#pjo episode 6

[sallyjacksonsson]

The fact that when they say “we know who stole the bolt!” Luke’s reply isn’t “who?” but “how do you know?”

[begaycommittreason]

the absolute audacity of these kids in this episode alone is insane like annabeth just casually pickpocketing hermes, the god of thieves, and percy immediately rear ending said god’s fucking car into multiple concrete walls oh my god i love these terrors

and then grover was just happy to be there

[milesnbeyond]

I RETURN FROM THE SILENCE TO POST MY THOUGHTS ON NICO’s APPEARANCE!

The reference in episode 6 to Nico isn’t some blurry background character or even the old car in the parking garage.

I am GENUINELY convinced

that the reference to the di angelos is at 12:32

Where behind the conversations of Grover and Augustus is the voice of a little boy going “Bianca! BIANCA!”

I’ve had SEVERAL people fact check me on this so I don’t know if we’re all hearing things or that’s what’s being said.

Either way THIS IS THE HILL I DIE ON

[counting-stars-gayly]

Forever smiling bc of Percy’s face after Annabeth told him she stole Hermes’ key. He thought she was so cool for that, and he was right.

[syxorxn]

I didn't get any Nico and Bianca sneak peak nor Hermes bursting into a song BUT I did get Percy crushing it in that taxi...

[softestaries]

Poker Face was in that episode btw, you just had to listen really carefully after Percy said 'we know who stole the bolt' to Luke.

[filmmarvel]

PJO episode 6 spoilers

I was going to wait until the finale to post my thoughts, but I just can’t wait any longer. I’m disappointed in the writing of the show. They’re telling not showing, and over-explaining and exposition dumping at every opportunity. Take this episode for example- it’s so much more powerful to reveal what happened to Luke’s mom later on (and have us SEE what happened to her) as opposed to Annabeth briefly explaining it now. That reveal adds so much depth to his character, simply telling and not showing just doesn’t do it justice. Especially not when so much of the show has already been explaining via dialogue, AND we hardly even know his character yet! But my main issue with this episode has to be with the Lotus Casino. It’s becoming a common Disney move to refuse to let characters be flawed, and this is a perfect example. The protagonists getting lost and falling prey to the hotel is so much better than having them figure out the danger instantly. They’re kids, and interesting, FLAWED characters. Let them make mistakes!! Removing the element of human error from the story weakens the plot and characters. I mean come on, having them figure out that the flowers make you lose it before even seeing the flowers? LET THEM EXPERIENCE DANGER, and for the love of god please just let them be well rounded characters. I’m hoping that the 4 pearls instead of 3 doesn’t become another example of letting the characters take the easy way out. On top of that, there was just a lot of lazy explanation: The Lotus flowers being pumped into the air (how did they know that? there is no proof of that happening. Again, we haven’t even SEEN said flowers), Hermes’ Taxi (I already forgot what the deal was there, they just speedran that explanation). Anyways, I have lots more thoughts, so you’ll hear from me again when the finale airs, I just had to express my disappointment. Hopefully they’ll surprise me with the last two episodes!

[piano-hoarder]

Lin-Manuel Miranda absolutely KILLING it

[kay-lalala]

What I hope to see in PJO TV Episode 6

I’m guessing the episode is gonna cover the chapters “We Take a Zebra to Vegas” and “We Shop for Water Beds". So I made a list of things that are in the book/story beats and could be included. Hoping for more book accuracy this time tbh.

The animal transport

-The zebra, the albino lion and the antelope. I saw an ostrich I think in the trailer so maybe that’s an addition but I don’t know why they would change the original animals

-The animals having the wrong food and the trio changing that, taking care of them, giving them water, cutting off the balloon etc

-Grover getting angry about that and maybe even trying to leave to start a fight with the drivers. Did they mention he’s a vegetarian yet?

-Grover talking to the animals (I’m still hoping for goat noises)

-Since the spiders were cut out of the waterpark scene maybe it will come up some other way? Since Percy uses it to help Annabeth snap out of the Lotus Casino trance. + the Athena/Arachne story

-”We’re a team, remember?” (even though I wished they would have shown that teamwork of the trio in the waterpark)

-Annabeth and Percy sharing an Oreo

-I guess they will not talk about Thalia and Grover because Percy already knows and they cut out the Iris message scene where Luke mentions it. So I wonder if they will talk about something else. Maybe more Annabeth backstory/her family. Maybe Annabeth and Percy uplifting Grover.

