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'Percy Jackson' Season 2 delivers touching 'Last of Us' tribute and we can't wait for what's next

The second episode of 'Percy Jackson and the Olympians' Season 2 paid an emotional tribute to a beloved stunt legend

After a stellar run in 2023, 'Percy Jackson and the Olympians' returned with its second chapter to enthrall audiences once again. And the second episode of the show's second season, titled 'Demon Pigeons Attack', paid a touching tribute to a legend connected to 'The Last of Us'—HBO's post-apocalyptic drama that returned for a second season this year. The episode saw Percy Jackson fending off an onset of aggressive crows. The chariot race, which Percy entered with hopes of securing a passage to the Sea of Monsters, was another feat of creative and technical mastery.

But it was the end credits that caught the attention of numerous fans of the Disney+ show. Several viewers caught a heartfelt tribute message: "In Loving Memory of a True Pioneer - Danny Virtue". This was accompanied by the symbolic silhouette of a chariot being pulled by two horses. As per Bam Smack Pow, Danny Virtue was a legendary stunt coordinator, producer, director, and philanthropist who passed away at the age of 75 on September 4 this year. 

Throughout his long and illustrious career, Virtue was associated with more than a thousand films and TV shows in various capacities. From 'The Twilight Saga' to the 'Hallmark' films and 'The Last of Us' on HBO, Virtue contributed to a wide variety of motion picture projects. He was also the creator and executive producer of the early '90s TV show 'Neon Rider'. Virtue then went on to establish the sprawling 200-acre film production studio, the Virtue Studio Ranch, in British Columbia.

Virtue was also a prominent philanthropist and established a non-profit organization known as the Danny Virtue Foundation, providing therapeutic experiences with horses in nature. Before his death, Virtue had tied the knot with his partner Charlotte in August this year. His son, Clay Virtue, followed in his father's footsteps to become a stuntman before meeting his untimely death in 2017.

Despite touching countless lives both on and off set, Virtue remained humble and grounded. He had previously reflected on his life while speaking with Joel McCarthy for a biographical documentary. "The movies and all, that was just my work. And I tried my hardest to do well. But basically, I just want people to remember me as a good friend. That's it. No big deal," he had said. Earlier this year, 'The Last of Us' star Pedro Pascal spoke for many when he discussed Virtue's work in a behind-the-scenes featurette. "I consider myself incredibly lucky to have worked with him and to witness his brilliant relationship to horses," Pascal said.