"Ramlak Rising" - Official Talkback Thread! (CONTAINS SPOILERS!)

[neisan18]

@balgus82

http://bestdamnnerdshow.com/2011/07/interview-matthew-mercer/

@ around -9:55 he used the words “direct homage.”

Ok question sent to Dan! I’ll keep you updated

[HillsHollow]

@DangerMouse

Good point, the story to the armor could be it’s backstory and a Tygra flashback rather than just him grabbing it off a rack or from the wreckage of his room/weapons room.

The style is so different from Lion-O, Claudis’s, and the rest of the army it does make you wonder. It really does look like it was crafted in another land. Add in the very different color too. It might be a hint there’s a story behind it.

[balgus82]

Little bit of Trivia. Robin Atkin Downes posted on twitter that he voiced Captain Toonar. Kinda nice knowing the cast do multiple voices like the OS cast did.

[Movie-Brat]

@Bladecollector

I’m not complaining about Tcats, but lets try and stay away from taking the plots of classic novel stories and applying them to Tcats… cough cough Moby Dick, cough cough

Really? Because I actually rather like that they’re doing that.

For me, I like the Moby Dick parrellel especially with Lion-O and at least he doesn’t act like an emo jerk throughout the season. He’s learning and it’s eesential to his character development.

Plus, I love the Crowning Moment of Awesome for the Thunderkittens. Oh, and I found Tygra’s seasick hilarious!

[CodeofThundera]

Since I taped it, I watched it again a second time before getting back on here.

And as long as this thread is now, I’m just going to post my thoughts first before going back and seeing what everyone else thought.

So…

1. I thought the intro was good for the time restraints given by CN. I especially like that they kept in the ThunderCats roar just like the original show’s intro ended with.

2. I liked the atmosphere Wilykit playing her flute gave. I can see her in the future playing that as the older Cats ponder heavily.

3. Now we know how the Kittens got the clothes with red insignias. And considering they were confiscated from a house full of riches, I think it’s a safe assumption that the red insignias are a sign of nobility. Which leads to another thought. The adult Cats probably figure these kids are the children of Nobles who somehow got seperated from their parents during the battle. It makes me wonder what’ll happen when they realize the kids are poor street orphans.

4. Wow, Lion-O is a good artist/carver.

5. Tygra getting sick on the boat was funny. But I kept thinking how if he was genuinely motion sick, he’d have shown it before then, I’d think.

6. For Lion-O not wanting to babysit, he was the one who came to the kittens rescue, not Tygra or Cheetara. Aw, he does really care!

7. Loved the kittens cunning to get away from the chef! Smart kids! They are wonderful characters.

8. I kinda miss Tygra arguing with Lion-O. For him to be totally submissive is just a little boring to me. I want to see him argue if Lion-O makes decisions he feels are bad.

9. I didn’t find Lion-O pulling the boat to him believable. More believable would have been if he pulled them to the boat. Oh well.

10. Great how Lion-O defeated Ramlak! Loved Kat shouting at the monster to give Lion-O back.

11. Loved seeing Lion-O learn from the captain what anger and revenge does.

12. Loved his apology to Tygra and Cheetara and loved how Tygra’s expression lightened because of Lion-O deciding to go for the book.

13. Lion-O - too prideful. Can’t admit he cares about the kittens straight out. Has to stick by his callous comment earlier about not babysitting but seeing the kids could handle themselves. When did he see them handle themselves? Never. He just cares about them now but doesn’t want to admit it.

14. Poor Jaga! I had a feeling he wasn’t dead. That scene was by far more intense than anything ever in the OS.

In a nutshell - I really liked the episode!

[Nine_Tiger]

Sigh I guess I just have a higher standard for storytelling.

Here we go:

1. We still don’t know if all the other cats in the city are alive or dead? Are there other Thunderans across the landscape somewhere, ie other towns?
   The city is deserted now, so let’s have an open air funeral for any other reptile scouts lurking around to possibly see. A point for a classy funeral though, and a possible background point on TC afterlife. Reincarnation? Future plot point?
2. Tygra gets a point for speaking up for the kittens, but gets it deducted for backing down.
3. Cheetara gets a point for emphasizing what Jaga said they should do. One additional backstory point for the reference to Jaga as her teacher. Is she an orphan/ward too? Point deducted for pants that look like they would fall off any minute.
4. Kittens do get a cuteness point and a street smart point.
5. Lion’s anger understandable; surprised he is not concerned about his subjects, so his subjects must all be dead? Lack of clarity as to whether he knows this or not. Kid is in the negative point column. Lord of Nothing if they are all dead.
6. Food on sand. Really bad plot device, deduct many points. Everyone gets intelligence points deducted, but restore them because it is the writer’s sloppiness.
7. It is ok to steal from a masterwork. It is a crime to do it badly with fish out of water. Are they fish or amphibians?
8. Point to Lion-o for whacking things to get his frustrations out; points deducted for selfishness.
9. Point deducted for odd mode of transport suddenly appearing out of nowhere,and Tygra looking like he could drive it. Point deducted for Tygra for getting seasick when boat not moving, but not getting seasick when boat is going full blast. Point for learning Tygra can “swim” in sand.
10. Point for Mumm-Ra being real nasty, and turning Jaga into the green latern (could there be a sequel?); Point deducted for not knowing why Grune really hooked up with this guy, or why Mumm-Ra needed to.

Overall points: This one rates in with any poorly thought out second season OS Thundercats episode. Above the Circus Train but not by much.

MGP

[balgus82]

@CodeofThundera

The adult Cats probably figure these kids are the children of Nobles who somehow got seperated from their parents during the battle. It makes me wonder what’ll happen when they realize the kids are poor street orphans.

