Space Mall
This episode
offers significant progression on the main plot following up on the previous
episode’s reveal that Zarkon keeps finding the Paladins because of his strong connection to the black lion. Its
current Paladin, Shiro, sets off to rectify this issue by making his own
connection with the black lion stronger so Zarkon can’t overpower it every time
Voltron is formed.
Given the title of
this episode, there’s also a lot of focus on the rest of the team going to a
space mall for replacement teludav lenses for wormholes. The mall trip plays out like a comedy with
everyone getting up to some wild and crazy antics. The mall perfectly resembles a
common Earth one, meaning the only thing to set it apart from ordinary malls
are the alien creatures who work and shop there. The antics at the mall are very fun and play
to each of the characters’ personalities. Hunk is forced to pay off a debt at a food
court washing dishes but becomes chef thanks to his culinary interests. Keith
gets caught in an auction for his Galra blade.
Lance and Pidge look for money to get a game console. Coran winds up in an energetic bidding spree
for the lenses at a shop resembling an old alien swap meet.
Some of these antics allow many characters to
shine like Hunk becoming a chef bringing something impressive out of his
constant thoughts of food, and a deeper look into Keith’s Galra roots through
his protection of his blade, suggesting it’s from his family. All the same, it’s concerning that these
subplots take up a lot of the episode. They’re fun sequences, but that’s
all they are. They only exist for
humor’s sake and that’s a problem when your show is heavily plot-driven. There’s more focus on the light-hearted mall
scenes than far more important ones like Coran getting the lenses, which
doesn’t feel right. If they existed in
short scenes like humorous moments in other episodes, that would be a much
better way of integrating them while still focusing on the main story.
Fortunately, enough time is devoted to the
most important plot information we have at this point. Referring back to Shiro attempting to bond
with the black lion, this part is done insightfully. When he goes to his lion, it flies to
Zarkon’s home planet, and grants Shiro visions of when Zarkon piloted it,
forming Voltron with other original Paladins including Allura’s father, King
Alfor. Zarkon was even able to unlock
powers of the lion that Shiro hasn’t.
The memories are interrupted when Zarkon locates the black lion again,
and Shiro ends up fighting the leader of the Galra Empire inside his mind. It nicely interprets how strong Zarkon’s
connection to the black lion is with him constantly popping up around Shiro who
can’t strike a blow. However, as soon as
Shiro points out that the true bond to a lion depends on trust, the black lion
sides with him which helps him win a fight he could’ve lost. Then there’s the interesting twist that
everything Shiro saw, even leaving, was just a vision set up by the lion,
implying that the strengthening of Shiro’s bond was all in his mind,
and the growth was all done through his power.
It’s an interesting and creative depiction of overcoming one’s innermost
turmoil and a great one to lead into the next phase of our heroes’ mission.
The episode still loses points for giving too
much focus to frivolous stuff no matter how fun it is, but it’s still enjoyable
and several moments offer great plot and character progression that must be
seen to be believed. 8/10
The Ranking
- Shiro’s Escape
- Greening the Cube
- The Ark of Taujeer
- Eye of the Storm
- Across the Universe
- The Depths
- Space Mall
The next Voltron: Legendary Defender review officially introduces us to the Blade of Marmora while also brings interesting reveals about Keith.
Next time on MC Toon Reviews is another review of a Steven Universe episode, "Chille Tid."
If you want to stay updated for more reviews, become a follower of this blog, click here to like the official Facebook page, and click here to follow me on Twitter.
If you would like to check out other Voltron: Legendary Defender reviews on this blog, click here for the guide made especially for them.
No comments:
Post a Comment