Demolisher: We can only hope the show will improve in its storytelling. I just recall how much the 75 minute Exodus episode got in its first 45 minutes compared to this new opening episode. If each new episode is the customary 22 minutes long, and season one is only 13 episodes long, and we are already on a quest, it seems unlikely that we will learn more of Thunderan society, or back story this go round.
I would love being proved wrong.
MGP
season one is 26 episodes long. not 13.
Good to know. I based my information on what I had heard in January.
MGP
In avatar:the last airbender the makers told a good story in about 61 episodes. There was character building, there were story arcs.
So a total of 52 episodes for the thundercats should get the job done I hope.
I hope it comes close to Avatar and I personally feel it got a good start while Avater to me had a slow start.
I have so many questions about the series that I hope are addressed & resolved as the show progresses. This debut really did a good job of putting everything into motion. But my questions:
Why can’t Tygra be the king? I mean pretty much everybody except Jaga said that Tygra would make a better King than Lion-O, so why isn’t he in line? Is he adopted and the throne has to go to someone in the bloodline? I guess if Lion-O & Tygra were half brothers (of different mothers), Tygra would have some lion blood in him and he’d by “Lygra” instead, right? lol. Anyways, it did seem strange to me that Lion-O was set in line when even Claudis didn’t seem to want him there.
What was Jaga’s fate? Its easy to assume he died, but did he? Being a cleric, will he be able to assume his “ghost form” and communicate with Lion-O. Or even Cheetara, his pupil? By the way, making Cheetara one of Jaga’s clerics was a great idea as it might be a possible explanation for her Sixth Sense down the road. Also, I really liked that Jaga sacrificed himself so the TCats could escape. Right out of the old show.
Where did Mumm-Ra come from? How was he defeated originally? How did he return? Did he seek out Grune & The Lizardmen or was it the other way around? I love that they made Mumm-Ra directly responsible for the destruction of Thundera & the death of Claudis. Makes his feud with Lion-O all the more personal I think.
Are the Lizardmen evil? (BTW, I’m having a really hard time not calling them Reptilians, lol). I mean the way those two prisoners were treated, I can actually understand their beef with the Thundercats. We don’t have much backstory yet, but honestly, Lion-O came off like the sole voice of reason that could reasonably mediate between both sides. I really liked that part where Lion-O’s compassion was rewarded when that one Lizard gave him the key to his cell. That’s a good lesson to send to kids, but in a very subtle way. But yeah, it’ll be interesting to see how the relationship between Mumm-Ra & Slythe plays out as its possible that Slythe had his men join up with Mumm-Ra seeking a better life for his people only to find out that he got more than he bargained for.
This one might be a plot hole, but why didn’t Lion-O tell anyone about his vision? I mean Jaga & Claudis seemed to expect him to see something so I didn’t get the vibe that they’d think he was crazy. I guess they wanted Lion-O to feel responsible for Thundera’s downfall, but that was just kind of weak.
Where on Third Earth is Panthro? Do Mumm-Ra & Grune really think he’s dead and he’s just wandering Third Earth OR do they have him locked up somewhere?
And like all T-Cats fans, when are we going to get to see some of the classic locations (Mumm-Ra’s Pyramid), vehicles (Thundetank), & characters (Panthro, Ben Gali, Pumyra, & Remaining Mutants). By the way, that race of creatures at the beginning looked an awful lot like Jackalman.
Sounds like normal royal succession to me i.e. it’s handed down to the King and Queen’s son/daughter born first. If Tygra has Cladus as his father but with a different mother than that would rule him out. Cladus seemed annoyed that Lion-O had his head the clouds and wasn’t shaping up in the role that was expected of a Prince of Thundera.
- What was Jaga’s fate? Its easy to assume he died, but did he? Being a cleric, will he be able to assume his “ghost form” and communicate with Lion-O. Or even Cheetara, his pupil? By the way, making Cheetara one of Jaga’s clerics was a great idea as it might be a possible explanation for her Sixth Sense down the road. Also, I really liked that Jaga sacrificed himself so the TCats could escape. Right out of the old show.
Well he is either dead or he’s been taken prisoner by Mumm-Ra for use later to remove the spell on the Sword of Omens that prevents an Evil being like MummRa from touching it and taking the Eye of Thundera out of the sword. If Jaga is dead, perhaps he will appear to Lion-O when he most needs guidence. Cheetra being a Cleric is pretty awesome and she’s the last one left. Which means she may do battle with Mumm-Ra at some point in a magical fight.
