While all the episodes we’ve seen have always ended well for
Voltron and its Paladins, this episode is where their quest to defend the
universe starts showing its difficulties as the Galra Empire hits it hard. Their impeding effect is especially felt when
you consider that we open with a celebration the team has with their new
allies, the Arusians. Amidst the happy,
light-hearted scenes at the party, we also see a lighter side to Allura as she
gathers secrets about the Paladins from a race of mice who are also the
remaining survivors of her home planet, including one she skirts around about
Pidge, or Katie, being a girl. However,
it’s around here where things start getting heavy when Pidge reveals that she’s
leaving the team to find her family. As
emotional as Pidge’s arc is, it’s concerning that she’s not considering the
serious repercussions of this move.
Voltron needs all its Paladins to work, and without it the universe is
doomed. They do talk about this later
on, but this move is too drastic to get behind.
Not only this, but other Paladins talk about wanting to go home to,
which nicely reveals a vulnerable side to someone as full of himself as Lance
who considers how far away he is from Earth. Finally, the Galra Empire, led by Zarkon’s
notorious commander, Sendak, initiates their attack which starts putting the
odds against what seemed unstoppable.
First, they reprogram Pidge’s drone friend, Rover, to destroy the
crystal that powers the Altean’s castle that holds the Voltron lions. Then, they separate the team by knocking out
Shiro and keeping him and Lance, who was wounded when the crystal was
destroyed, hostage, and force Hunk to leave with Coran to find a new one, and
power the castle up to keep Keith and Allura out. They also plan to take the castle into orbit
to keep the Voltron lions for themselves, but in a tense scene that cements
that her loyalty is to the Paladins, Pidge finds a way to destroy the engine to
prevent it from takeoff. However, the
episode ends with Sendak demanding her to be found, leaving the audience to
guess what will become of her and the rest of the team for that matter. Even if it’s an abrupt end to the episode in
particular, you know that all this is a huge lead in to something bigger. Voltron, the only hope for defense of evil,
is now in danger of being stolen, and our heroes are separated. After getting to know their personalities,
including through the events here, it’s worth being concerned for their safety
and hope they can find a way out of this.
While some characters may have head-scratching mindsets at times, this
is the point where the care for them hits a high point. 9.5/10
The Ranking
1. The Rise of Voltron
2. The Fall of the Castle of Lions
3. Return of the Gladiator
4. Some Assembly Required
Be sure to stay tuned for the review of this episode's thrilling continuation which also serves as an addition to this show's lore, "Tears of the Balmera."
If you would like to check out other Voltron: Legendary Defender reviews on this blog, click here for the guide made especially for them.
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