ThunderCats Episode 21: Birth of the Blades
Airdate: May 12, 9.30am ET
As Lion-O and Pumyra try to evade Mumm-Ra and his forces in the mines of Mount Plundarr in an effort to keep the Sword of Plundarr out his hands, we flash back in time and discover its origin … and its relationship with the Sword of Omens.
Preview Images:
http://www.thundercatslair.org/2012/05/thundercats-episode-21-birth-of-the-blades-preview-images/
Preview Clips:
Yay! My request worked! Can’t wait for this episode.
Well after last week’s Cliffhanger, I was thinking “Man, I can’t wait to see what happens!”
I’m going to make a mild prediction here. I rewatched “new Alliances” and I noticed that Mumm-Ra said he recruited Kaynar & Addicus because of their blood thirsty nature but also because they could give him the means to recruit their people.
So, I’m going to guess that we are going to see Jackalmen & Monkian soldiers in this one.
Nah, Dobo and his dogs (and probably some of the pit fighters) would fight them out of loyalty to Panthro. Unfortunately I also think Dobo might be killed so that a price could be paid for their victory, but this would only serve to drive the dogs/jackals away from Mumm-Ra’s ranks and lead to an alliance with the Cats. Kaynar stays with Mumm-Ra because he’s, well, Kaynar.
Well I had initially thought this would be an introduction point for Bengali, but I am going to throw that out as not happening. (I’m beginning to think he will not be in the NS at all, shame though) But beyond Mumra getting the SoP, the only other thing i could see happening is (and I am preparing for a backlash here) is Pumyra parting ways with the group.
I hope we get to see Ratar-O again.
Maybe he comes up to the surface and allies with Mumm-Ra (with the intention to betray him afterwards).
There might be another Jaga appearence as well, either young or in his spirit form.
And I agree with monothingie. I think we’re not seing Bengali in the NS (which is ok by me, btw). If Lynx-o joins the group eventually, having Bengali would be too many characters IMO. In the OS that was handled by having them divided into two different buildings, but with them sticking together as nomads, 9 TCs would be too much (even 8 is too much). Ithink that’s why the twins didn’t appear in the last ep, and I think we’ll have some absences in the forthcoming eps.
I think if they alternate around a lot, there won’t be much of a problem having Bengali and Lynx-O, but I don’t see them coming in anytime soon.
While I also don’t anticipate Bengali to appear anytime soon, I don’t think there being nine characters in total should necessarily be any “mark of Cain”. That’s the amount of characters there are in The Avengers:Earth’s Mightiest Heroes animated series and the original X-Men animated series.
Yeah, I think they can pull off nIne characters. Just because the OS couldn’t doesn’t mean the NS can’t.
I’m so looking forward to this next episode too! This series just keeps getting better and better and better! It’s like being a kid again!
Right, first off Bengali and Lynxo, I’m not sure we will see them this season either now, I hope we do, don’t get me wrong, but I’m not sure how they could squeeze them in now. But there is always NEXT season! 
Remember guys that they have confirmed we will be seeing ALL of the cats. They just never specified WHEN.
Second, I predict that we’ll see a little more of how the Thunderian survivors are starting to rebuild the colony. At first I envisioned seeing Lynxo by now and him taking up a post as a head of the colony in LionOs stead whilst the team goes off to find the stones and defeat Mumm Ra. He would have been the ideal choice for that. But that’s out of the window now. So whose left, Pumyra? Somehow I just don’t see that she is not a ‘leader’ type, despite her qualities. Tygra? I could definately see that, but I hope it isn’t, I’d like to see the core group stick together.
Third. EPIC BATTLE!!! This had better not be a five minute one episode thing, I hope this fight drags on to the end of the series. And panthro had better keep his arms in check and start hitting things with nunchucks or blowing the crap out of stuff with the tank! It will be so cool to see Mumm Ra turn up with the lizard army, a monkey army AND a jackal army with the three generals at the helm! (I wonder if the jackals and the apes will have different vehicles?) Also, how will Rataro react to that? He wants the sword for himself, and his rat army aren’t going to take it lying down. I liked the suggestion about the dogs in dog city fighting alongside the cats too, I can see Dobo and Panthro fighting back to back once again! That would be cool! So not just an epic battle! An epic THREE WAY battle!! Hooyah!!! Oooh I think I just had a geekasm!!! Ha! I’m not so sure the dogs will make it into this one though, as the kittens are back in the dog city for the ‘forever bag’ episode next week. Not unless they are pursuaded to enter the fight at the last minute and this spreads to next week as well.