- Where did Mumm-Ra come from? How was he defeated originally? How did he return? Did he seek out Grune & The Lizardmen or was it the other way around? I love that they made Mumm-Ra directly responsible for the destruction of Thundera & the death of Claudis. Makes his feud with Lion-O all the more personal I think.
It appears that Grune and Panthro probably discovered Mumm-Ra while looking for the Book of Omens. I’m guessing Mumm-Ra offered both power, with only Grune taking up the other. Leaving Panthro out in the wild, though I guess Mumm-Ra and Grune probably think Panthro is dead.
- Are the Lizardmen evil? (BTW, I’m having a really hard time not calling them Reptilians, lol). I mean the way those two prisoners were treated, I can actually understand their beef with the Thundercats. We don’t have much backstory yet, but honestly, Lion-O came off like the sole voice of reason that could reasonably mediate between both sides. I really liked that part where Lion-O’s compassion was rewarded when that one Lizard gave him the key to his cell. That’s a good lesson to send to kids, but in a very subtle way. But yeah, it’ll be interesting to see how the relationship between Mumm-Ra & Slythe plays out as its possible that Slythe had his men join up with Mumm-Ra seeking a better life for his people only to find out that he got more than he bargained for.
Not all Lizards will be evil, most will just be following orders, others will probably help Lion-O in similar ways to the lizard Lion-O helped. And then you will probably really evil Lizards like Slythe who are intent on the destruction of the Thundercats. I’m guessing the Lizards probably sided with Mumm-Ra before in the distant past. They may even be sworn to serve Mumm-Ra.
- This one might be a plot hole, but why didn’t Lion-O tell anyone about his vision? I mean Jaga & Claudis seemed to expect him to see something so I didn’t get the vibe that they’d think he was crazy. I guess they wanted Lion-O to feel responsible for Thundera’s downfall, but that was just kind of weak.
I don’t think it’s a plot hole. You have to put yourself in Lion-O’s shoes, people already think he’s a bit crazy for believing in technology. What would they have had said if he said “I’ve seen Mumm-Ra”. They wouldn’t have believed him (save Jaga and the clerics). It seems to me that Jaga knew what was coming. Wouldn’t surprise me if the Clerics true role was to protect the bloodline until the Lord of the Thundercats mentioned in the Book of Omens appeared. Jaga seemed to fear Mumm-Ra’s return given what he said just before he shouted “To the Death”.
- Where on Third Earth is Panthro? Do Mumm-Ra & Grune really think he’s dead and he’s just wandering Third Earth OR do they have him locked up somewhere?
Well he’s either out exploring Third Earth or his being held prisoner.
If he’s exploring third earth, i expect he’ll have found a lot of technology and built the thundertank. I sort of want to see Panthro roaring to the rescue in the Thundertank.
- And like all T-Cats fans, when are we going to get to see some of the classic locations (Mumm-Ra’s Pyramid), vehicles (Thundetank), & characters (Panthro, Ben Gali, Pumyra, & Remaining Mutants). By the way, that race of creatures at the beginning looked an awful lot like Jackalman.
From what the show runners have said, we are going to get drip fed that sort of stuff. Especially Mumm-Ra’s ever living form.
Tygra is adopted. This has already been confirmed by the producers. and even in the show Grune says that he’s not part of the bloodline.
P.S. I completely agree about the word “Reptilians.” It sounds SO much better than “the lizards.” And Slythe was called Reptilian multiple times in the OS.
Maybe they’re trying to specify the species because there will be other reptil characters in the show? Snake guys or turtle people perhaps?
I loved the premiere! Industry folks need to take note, this is the proper way to do a reboot!
Everything about it was great, with the exception of something that I need to get used to in modern cartoons - the mixing of CG vehicles/robots/ect. with hand drawn animation. I’m sure when the Thundertank shows up, the CG stuff will probably win me over.
We need a FAQ thread stickied up top so that these questions don’t have to continuously be asked and answered. 
It is just me or tend american thundercats-fans to be ignorant and pretty stubborn about changes? For myself I find the new series a very good step into the right direction how american anime/cartoons should be.
I don’t want go back to the old saturday morning style. Sure, the openings back then were a lot better however what really matters is the series itself. Most of the characters were flat in the old times and not every series stands up to the time. On the other hand, most of them were written for syndication and I really prefer the newer one with real story arcs.
