I too enjoyed this episode and don’t think it was merely filler. The arc of this season is the Hero’s Journey. We have a young immature teenager thrown into the role of King of a broken people. He’s not ready for the role, but he has no choice. So, we’re going to be watching him make mistakes and grow up this season and eventually turn into the great King he’s predestined to become.
The story itself was the first leg of their actual quest. They picked up quickly from the ruins of Thundera and set out ahead, albeit in the wrong direction. Sure, we could’ve spent all episode with them battling their way out of Thundera, but it seems like the writers wanted to get the ball rolling in the interest of only having so many episodes to work with. I infer from the lack of a strong lizard presence and the ominous quiet of Thundera that a few days must’ve passed between the 2nd episode and Lion-O & crew walking out the gate.
I imagine Episode 13 is going to be the climax of the season where they battle to retrieve the book. So, for the next 10 episodes, they’re going to be out there in a world they’re unfamiliar with and they’re going to stumble into all sorts of scenarios as they go from Point A to Point B. Those kinds of plots do not make them filler episodes when the Thundercats still have an overarching goal to accomplish (get to Eldarra and find the Book of Omens). I suspect that Mumm-Ra and company will begin turning up the heat too as these episodes progress, but Lion-O isn’t ready for that kind of battle yet and that’s why we only see Mumm-Ra plotting here.
Since at episode 3 and we can pretty much assume that 1-8 is the first arc of the story. So I’m kind of keeping that in mind. You’re probably supposed to watch 1-8 back to back-to-back to get the true feeling on how they fit together.
They had a lot to accomplish at about midpoint and they managed it pretty well. You needed to see shades of Lion-O being worthy to wear our favorite red and black symbol and lead his people. You needed to see them find some form of tranporation and means to accomplish their mission. (Boat and the kitten’s map) Introduce new teammates, ect.
Like others have stated this really was more push the plot forward chunk of the story.
Yes, I’m well aware of how long the season is. However, I strongly doubt they will spend 26 episodes trying to find the Book. It’s possible that they’ll find it even sooner at Episode 8 or 9 since it seems like they’re breaking this season up into 3 sets of DVDs. Whatever happens with the book will probably lead into the next 9/13 episodes and a new journey/purpose.
Well, that was an interesting episode. WilyKit playing a lilting tune of mourning on her flute was sweet. Lion-O, Tygra, and Cheetara cremating Claudus’s body on a funeral pyre was a reference to Luke Skywalker doing the same for his slain father Anakin (aka Darth Vader) at the end of Return of the Jedi. It wasn’t said why Cheetara made the flames of Claudus’s pyre briefly turn blue, but I guess it had a symbolic meaning. I was surprised by how fast Lion-O carved the ThunderCat insignia into the stone wall next to the pyre. But it was a nice touch to have him say, “Rest to rise again, Father”, followed by Tygra’s, “May your next life show you peace.” And now I know where Tygra got his body armor and Lion-O his shoulder guard; they must have found them in the rubble of Cat’s Lair. Speaking of which, it was no surprise to see the Reptilians looting the destroyed city, as that’s what conquering forces do whatever towns they overrun. It was enjoyable to see Kat and Kit filch the clothes from the back of the Reptilians’ armored vehicle; those multiple pockets attached to the garments will definitely hold whatever future weapons the kittens find. Now that Kat and Kit have joined up with Lion-O and his group, all they need now is Panthro and they’ll be complete.
Yes, I saw the Moby Dick theme and how it applied to Lion-O; it was done nicely and showed how Captain Tooner’s lust for vengeance against Ramlak fed Lion-O’s own raging thirst for revenge on Mumm-Ra. Funny sequence, the kittens feasting merrily below deck and then turning the tables on the ship’s cook, though again it was surprising how fast Kit made that ice cream cone (Wow, these new Cats really do things quickly!). The other funny sequence was Tygra getting motion sickness and throwing up over the side of the ship. I have to agree that Lion-O realizing what he was doing came too fast to be truly believeable, but this cartoon’s episodes last only 20-something minutes, so the story has to be wrapped up quickly. I wasn’t surprised to Jaga still alive; it makes me think Claudus’s ghost might appear to Lion-O at some time in the future, though not as frequently as Jaga’s did in the OS.
It’s probably not intentional… but everything about that ATV screamed garbage truck to me… and I can’t shake it… Might be that we have different garbage trucks in Sweden and the US.
They’re the same in the US. Actually upon seeing the screenshot, I can see its resemblance to a bulldog or other animal with a wide open mouth. See the ears?
ok all i got to say is this ep was crap to me horrible plot which was a waste till the end w mummra grune and jaga thats when it was interesting. the animation i thought was pretty good saving grace as well
finally i will say that the music in the begining kinda reminded me of inuyasha and also had starwars like landscape as well on the barge of the ship in return of the jedi
my rating is a 4 cause of the good things i mentioned that i liked from it otherwsie i will say next week better be better
I quite enjoyed this episode, myself. Sure the plot was loosely borrowed, which helped make it a little predictable, but they did an admirable job within the time constraints.
Lion-O probably had a change of heart a little quickly, but I’d expect that he’ll still have some of that impulsive desire for revenge. He’s lost a father and grief does all kinds of crazy things to a person.
It was interesting to see him throwing his weight around a little and Tygra and Cheetara accepting that he is their king and they can advise him, but the final call is ultimately his.
Looking forward to seeing how this all progresses.
That is exactly what I was thinking! That was the same song from Pokemon 2000.
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The plot was just horrible and coming from me who missed the first episode of the show I was just extremely unimpressive. I had just been watching some episodes from the old series the plots were just so much better on the old episodes.
I hope that when I finally see the first episode it impresses me enough that I will want to continue waiting for every Friday night.
Y’know, gotta say, this show has some disturbing facial expressions. First Claudus getting stabbed in the first ep, not Jaga in the lantern in this ep. Each one gives me chills. Cudos to the artists.
The ship in this episode has a big energy cannon that resembles the ion cannon from Star Wars. The ship itself seems to be hovering above the sand sea, as well.
If the lizards indeed gathered technology and used it in a surprise attack against the Thunderians, how do a bunch of two bit pirates have technology that up until very recently , Lion-O was ridiculed for believing in, and no member of the Thunderian Imperial military that wasn’t a traitor or MIA was aware of?
The only explanation that I can come up with is that Grune took care of Panthro early on in their expedition, and at that point Grune was the only Thunderian who ventured more than a few days from Thundera proper.
Oh! And anyone notice how Snarf actually said snarf this ep. It was so cute and not annoying at all. C:
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The book was never meant to be found until the time it was needed described in that prophecy Jaga was narrating at the beginning of the first ep. That’s my theory on why he never told them where it was anyway.
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