-Since they cut the Poseidon/Athena rivalry discussion I guess there will be no ‘I don’t know what my mom will do. I just know I’ll fight next to you.” “Why?” “Because you’re my friend, Seaweed Brain. Any more stupid questions?” Maybe there will be a similar scene

-Percy dreaming about Thalia and Luke and Kronos and his mother in front of Hades’ throne

-The drivers taunting the animals and Grover getting mad about it

-Annabeth tricking them into fighting by knocking on the wall

-The zebra talking to Percy (and him figuring out that it’s because Poseidon created horses)

-Grover blessing the animals + the “Why can’t you place a blessing like that on us?” “It only works on wild animals.” “So it would only affect Percy.”

-Percy freeing the animals

The Lotus Casino

-Epic games and water slides and bungee jumping and stuff like that

-Percy throwing Ares’ backpack in the trash and it later returning to him

-The kids enjoying the room, getting new clothes etc

-Percy teasing Annabeth for watching National Geographic

-Grover playing the reverse hunter game

-Annabeth playing trivia games and a city builder sim

-People that look like they are from all kinds of different time periods

-Groovy Darrin

-Percy getting suspicious and asking everyone what year it is

-Percy realizing and being scared that he forgot his mom’s name for a second

-Percy helping Annabeth snap out of it (not with spiders probably, so with something else?)

-Sudden weather change when they leave, stormy, checking the date to realize there is only one day left

-Apparently they go there on purpose because Hermes is there? I’m just hoping that they will for once actually fall for a trap and not just avoid everything because Annabeth is *~too smart~*.

The Santa Monica Beach + The Waterbed Palace

-Annabeth has the idea to use the casino cards for a cab

-The cab driver calls Annabeth “Your Highness” after seeing the infinite money

-Percy tells the trio about his dream and they start to realize something’s wrong because they were talking about two items, but they settle for “It has to be Hades” for now

-”You have evil thoughts for a goat.” “Why, thank you.”

-Percy walking into the sea in Santa Monica and letting a shark take him further to the edge of a huge chasm (could look super cool)

-The nereid riding on a sea horse

-Percy having flashbacks to seeing faces in the sea when he was a kid because she said they were watching him

-The nereid telling Percy to not judge his father and that they are not allowed to show favoritism

-She giving him the three pearls and explaining how they work

-”You have gifts you have only begun to know. The oracles have foretold a great and terrible future for you, should you survive to manhood.”

-”What belongs to the sea will always return to the sea.”

-In the Mississippi she said “don’t trust the gifts” so maybe she will say it now? Referencing Luke’s shoes and hinting again at his betrayal.

-Annabeth “No gift comes without a price.”

-Someone on the street recognizing Percy from TV

-I guess they already showed Gabe so they won’t see him on the News again? Though I think the young woman sitting next to him would make him more despicable because he replaced Sally immediately

-A gang of kids surrounding the trio and Percy scaring them off with Riptide

-While running from them going into Crusty’s waterbed palace

-God I hope they don’t cut it

-Crusty looking kinda reptilian

-Grover and Annabeth getting trapped on the waterbeds getting streched to be 6 feet tall

-Percy remembering the story of Procrustes and tricking him into laying down on a bed and killing him

-The trio finding the address to DOA records

[ticktockheartstop]

Ngl, I was a little confused when Lin was cast as Hermes, but in my opinion, he kinda nailed it!

[sallyjacksonsson]

me, a college student, giggling and kicking my feet because two fictional twelve year olds called each other seaweed brain and wise girl:

[begaycommittreason]

percy unlocking his road rage seconds after hitting the gas and laying on the horn in outrage like it’s his god given right despite him very clearly being in the wrong and causing utter chaos on the road is peak new yorker behavior, he’s our brand of asshole and i love it

[mythology-void]

my thoughts on episode six of pjo are too numerous to count but the main thing that's driving my brain up the wall is Hermes and Luke. Hermes talking to annabeth about Luke and her immediately reminding him about how much his son despises him. Her clear disdain for him in contrast to his desperation to be close to his son.

But GOD that one line

_________

"I don't get involved anymore."

"...fine. Then this was all a waste of time. And we don't have time to waste."

