Episode 16, “Let’s Talk About First Loves”
*****SPOILERS*****
Synopsis: Martial law descends on Padar, where the High Priest plans to marry Princess Dolma to become the legitimate ruler, but is fought by the king’s loyalists. While the king, with the help of Shake Hands, rallies support, a disguised Lupin and Ami catch up to the underhanded usurper. Will they be able to stop the wedding? And what last move does the CIA have in this? It’s more palace politics in Padar in this story’s conclusion!
With Lion-O once again righting his course, it would appear this series is prepping for its finale with this small set of episodes. At my initial viewing, I thought it would be a ‘one-and-done’ at their latest locale: a desert dog town. Instead, it unfurls into a semi-lengthy mini-arc of lore and loss. The latter part is not just any loss, but multiple losses of life, plot devices, and even personal effects. Who knew?
The big draw of all this however is the introduction to a new ThunderCat to the mix: Pumyra. With the exception of Bengali (who probably would’ve been in the second season), all the primary ThunderCats from the original show are accounted for in the first season. Pumyra from the original show is kindof an inoffensive, and eventually nonexistent entity. Juxtaposed with the warrior Cheetara, she was more the nice nurturer. However in 2011, it appears the roles are reversed. Cheetara’s role as a cleric, never mind her encouragement of Lion-O in the first half, makes her the nurturer in this iteration. Pumyra? All warrior, what with her introduction of her being badass in a gladiator’s arena.
Episode 15, “Her Relationship With Lupin”
*****SPOILERS*****
Synopsis: A badly injured Lupin is rescued by Fujiko, who wisks him and Ami away from the palace, pursued by the High Priest’s forces. Dolma has been working with the CIA and the High Priest to overthrow Padar’s government and take the throne as a puppet in exchange for the sparing of her father, the king’s, life. Her father, in the meantime, has cozied up to the Shake Hands tech corporation, run by a man with ambigious intentions. After removing the arrow from Lupin’s abdomen and running a ways with him and Ami, Fujiko seemingly abandons the two to draw the fire of the High Priest’s men, but Lupin springs back into action to help her. Will he get her out of danger in time? Fujiko’s fiercer than ever in this dash to safety as martial law is declared!
So after seeing his adopted bro making out with his crush, we start this next batch of episodes with a fuming Lion-O. Yeah he seems to have gotten the hang of the Sword of Omens, and has gained enough respect from his fellow felines that herding them together so he can disparage Mumm-Ra as a loose woman is easier, but… that’s only before the cockblock. 3/5ths of this episode batch involve Lion-O coming to grips with Cheetara picking Tygra over him, and by god he tries. It’s actually a nice bit of development for him, since the show has him try to act above his heartbreak as possible, but once the big two-parter begins it shows he still has a lot to work with even with his team’s loyalty present.
Episode 14, “How to Steal a Kingdom”
*****SPOILERS*****
Synopsis: After Dolma is taken back to Padar via CIA escort, Lupin and the gang make their way to her country to pursue their interests. Ami strikes an unsteady alliance with Fujiko to gain access to the palace Dolma is held in. The American government is assisting a conservative faction of Dolma’s government in a coup that will overthrow the reformers and taking possession of Dolma is part of that plan. Lupin infiltrates the palace disguised as Inspector Zenigata, and encounters Ami, the CIA agent who extracted the princess, and Dolma herself. But a lot of fancy footwork can’t prepare Lupin for the startling reaction of his target! Lupin takes on the half-modern utopia with a dark secret in his continuing efforts to obtain the Bloody Teardrop!
Episode 13, “The Bow, the Princess, and the Terrorist”
*****SPOILERS*****
Synopsis: Lupin and the gang are after The Bloody Teardrop, a gem possessed by Princess Dolma of the kingdom of Padar. Coincidentally, Dolma attends the same private school as Ami, and they make fast friends. When a group of terrorists occupy the school to ransom its wealthy clientele to their families, Ami teams up with Fujiko, under cover as a teacher, to throw a wrench in their plans. Will Fujiko snag the jewel before Lupin, or will it turn into a bloody mess? The bustiest burglar has a lot of skin in this game!
Episode 12, “The Verge of Death (Part 2)”
*****SPOILERS*****
Synopsis: As Siegfried Kircheis leads his forces to attack their forces’ supply contingent, the FPA’s fleets fall into disarray as they take on damage from a very aggressive Reinhard and his other admirals. Three fleets are destroyed and four have taken damage, but Yang Wen-li’s 13th Fleet has taken minimal infliction from the Empire. The Hyperion’s fighter squadron launches and engages the enemy’s Valkyrie crafts and there are casualties. Yang can barely make pull his forces away from the frontlines when Fleet Admiral Lobos orders the remaining ships to gather at the Amritsar Starzone to make a last effort before retreating.
The article title for this week’s watchthrough is not meant to be a disparagement towards the series, nor an implication it gets TOO sentimental. In fact… the introduction of further feeling into the show is welcome in ways I could not imagine back in the day.
So with this block of episodes, I’m halfway through the series, and I am beginning to see it invest more into the characters. Just at the start of this batch of episodes (“Sight Beyond Sight”), it begins with a race between Lion-O and Tygra, acting like rival brothers for once, which cascades into a group race between all ThunderCats to the main plot of the episode (and this further arc): one of the Stones of power seen in the episode “Legacy”. It is at their destination we meet another set of species seen in “Legacy”: The Elephants. Like the industrious Berbils or the adventurous Petalars, the Elephants imbue their own unique charm to Third Earth: what with their Buddhism-inspired motif, and their penchant to be forgetful alongside being wise.
Episode 11, “The Verge of Death (Part 1)”
*****SPOILERS*****
Synopsis: The Free Planets Alliance forces enter Imperial territory, expecting to be greeted as liberators, but the citizens are more concerned about receiving food. This causes them to overextend their supplies to fulfill the needs of the masses, but when the expectations cannot be met, riots break out. The Alliance fleets become desperate for supplies of their own, and Yang surmises it was an intentional stroke to get them to run out of resources, breaking promises to the people (which earns them ill will) and leaving them vulnerable to an all-out attack in the meantime. He suggests to the other admirals that they should withdraw from the area. Admiral Bewcock attempts to inform Supreme Commander Lobos, but is forced to engage with Commodore Falk. Bewcock berates Falk’s casual attitude about the concerns on the front line, causing him to pass out from stress. While Kircheis goes to sortie against the FPA’s supply line, Reinhard assembles the rest of his admiralty to strike at the main forces.
Episode 12, “The Etravagance of Goemon Ishikawa XIII”
*****SPOILERS*****
Synopsis: Goemon finds himself in a quaint village looking for the owner of a jewel Lupin wants. The jewel’s owner, Chloé, runs a struggling bistro and Goemon keeps surveillance on her, saving her from others wanting the treasure. But the more he gets to know the town and its people, especially Chloé, the harder it gets for him to snatch the item. Can Goemon overcome his feelings and pull the job off or will Lupin have to finish it for him? It’s con vs con during a con, as our favorite modern samurai walks among the cosplay crowd!
