Las Vegas, Nevada – In the highly anticipated sixth episode of the Disney+ series “Percy Jackson and the Olympians,” titled “We Take a Zebra to Vegas,” Percy, Annabeth, and Grover embark on a journey to the Lotus Hotel and Casino. Fans of the book series have been eager to see if a certain favorite character from Rick Riordan’s novels would make an appearance in this iconic location.
The Lotus Hotel and Casino holds significance in the Percy Jackson books, particularly in “The Titan’s Curse.” It is where Nico and Bianca di Angelo, mysterious siblings with an unknown parentage, are introduced. Although the siblings do not appear in the episode, fans had speculated about a potential cameo.
While the episode does not focus on the di Angelo siblings, it does introduce another important character. Hermes, played by Lin-Manuel Miranda, engages in a lengthy conversation with Percy and Annabeth. This is a departure from the book series, as Hermes does not make an appearance until the second book, “The Sea of Monsters.”
The episode deviates from its book counterpart in several ways. In the original story, Percy and his friends stumble upon the casino and succumb to its allure, losing five days within its walls. However, in the show, Grover quickly recognizes the connection between the Lotus Hotel and Casino and the lotus-eaters. Although they still lose a few days, the characters maintain their awareness of the situation.
Despite the absence of the di Angelo siblings, the show offers a subtle nod to their existence. In the first episode, Percy’s mom mentions picking up sandwiches from a place called di Angelo’s. This detail serves as an Easter egg for keen-eyed fans to pick up on.
Speculation arises about whether the production team will eventually cast the di Angelo siblings for a potential third season of “Percy Jackson and the Olympians.” Given the significance of Nico’s character, it is expected that his introduction would be a more pronounced event rather than a brief cameo.
“We Take a Zebra to Vegas” is now available for streaming on Disney+. New episodes of “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” are released every Tuesday at 9 p.m. EST/6 p.m. PST.