_________

thinking about the fact that annabeth heard luke's argument with his dad, right before he left. thinking about how Luke flung those words in his dad's face, with a look that said you're no father of mine. thinking about annabeth hearing that, internalizing their impact and throwing those words back at him at the perfect moment. thinking about the way that sentence must have hit hermes like a punch to the gut.

thinking about Hermes being so understanding about Percy's struggles with his dad because he knew how it felt on the other side of the fence, and how he tried his best to make sure Percy understood his dad.

mostly thinking about how if hermes ever saw Luke, he might throw himself at his son's feet and beg for forgiveness, and turn and weep when luke spits in his face.

[happycatfish]

hermes explaining parenting to percy then letting him drive a car was so funnyy

[syxorxn]

Percy "i'm gonna kick some ass" Jackson, ladies and gentleman.

[madrone33]

Ok, so heavy SPOILER WARNING for Pjo episode 6! And the rest of the show since I have read the book! Just, y’know, there’s your warning.

I’d also like to preface this by saying this post will be a rambling, not at all ordered, completely unscripted, kinda-rant kinda-essay of my thoughts on the episode, which means it is inherently biassed and completely composed of my thoughts, feelings, and opinions! None of this is fact, and I’m not trying to force my opinion on you. If you think differently or disagree, that’s completely fine! I would hate to live in a world full of clones of myself lol

With that out of the way, onto whatever this will turn out to be!

Ok, so I really liked the Hermes scene. That part was well written and acted. The family drama and guilt and blame is this show is really complex and everyone just needs multiple hugs tbh. Also, seeing a bit of Hermes’ powers was interesting.

I’m intrigued to know more about Percy’s flashback, while at the same time dreading it because I know it’ll be something heart wrenching and traumatic for poor Percy.

Hermes not agreeing to help them was a kinda foregone conclusion; it would be way too easy for them if he just let them into the Underworld, and we can’t make things easy for them now, can we :D

The Kronos stuff was cool to see, with Luke desperately covering his ass lmao, and Percy confiding in Annabeth. The slight change in Iris Messaging, with them not needing water and using a crystal instead was good. Both that it saved time and that it’s more believable. If your one communication tool is rainbows, of course you’d carry around a portable crystal to make ‘em.

It does make me wonder if they’re ever going to explain that technology - as in phones - makes it easier for monsters to find you. ‘Cause currently I… don’t think that’s been made clear to non-book audiences? Maybe I missed it in an earlier episode? Idk.

The scene where they released the trafficked animals was funny, and Grover completely overlooking if humans would get hurt and only thinking of the animals was a nice touch. I get why they didn’t show the animal abuse explicitly, even if I liked how in the books it was shown more clearly.

Them actually realising that the Lotus Hotel is connected to the Lotus Eaters from the Odyssey was good. I like how they’re identifying the threats faster in the show, whereas in the book they really fell for the monsters’ traps a lot. And the fact that they were on guard and were thinking that it was the food to watch out for added a different kind of danger than the books, where it was more just the readers sensing something wrong and hoping they’d not get trapped.

I like that the Lotus was actually being pumped into the air the whole time. And the fact that Percy and Annabeth being together helped them remember what they were actually there for vs Grover being alone and succumbing quicker was logical.

I didn’t like what they did with Grover so much. Him finding a fellow Satyr and trying to talk to him the way that he can’t to Percy and Annabeth was sad, but then, uh, idk he kinda just felt a bit useless? And the Satyr (who’s name I’ve completely forgotten oops) I think was supposed to be seen as funny? But he was… not. He wasn’t funny. And Grover was just very meh.

Like, this is one of those instances where I would’ve liked for them to change it from the books. In the books they all get split up become slowly addicted to the games in the Lotus Hotel and all that, and then Percy snaps out of it and he goes to wake up Annabeth and Grover, and they find Grover playing something like ‘Destroying Humanity’ and then drag him out of there. Which is basically what happens here, but it’s just-

They’ve changed so many other things for the better, turning moments from a randomness scene to a character beat. And I think they tried to do that by adding the Satyr and the ‘Finding Pan’ game, but it just. Didn’t work for me. He was just kinda there and did basically nothing and, like.

Ok ok so my main problem with this episode is the lack of tension.

First off, they were more meandering around looking for Hermes, it didn’t seem like they were that worried they might not find him. Like, they literally just wandered around and found him, without asking for any directions from strange people that might’ve given some insight into how sus this place is, or even having a quick montage cut of them jogging around peering into shady places. They just- walk around slowly and then there he is. Incredible.

Second, I know the Lotus is supposed to be like a drug, where you forget things and just focus on feeling good all the time, but I would’ve liked if Grover figured out that it was in the air, or that too much time has passed, and tries to fight it or smth?