Oh, I don’t agree with the people here with the critism that the new ThunderCats show is bad. Yes, the old ThunderCats were archetypes but this doesn’t change a thing that the story was based on a book of code with rules and a daily/weekly screening dosis. This one is different, there’re arcs with no simple black/white colorations of the characters. I think it’s safe to say that this new version has a more adult-oriented storyline than the classic one. We’ve racism and surpression of another species, we have wealth/poor people, heck, we have even a true coming to age story this time.
I really hope that the series will be build up like Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, it should become with every new episode more epic.
That’s a rather rude stereotype and not true. There are several American fans here who have posted we like the new series.
I’m American and I’m really liking the new series so far. My questions weren’t meant to be negative or anything but was more me pondering how everything was going to play out, which is actually really fun.
No, the new series gets a big thumbs up from me so far.
Where did you get that impression? 
at least most of the opinions I have read here and in other forums are positive and of people that liked the changes and the more adult themes of the new series.
Actually it’s not really rude. :o But as far as I’ve read the comments on various review-sites for the pilot episodes I got the feeling that there’re some ignorant hardcore fanboys out there who don’t want to accept the new series. It’s pretty ironic, isn’t it? If I would’ve been a fan of such a old series (better said, TaleSpin, Carmen Sandiego Cartoon or Gargoyles) I would actually be happy that there’s even a reboot.
Could just be my impression but I don’t understand some of the criticism not. I think, that’s just all.
I have to somewaht agree. But no, I don’t to as many old schoolers as you claim there is to dislike the changes. But those that do, need to get their head out of the clouds. The original show is extremely silly, it just had an amazing concept and premise, that’s why it’s so widely adored. Not it’s dozens of one shot episodes that really built up to nothing. But the idea of the Sword of Omens, an inmortal Mummy behind it’s power and the idea of a group of humanoid cats fighting for survival and adapting while defending their ideals. This new show promises to give all those concepts the build up and excecution the original never did.
On the opening. Dan Norton loved the original, it was an inspiration to him, so I doubt it wasn’t considered. Blame Stuart Snyder and the horrible management at CN for that one.
I’m hoping for something more like A:TLA, but longer. TTGL was amazing, but to fast. Nothing is more epic that the final fight with “Liberame From Hell” playing as background music, but I want to see a lot explored in ThunderCats.
I just thought that the women who write Thundercat fan fiction have been doing it better for years with the world building and characterizations, and that this series has yet to reach the level of complexity that has been the hallmark of the fan fiction set for years.
MGP
The story is just beginning. And if any of the fanfictions I’ve read are anything to go by, those same topics are going to be tackled in this show. Romance, Culture, Friendship, Inner Conflict..list goes on. Just give it time.
The world and characters we see in first episode of ATLA are different than what we see in it’s final episode. And that show covers all those topics.
I came to the first Thundercat series some episodes in, and was immediately drawn in. This first long episode has not done that for me. Maybe it will change; maybe it won’t. You are right in that time will tell. But so far, it ain’t working for me.
MGP
I think everyone is certainly entitled to their opinion, and no, it doesn’t make them stupid, stubborn, or ignorant to dislike the show. I certainly don’t think the choice to dislike the show is going to be restricted to Americans either. It will not be everyone’s cup of tea, and some people may simply believe it’s inferior to the original.
I do think it’s too early to state that fanfiction writers have been doing it better than a show that has merely started. It’s also a show with a very specific demographic, something that most of the stories I’ve read would be too adult for.
The first two episodes have to set the stage for what’s to come. There simply isn’t enough time in the space of 40 minutes to cover everything. Every good story I’ve ever read didn’t cover the entire background and plot within the first chapter. The first 40 minutes are also very important for grabbing the attention of the viewer and hooking them into watching the show; if the plot was slod and plodding as it explained everyone’s background, then people wouldn’t return for more.
We’ve already had enough glimpses of Thunderan society to determine they have a caste system, an absolute monarchy, and willful ignorance to the land outside their borders. I’m sure we’ll learn more about the characters as the show progresses. Usually, characters get their very own episode. We’ll likely see Lion-O’s mother, Tygra’s origins, Panthro’s betrayal, and maybe even why the Thunderkittens are out on the streets within this first season.
You made good points. For myself, I just felt I was in the middle of a video game, not a story.
MGP