I think the tails will be a dead giveaway.

[Tygra]

@CodeofThundera

I kinda miss Tygra arguing with Lion-O. For him to be totally submissive is just a little boring to me. I want to see him argue if Lion-O makes decisions he feels are bad.

I think Tygra is just dealing with the betrayal of his mentor(?) and death of his father internally and he realizes squabbling with his little brother isn’t something either of them need right now. That or they are ignoring him in favor of focusing on Lion-O.

[CodeofThundera]

@Bladecollector

I’m not complaining about Tcats, but lets try and stay away from taking the plots of classic novel stories and applying them to Tcats… cough cough Moby Dick, cough cough

Why? You’ll find that there really are very few new “plots.” Pretty much every plot has been used before and then told in different ways with different characters. I liked them drawing on classic literature. I actually appreciate it very much.

[Nine_Tiger]

@Tygra_Rules

I’m hoping that as well. These shows usually center in the main character’s emotions, and seem to forget others have suffered the same or more and just neglect their emotions.

Good point. Some character development all around would be nice.

MGP

[elvis8atari]

@Bladecollector

I’m not complaining about Tcats, but lets try and stay away from taking the plots of classic novel stories and applying them to Tcats… cough cough Moby Dick, cough cough

I know it comes from Moby Dick, but seeing that the writers are clearly into sci-fi and the like, I’d say the whole Moby Dick aspect came from one of the writers being a Star Trek fan. And having seen The Wrath of Khan one too many times. It became obvious when the one guy said “I will spit my last breath at thee”.

As can be seen here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYPsoxpt0BU
Sure, that’s in the book, but the writer of this put it in cause he likes Star Trek. I like Star Trek as well, but I think it shows weak writing skills to do that.:slythe:

[CodeofThundera]

@Tygra

I really wasn’t expecting a glimpse into Mumm-Ra’s pyramid this early. It looks great, definitely looking forward to seeing more of that place. I like that Grune is working with Mumm-Ra closely, that was a good call from the creators. Jaga being alive was a pleasant surprise and something tells me his time spent in that lantern isn’t fun for him.

His pyramid looks much more detailed than what we saw in the OS. I also liked Grune being there. It really helps define his character even more. Makes his betrayal seem all the worse somehow.

[Nine_Tiger]

@CodeofThundera

Why? You’ll find that there really are very few new “plots.” Pretty much every plot has been used before and then told in different ways with different characters. I liked them drawing on classic literature. I actually appreciate it very much.

That Chicken of the Sea came very close to quoting Melville.

MGP

[balgus82]

@elvis8atari

I know it comes from Moby Dick, but seeing that the writers are clearly into sci-fi and the like, I’d say the whole Moby Dick aspect came from one of the writers being a Star Trek fan. And having seen The Wrath of Khan one too many times. It became obvious when the one guy said “I will spit my last breath at thee”.

As can be seen here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYPsoxpt0BU
Sure, that’s in the book, but the writer of this put it in cause he likes Star Trek. I like Star Trek as well, but I think it shows weak writing skills to do that.:slythe:

So you know its from Moby Dick, and admit the quote was in the book, but somehow think its from Star Trek? o.O

[CodeofThundera]

@balgus82

I gotta say tho, they were incredibly stupid falling for that bait. You suddenly see a pile of food in the middle of nowhere and you’re not the least bit suspicious? lol

Desert heat can play with a person’s mind. Plus they were starving. And if I saw food floating near the edge of a sea, I wouldn’t think it was a trap. Jus’ sayin.’

[balgus82]

@CodeofThundera

His pyramid looks much more detailed than what we saw in the OS. I also liked Grune being there. It really helps define his character even more. Makes his betrayal seem all the worse somehow.

The Pyramid looks technological. Was it floating? I’ll have to rewatch later. I did notice that it had four spikes sticking out of the corners instead of the OS obelisks.

[Nine_Tiger]

@balgus82

So you know its from Moby Dick, and admit the quote was in the book, but somehow think its from Star Trek? o.O

In Wrath of Khan MD was quoted extensively. It was not just RM spouting as Khan.

MGP

[CodeofThundera]

@PKELL

• Last week I said “Man, Tygra’s a jerk” but this week its like “Lion-O is F’n Crazy!”. Some of it plays off of early Lion-O in the old series (When he demanded to be set free because he was Lord of the Thundercats, that was totally out of the old show") but then they amp’d it up to the 1000th degree. Revenge really can blacken the soul, huh? But in the end, Lion-O’s compassion won out.

Demanded to be set free? Huh? :eek:

@PKELL

I was actually ready to bash the episode because last week, Lion-O was so compassionate and now he’s just totally insane, but then I thought about it. Being Compassionate towards the Lizards led to the downfall of his kingdom, being passive presented him from saving his father, & now he has the responsibility of leadership thrust upon him. He’s been through alot and in this episode, he probably thought that he was being the King his father wanted him to be. He’s initially mistrusting of the Kit & Kat and goes all out to take down Mumm-Ra, but in the end, its at the expense of his team, which he can’t do.

I think that’s a really good perspective.

@PKELL

• Last week I caught references to all kinds of things like Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, & even The Little Mermaid. Here, Captain Tunar (Sp?) was totally supposed to be Captain Ahab. They made no secret that they were working in Moby Dick to this episode, but i have to see that some of the seafaring sequences were pretty intense and the Ramlak was pretty cool.

The Little Mermaid?

[Bloom]

I admit that I’m heavily amused by the fact that “whiskers” is an expletive.

[CodeofThundera]

@HillsHollow

That would be sand sick Tygra.

LOL!