Like, he starts to forget, and knows he’s forgetting something important, and tries to find- someone- the people he knows he came here with- not just so they can help him remember but to warn them that they were wrong, and it’s not just if you eat the food it’s everywhere and they need to go because the time- it’s all slipping away and he can’t let them be trapped here-

But something or someone stops him, hold him back, makes it so he can’t, and slowly he starts to forget why he’s fighting or what he’s fighting for and then he succumbs, and the switch you can see in him from scared-determined-panicked to dazed-confused-happy is terrifying.

And now we viewers are on the edges of our seats, because now we know that Percy and Annabeth are in so much more danger than we thought, and now there’s a time limit, and now Grover is trapped in his own mind slowly losing himself, and now we’re wondering when it’s going to start happening to Percy and Annabeth too, and now we really need them to realise and save Grover and get the fuck out of there before it’s too late-

But uh, yeah, we… didn’t get that. Instead it was almost- portrayed as comical? Like, there wasn’t a lot of weight put on it.

Old man Satyr keeps forgetting ha ha ha. Oh Grover’s forgetting too? Wow it’s gonna be super hard to get out of that one! Oh, no it’s super easy. Barely an inconvenience! Oh really? Yeah, Percy and Annabeth have barely started to forget anything important, and then they happen to look up and see the Satyr and get reminded of Grover. And then there’s a super short chase scene and then jump cut to them finding Grover playing video games and oh funny, he doesn’t remember them! But it’s fine, it actually doesn’t matter, they get him and go and he remembers on his own a few minutes later! 😀

Speaking of; I might have missed something but did Annabeth do anything at all during that chase scene? Like, I think she went another route to try and cut him off, but then she just kinda disappears, Percy tackles him, and she never shows up…? Idk, I’ll rewatch it sometime, but as of now it’s very strange in my mind.

The car scene was kinda funny, but again, not a lot of tension at all.

(Though as someone learning how to drive that scene made me cringe because of how relatable it was lmao. Honestly, Percy drove way too well for a first timer in a crowded parking lot, and the fact that he actually made that turn decently well? Yeah, someone give him a pat on the back lol.)

… Okay so I just thought of something that is unrealistic and wildly deviating from the books to the point that it’s basically just fanfic, but hey, they deviated anyway when they introduced Hermes this early and it’s my shitty tumblr post so - imagine if there was a car chase. There. I said it. If you’re going to make Percy drive a basically stolen taxi through Los Angeles, fucking commit and make him have to outrun the cops/some monster until they manage to activate whatever makes the car teleport!

Like, do an ‘IKEA after dark’ situation where things are all happy go lucky in the club at first, and then after they talk to Hermes and the Lotus starts effecting them, shit starts to get weird, and the patrons around them start becoming strange, and there’s a creeping sense of wrong wrong wrong as they rush to find Grover and then they find him but he’s wrong, and he looks at them like they’re strangers and they don’t know how to fix it, so all they can do is grab him and run, barely remembering where they’re going or why, but they’re holding themselves together, and when one starts to slip the others are there to haul them forward and remind them what they’re doing.

They have car keys in hand, and they might not know how to drive but fuck it they need to go, so bring on the dramatic dark lighting and wild driving and many bumpy, jerky, shit-we-almost-ran-over-something-important escapades, sirens closing in behind them and then he takes a wrong turn and stares wide eyed into the headlights of an incoming truck, flinches back, eyes slaming shut and-

Silence broken only by crashing waves. Insert Santa Monica scene after slightly hysterical laughter because holy fuck they survived.

… Um, yeah soz, idk where that came from lmao.

Moving on! So, I didn’t mind them getting Hermes’ car too much. Like, hell yes she pickpockets a god. But I didn’t like the way that Annabeth got the keys. Like, he’s the God of Thieves and she’s pretty smart. No way she wouldn’t realise that he let her take them.

A way to make it better would’ve been if he’d done some subtle shit, and she’d done some subtle shit, and then it was shown with some shots that here he puts his keys in this pocket, and then a few shots later maybe she brushes past him, or she “leaves” the room but you can fuzzily see pot plant leaves moving in the background if you know to look for it, and then boom, no more keys in his pocket, and when Percy catches up with her she reveals that Hermes let her take them, and we’re like “ahh, of course, can’t help directly but isn’t stopping them if they take initiative, cool cool.”

