I can’t say much for Pumyra, because she was never loyal to the ThunderCats to begin with as we found out later on. If you really want to look at this thing from a punishment point of view, Pumyra has sentenced herself to a worse punishment than any of the other cats could conjure in their meanest thoughts, if they were of such a mindset, because she is in the service of Mumm-Ra the Ever living, and we all know how well that works out for all who follow him. Promises of power, revenge, or the subjugation of others are only the preludes to personal falls and destruction that are nearly unfathomable, and most of the time; through their very own avarice. Grune the Warrior, the lizards, and if we had a chance to see it, even Kaynar, Addicus, and the Vultarian would have most likely gotten their just desserts for their greed and evil intent.
As per Tygra, no, he’s not perfect, but look at what he’s had to live with. Yes, he was lucky that he was found and adopted by King Claudus and the queen, but when she found out she might be carrying the heir, snap, in an instant their relationship changed drastically. I’m sure she still loved him, but instead of Tygra being her “handsome prince” he was relegated to being, “my darling” instead- a very powerful sudden differentiation of status for someone still so young, especially from someone who he loved so dearly.
Then the queen dies while giving birth to Lion-O, his only mother figure, half of his security gone, and all Claudus has to say to comfort Tygra after losing his mother is that before she died, she was able to give Thundera his baby brother, the heir to the crown, and then just expects a child, who is literally in tears over the death of his mother, to simply understand that “someday” he will understand why Lion-O is to be king instead of him.
As Lion-O grows older, he shirks his royal duties religiously, up unto the point in which he is young man and not even a child any longer, well aware of how irresponsible he’s being, but still didn’t take his role as seriously as he should have, until it was much too late.
Lion-O is most of the time considerate, and genuinely cares for all creatures all of the time to his merit, but he isn’t perfect either, for as many mean and snarky things that Tygra has had to say to Lion-O, Lion-O has done the same to Tygra as well on several counts, and one of the worst ones centered around the woman he loves, Cheetara, which was just as good as kicking him in the face and then to the ground.
Just as another poster mentioned, there isn’t a character in the series that has been perfect, and that’s why I love this series in a lot of ways better than the original, and the characters so much, because their mistakes and flaws make them human. Added to that, Lion-O, Tygra, Panthro, Wilykit, Wilykat, Cheetara, they’re all a family. That being said, families have tiffs, arguments, and get angry with one another on a regular basis, that’s the nature of the beast, but still, there is always love between them all, and care for one another, because when one is in danger, all come running, that’s love.
As far as Tygra goes, every time throughout the series, in “real time” and in flashbacks, Tygra has had numerous chances to dispense with Lion-O and summarily become king, but he didn’t, he’s saved Lion-O’s life, and the others’ several times, and made it so they could continue their mission to find the stones. Tygra has shown true loyalty to Lion-O time and again, and come to his aid when others judged him as being foolish for it. (The pilot when the lizards were in stocks for one instance).
I have to say that his resentment is somewhat misplaced, but Tygra has lived in the shadow of his younger brother his whole life, therefore has never really gotten a chance to prove what he can do, and the gifts he has. I wholeheartedly agree that Tygra should have been more respectful of Lion-O, and his leader/lordship too, which he actually did in later episodes, but Lion-O, before his trials, felt as if he should have been followed without question because of his title. No real leader shuns the input of his followers, he actually welcomes it, and as the series progressed, he got a lot better about listening to others’ counsel.
All in all…
Tygra I have to admit, really isn’t king material, I think he got that message himself through experience, but Tygra deserves no punishment from Lion-O or any of the other ThunderCats whatsoever. If anything, Tygra should get a thank you from Lion-O for his loyal service, some acknowledgement that he’s equal to his lord in a lot of ways, and important to not only the team, but to Lion-O himself on a personal level as his only brother, and the only family he’s got left. I think that’s all the man really wanted to begin with, some recognition just for him, because Cheetara was right. Even though his resentment is misplaced, Cheetara had the gift of insight in saying that Tygra has lived in the shadow of his younger brother his whole life, that’s got to tough to look past sometimes, even if you are a saint.
And the way you made sure to add in the bit about her being in chains and the threat on her life ? Yikes.