Also, this is the BIRTH of the blades, so I’m hoping for some serious flashback action and a bit of backstory on Mumm Ra. Maybe we’ll even get another visit from Leo and co?
Anyway, this may sound wierd, but I hope Mumm Ra actually wins this one. I want him to score a few bad guy points as a credible threat again and somehow get the sword. That will make the season finale all the more interesting as he will become a genuine threat and not just whimper away at the sight of a mirror!
I agree, but with the whole Mumm-Ra, the cats really haven’t legitimately won much, so I think it may be a draw.
“Birth of the Blades” is sure to have an awesome battle between Mumm-Ra and the ThunderCats.
I’m also waiting to see what happens next in this. -As some have already pointed out, I doubt we’ll be seeing Bengali and/or Lynx-O anytime soon.
My predictions are that we might see an army of Jackals and Monkeys alongside the Lizards. I would also like to believe that this might be flashback heavy, considering the episode title. We’ll probably get Mumm-Ra’s point of view on the Sword of Plun-Darr.
Looking forward to this episode too.I thing it is time to bring it to a climax!
It’s going to be epic!!
I do too think Bengali and Lynx-o won’t appear now.I’d like to see more and focus on Pumyra and how she comes along with the rest of the team.
I can’t wait to see some development for Pumyra.
I just have this lingering feeling that Pumyra is going to make a hasty exit from the group that is going to disappoint many. Believe me I hope I’m wrong, but I think she’s not sticking around past the next two episodes.
Also, the progression of the series has been whenever a new bad guy is introduced, the good guys get a power up and/or a new character. I would suspect that you will see this in the season finale “What lies above” That would be the last possible place I see either a Bengali/Lynxo/Vultureman type character entrance possible.
nah, she’ll stay. I’ll be really mad if she doesn’t. If she develops a relationship with lion-O, I think we’ll be seeing her for awhile.
I don’t see why there is any need or even a plausible reason for Pumyra to leave, she doesn’t have anywhere else to go. The argument could be made that she goes off with the other slaves, but then why have her stick around in the last episode when they’re all leaving? Yes she was a slave in the mines, but she didn’t seem to have a strong connection who was there when they were, she wasn’t looking for anyone, and at the rate Ratar-O was going through them in his attempt to lay claim to the Sword it’s possible that everyone that had been part of her previous group was dead.
Also since Mumm-Ra is adding to his forces why shouldn’t Lion-O? I know in the original show Pumyra sort of faded out of focus as things went on, but as it has already been said and demonstrated numerous times this is not the old show. It just makes no sense whatsoever to write her out after three episodes, especially with the setup of her as Lion-O’s new love interest (which was pretty blatant in “Curse of Ratilla”) and the positive feedback they’ve received about her.
I understand the fears, it always seems like shows get rid of the characters you like, but at this point they’re just completely unfounded.
No way are the writers forgetting about Pumyra.
Well, toward the end of the episode Lion-O tells to the enslaved old Thunderian after freeing him "You’ll be safe in the old settlements just outside the ruins of Thundera’. This probably could be the place to build the next Cat’s Lair, at some point they will have to build one. Pumyra, as exactly in the OS was left with Tygra back to Third Earth, might be chosen to stay behind and be close to the Thunderian people who were released from Rataro’s dictatorship.Then help set up the New Lair with the assistance of Berbills. This might be a good way to cast off Pumyra, in case they want to lay emphasis on the ‘Nobles’.
Couldn’t agree more, in the original she appeared in 32 episodes but had a very limited presence, more like a cameo role. Now it’s a whole new ball game, she is full of energy and really advances the plot. Along with Adicus and Kaynar the best upgrade of the OS characters we’ve seen. I’d like her to stick around.