But nope. She got they keys, thinks she somehow stole them without his knowledge, and then it’s revealed that, duh, he knew, and they’re just like, welp, guess we should’ve known! Yeah. You should’ve. Annabeth is just- not? She’s just not? Like this? This isn’t how she would- do stuff. She’s smarter than that.

But see what I mean? No tension. Need to find Hermes, oh there he is. He won’t help them, but they got his keys. Lost Grover, but found him almost right away. Don’t know how to drive, but whatever lets go. Grover lost his memory, but nah he’s got it back just fine.

Yeahhh. Idk it just felt weirdly lacking.

What also felt weirdly lacking was the reveal that the Solstice has passed and the gods are going to war.

So, most of that underwater bit wasn’t how the books went, but I’m kinda withholding judgement on how I feel depending on how the next two episodes handle it.

The deadline being up and the gods already going to war? I don’t like it, but yeah, I can see how it might work with the themes laid out.

This isn’t just a war, it’s a family fighting, and instead of Percy just doing it because it’s The Quest, this - his father releasing him from the quest, and Ares telling him it doesn’t matter and they’d go to war regardless of it the Bolt is found, and everyone saying it’s not his place - it gives Percy agency because he’s choosing to forge ahead and save his mother, and find the bolt, and save this family he’s become a part of from itself. It’s his choice now. I can see why they made that change.

Though for some reason the pacing was weird, and the reveal that war was literally upon them was… eh? Like, “oh btw you’re too late and now we’re going to war.” “Huh, interesting, but I’m still going.” Like I said; lack of tension. There’s just no real urgency. It went really fast, or maybe too slow? Idk, there was just something missing.

The four pearls thing? I was very thrown by that, and I’m still pretty uncertain on if that’ll remove all the tension in the Underworld part. Because the whole conflict is if he’ll choose going after the Bolt and saving the Olympians? Or will he choose his mother and doom them to war?

If he has four pearls, then he can do both, which means zero stakes. But I’ve read some other people’s opinions, and I agree that one of those pearls is definitely getting lost/broken/used up before he can give it to her, which means this was done to raise hopes and then bring them crashing down, so I’m withholding judgement and hoping that it won’t be too contrived.

And I don’t like that Poseidon basically says he wants Percy to save Sally too, because a huge part of Percy’s dilemma was that the gods didn’t understand or agree with Percy wanting to save his mum.

Poseidon being on Percy’s side certainly serves the themes the episode set up, with Hermes wanting to be there for his family and failing, this time with Poseidon trying to be there for Percy and Sally, and hopefully succeeding. But it just feels like Percy isn’t as alone as he should be, which is good for him as a person, but bad from a writing standpoint because it makes it feel too easy.

In the books, it’s kinda an act of rebellion, that he would even think of choosing a mortal over the gods, but here he’s… not? Because the gods - or at least Hephestus, Hermes and Poseidon - are on his side. So he’s not choosing a mortal over the gods, he’s just saving his mum, and half the gods have given him the thumbs up to do it.

Not saying they weren’t secretly supporting him in the books too, but Percy didn’t think they were. He felt alone. He felt the pressure of the consequences that would come with whatever descision he made. In the show he’s not really going against the gods, because the gods are actively endorsing him. Which means, say it with me, no tension.

Anyway, like I said: withholding judgment. I'll see how the next ones go, and then come to a proper conclusion based on a complete picture.

Also, side note: When the nereid said, “What belongs to the sea can always return” all I was thinking was the musical and Poseidon’s goofy ass voice saying “It’s a SeAShElL” 😂

Oh and btw, the graphics/makeup/cgi of the nereid was well done to my untrained eye. I have no idea about how it’s done, or if it’s actually shitty in the professional sphere, but I thought it was pretty, so- thumbs up from me.

Though the whole scene at the beach and swimming to her was so dark I literally had to turn my tv’s brightness up to see what was happening, which I also had to do with the Theme Park last episode, and I almost did with the Minatour. Man, they really have a problem with lighting during the night scenes.

But just throughout the whole episode, there's just this feeling of non-urgency. Like, in the episode where time is the most important thing, it... doesn't really feel like it matters all that much.

Um, yeah. I think that was all I wanted to say…

In conclusion, I liked Hermes, aaand not much else. It was still a fun episode, but just all round pretty iffy plot wise. Rip.

I shall leave this with saying WE FINALLY GOT WISE GIRL!! 🥳