Percy Jackson Episode 6 review: A lesser Lotus Casino

While expectations were high for the Percy Jackson Lotus Casino episode, it seems like this Lotus is a little lackluster.

Percy Jackson & The Olympians is continuing its freshman run on Disney+. Adapted from the beloved book series by Rick Riordan, the show follows a young demigod as he attempts to save both the world and his mom, amidst a bunch of Greek myths and monsters.

As we stated in our review of the first couple of episodes: “Be not afraid, those who were burned by the movie. Even in the first two episodes, this feels like Percy Jackson. From the second you hear that classic opening monologue, warning you of the life that Percy leads, you can feel yourself getting ready for a fun trip back to Camp Half-Blood.”

Last episode, Episode 5, was a particular highlight of the series, but unfortunately, Episode 6 fails to live up to the hype. Let’s get into it, but first, spoiler warning for Percy Jackson Episode 6!

This Lotus Casino is lackluster

Our episode begins with yet another ominous dream sequence, as an intriguing figure cloaked in shadow talks to Percy. These constant sequences have the potential to become redundant, but thankfully each dream brings us something new to mull over, and provides anticipation for when secrets will be revealed later down the line.

But what fans were really anticipating for this episode was the infamous Lotus Casino, considered to be one of the most iconic settings in the entire series. For as loathed as the 2010 Percy Jackson movies are, fans still have a soft spot for the Lotus Casino scenes, along with its rendition of Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face.” Sadly, Gaga is nowhere to be heard here, but we do get snippets of Dua Lipa’s discography.

But unfortunately, the casino scenes are nowhere near as iconic this time around. What was initially written to be an inviting yet ominous setting lacks both of these characteristics on the small screen. Not only does the casino not appear very exciting, the twist that the casino warps your sense of time and makes you forget your outside life is explained immediately by the characters in seemingly omnipotent exposition, destroying any stakes, and telling rather than showing.

While the way the casino’s lotus powers are altered to travel through the air rather than the food makes for some sense of suspense, but considering how excited fans were for this storyline, no doubt they’ll feel let down.

There is some potential here for Percy Jackson

The events of the Casino does allow more development for Grover, but other characters are thrown by the wayside. Any attempts to really set up Luke’s character are once again told in overly dramatized monologues rather than shown, and Hermes, played by Lin Manuel Miranda – who no, doesn’t rap here – is an intriguing enough character, though maybe not quite enough to explain a future character twist later down the line.

However, there are some highlights in this episode. Percy and Annabeth bantering like “an old married couple” is always entertaining. The ending helps set up what is bound to be the climactic run of the season, and by the end of the episode, the bond between our main trio really is cemented.

The cab driving scene, which comes in clutch at the end, is certainly the best part of the episode, playing into the absurdity of 12-year-olds working to save the world. Percy Jackson seems to be at its best when its trio feels their most panicked, which will thankfully continue as we get closer to the season finale.

Percy Jackson & the Olympians Episode 6 review score: 2/5

Unfortunately, it seems that Percy Jackson Episode 6 may be the series’ weakest so far, which is a shame considering how excited fans were for it. This may oddly become one of the moments where those infamous movies are actually viewed more highly, as sacrilegious as that feels to say for a fan.

The episode isn’t terrible, and considering how good the past episodes have been, being considered the weakest so far actually isn’t that damning of a fate. But let’s hope the quest reaches another high point next time around.

Check out how and when you can watch more Percy Jackson episodes here.