Saturday, April 27, 2019

Changing of the Guard (Voltron: Legendary Defender Season 3 Episode 1) - 'Toon Reviews 31

If you like this review and want to stay updated for what else I have in store, become a follower of this blog, click here to like the official Facebook page, and click here to follow me on Twitter. Now on with today's review:
In a brand new review strategy, I’m returning to a show I’ve left on the back-burner for a look at not one, but two of its seasons:

Voltron: Legendary Defender (Seasons 3 & 4)
Basic Premise
Although I’ve invested a lot of time in one of the latest Netflix original animated series, I have not forgotten the first one I’ve seen, Voltron: Legendary Defender.  This space adventure series is a very exciting one that sets itself to get better with each season.  Through exploring new galaxies and allowing characters to move beyond their basic traits with every adventure, its efforts to become something impactful really show.  While this may not be a show I watch a lot, which has since ended and I have totally not been keeping up with it, I do acknowledge it as a generally great show from what I’ve seen.  This is why I’m glad to finally get back to talking about it after so long.  I mean, the last thing I talked about was Shiro’s disappearance and Zarkon being put on life support while the Galra prince Lotor was called.  Of course I can’t just stop discussing the show there.
Now, you might be wondering why I’m reviewing two seasons together instead of one season getting its own review set.  A lot of that is because of how long it’s been since I talked about it and that the show has run its course as of now with 8 seasons in total.  At the rate it takes for me to get through one review set, covering two seasons at once is a good way to cover a lot of ground faster.  Plus, Seasons 3 and 4 are much shorter than the previous two. Together, they amount to a similar number of episodes, so that means both of them together qualify as a review set for this show. 
For now, it’s time to rejoin the Paladins: Shiro, Lance, Keith, Pidge, and Hunk; their advisors: Allura and Coran; and their enemies of the Galra Empire to see what’s in store for them. This time though, it’s a double portion of galactic epics done in the Netflix scope.
Season 3
Changing of the Guard
This episode smoothly follows up on the recent events of our heroes and enemies.  The Paladins have just beaten Zarkon and there are noteworthy effects of what was gained and lost. 
There’s an interesting and smart direction for the Paladins’ new strategy.  Rather than taking on all the battles themselves, everyone is pushing any planet they liberate from the Galra to join them in all future big battles.  After all, Voltron may be the most powerful being in the universe, but it’s hardly ever a good idea to leave everything to one force.  Looking back, when the rebellion consisted of Voltron alone, it couldn’t beat the Galra by itself.  It was only in the second season when the Paladins started recruiting other groups like the Blade of Marmora when they started gaining progress.  Now is the perfect time to expand on the progress, which believably requires as many alliances as possible.  Getting these alliances grants the episode with a fair amount appeal. There are exciting battles to liberate the planets, little scenes of the new planets aiding the Paladins in personal goals, and extravagant hero worship.  It’s quite a time to be one of them. 
There is, however, a bittersweet air to where the Paladins are now.  With their victory comes the loss of who was the most authoritative Paladin, Shiro, making it hard for their new allies to maintain their hope.  Without him, not all the lions will work and Voltron can’t be formed.  The weight of his loss is especially felt through Keith, the one who was inspired by Shiro the most.  The way he lashes out about Shiro not being around brings a relatable tone of how many people can feel when losing a close one. This even happens at an important meeting meant to inspire other planets.  This allows the episode to speak volumes of how heavy moments like this can be.  It’s only through a moment at the end when everyone confides in Keith about the loss, showing he’s not alone, that moves him towards trying to form Voltron without Shiro.  This shows that talking and trying to understand grief is among the best ways to help someone deal with it, enhancing the episode’s heart. 
As for the enemy forces, the biggest takeaway is the Galra being assigned to take charge in the fight against Voltron while Zarkon’s incapacitated, Prince Lotor.  Through exposition from Galra followers, there’s interesting background to this character.  He’s a dark conqueror like all the other Galra, but Lotor is a bit of rebel to their customs.  He lets the planets he conquers rule as their own empire, is accepting of colorful followers who aren’t fully Galra, and apparently got so bad, he was exiled.  His formal introduction features him partaking in gladiator matches, displaying impressive fight skills, which he later uses on a jealous Galra commander.  Instead of killing him though, Lotor lets him live, offering the commander a chance to join him, claiming that simply pledging loyalty instead of outright destroying is the way to go.  This move suggests Lotor isn’t all-out evil, but far more smart and calculating, seeming like a legitimately good leader and challenging villain.  That said, it’s hard to buy if he really means this inspiring ideal when he orders the commander who already pledged loyalty to him be sent to a freezing planet as prisoner.  It’s a bit of an enigma to leave Lotor on. 
Still, like what our heroes face, it’s a substantial continuation of what’s happened with the series paving the way for what seems like a smart visionary future.
A

Be sure to stay tuned for the review of the next episode where the matter of who controls Shiro's lion is the focus, featuring a new Paladin to form Voltron.
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