason and Octavian do come to different conclusions, it's very notable that they both decide to become Pontifex Maximus in BOO.
Jason also finishes his character arc, becoming more free, willing to break the rules. Kind of like Octavian - which is ironic.
Of course, both of them end up dying, too - but that parallel goes without saying.
Octavian and Storms
Octavian has storm powers, which is weird. Let's talk about it.
May Castellan and Octavian
Octavian (especially in his introduction) seems to have been written with direct intention to invoke the character of May Castellan without ever saying her name. And because of that, it led me to look into her character until I come up with the theory that May might have been the augur before Octavian!