ThisVoltron Legendary Defenderreview contains spoilers.We have a spoiler free version here.
So as a TV reviewer I should start a review super dignified right?
I wont be doing that this time.
BecauseVoltron: Legendary Defenderhas transcended anything I ever thought possible.
It has crossed a new plateau.
Reached beyond the heavens and returned to us something that we thought lost forever.
Thats right, people.
Sven, the original Blue Lion pilot.
The guy who was in a black flight suit even though he didnt fly the Black Lion.
The guy who had a hilarious Norwegian accent for no reason.
Sven is now an official part of theVoltron: Legendary Defendercanon.
I was grinning like an idiot.
I may have cheered a little bit.
Perhaps shed a tear?
HOW CANVOLTRONPOSSIBLY TOP THIS FLAWLESS MOMEN-
Ahem.
Okay, I guess I should back up and review this like an actual reviewer, eh?
The biggest challenge of any series is to survive a status quo change.
Up until nowVoltron: Legendary Defenderhad certainly raised the stakes but the status quo was fairly set in stone.
Of course it could, this isVoltron: Legendary Defender.
There are a few small problems but overall this season is another triumph.
This season, short as it is, is packed to the brim.
In fact it might be too overstuffed.
Keith takes over Black Lion.
Shiro especially comes back way too soon.
We cant miss you if you arent gone!
The first four episodes were finding a nice rhythm of him learning to take over the team.
When Shiro came back it felt a little jarring.
Ill reserve judgment until then.
Lets talk about Allura in Blue Lion.
Although her trying to flirt with the Blue Lion was pretty great.
Yes, it still bothers me all these years later.
Here we at least get a reason and its wonderful.
Its a tribute to fallen warriors or whatever!
I love that sort of attention to detail.
Now just tell me why Keith isnt in a black flight suit and Lance isnt in red.
Come onVoltronwriters, do it for me.
You see, Lotor isnt like his father.
Lotor plays smarter, not harder.
He works best with strategy, not brute force.
Hes executing some sort of Xanatos gambit and I cant wait to see it unfold.
Hes also just charismatic.
Look at how he took care of that guy who was quietly trying to start a rebellion against him.
This makes Voltrons fight that much harder.
Hes a man of the people.
How can you fight against charm AND cunning?
As Allura worries, Lotor is multiple moves ahead of them.
The Paladins must change strategies if they have any hope of defeating him.
All right, lets return to the hero of the season.
Except its Sven, an alternate universe version of Shiro, along with an alternate Slav.
While hes clearly there to demonstrate that this is indeed a different timeline, lets not lie to ourselves.
This was pure fanservice and I ate it up.
Hell, one could argue without that deathVoltronmay never have implanted itself in pop culture.
The whole thing was basically an episode ofSlidersby asking, what if?
What if the Galra never ruled the galaxy?
The answer at first seems to be peace and prosperity but its not that simple.
The Alteans took it too far.
Their idea of peace is just a different form of enslavement.
Without a doubt this is my favorite episode of the season solely for raising this issue.
That and you know, Sven.
That whole episode also changes the game onVoltron: Legendary Defenderas a show.
With alternate realities in play this just became MUCH bigger.
Is Lotor trying to return to an alternate reality?
Will the Voltron team not only be defenders of this universe but ALL universes?
Man, is someone on the Voltron staff a massiveSlidersfan?
This is starting to sound A LOT like the later seasons of that show.
Shiros return, while it came too soon, was a nice change of pace.
It was great to see him on his own for a bit before being found by those resistance fighters.
Shout out to Matthew Moy for his role as the more grounded of the two.
Seeing these guys just reminded me how greatVoltronis at world building and hinting at its bigger universe.
It demonstrates just how far reaching the resistance is and that it doesnt just include rebel Galra.
As Ive mentioned a billion times before, this franchise NEEDS tie-in novels.
Imagine a Tales of the Resistance book with short stories featuring the little pockets of fighters weve seen.
Wouldnt you want to read a story about these two and how they got stationed on this planet?
Yo, Simon & Schuster.
Absolute power corrupted absolutely for Zarkon and Haggar but its deeper than that.
That and you know, Alfor blew up his planet.
No one is totally in the right here.
Thats good story telling.
This episode is another candidate for needs an expanded universe book.
Dont you want more tales with the OG Paladins?
We got just enough here to get an idea of them but I want more.
I want their early adventures pre Voltron.
I want their adventures as Zarkon slowly built up his power.
Of course making the characters likeable is important but the universe itself has to be engaging.
Flesh out the cultures of these characters.
What does by willow!
What is that guys planet like?
I need to know!
Alluras bayard whip fight was a real treat.
The extended Lion fight in episode three was thrilling, feeling like an old submarine movie.
The way the Lions, especially Blue, awkwardly moved complimented the story perfectly.
Im sure theyll have their day soon enough.
Fantastic world building, heart pumping action, engaging characters, and freakinSven?
Yeah, Im happy with this season.
I cant wait to see where we go whenVoltron: Legendary Defender returns in October.
A team-up between ALL the versions ofVoltron.
The OG series.Voltron: The Third Dimension.Voltron Force.
The various comics.Voltron: Legendary Defender.
Throw Gladiator Voltron in there to, why not?
Even if it doesnt happen in the series proper, give us a comic.
Or you know, a book.
Come on, Simon & Schuster.
Rating:
4.5 out of 5
