Written by Josh Sarnecky
Season Two Finale Plot Summary:
Having successfully incapacitated Zarkon’s (Neil Kaplan) ship and transporting it across the universe, the Paladins begin their assault on the evil emperor’s vessel. However, when Zarkon enters the fray in his Robeast armor, the Paladins find themselves in the ultimate battle for the fate of the universe. Meanwhile, Princess Allura (Kimberly Brooks) and Kolivan (Mark Rolston) invade Zarkon’s ship in a desperate attempt to prevent Haggar (Cree Summer) from immobilizing Voltron.
That is how you end a season! While I enjoyed the first season of Voltron: Legendary Defender, the show seemed to be missing its own identity and struggled to find a balanced tone. I thought the series had potential, but I did not necessarily expect the show to live up to that potential. Yet the second season not only addressed my initial concerns but also established Voltron as the best American action cartoon currently on the air, following in the footsteps of Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra. The season finale clearly captures the same jaw-dropping quality displayed in those shows’ finales and combines phenomenal action with the highest stakes the Voltron Paladins have ever faced. Even though “Blackout” may not technically be the strongest episode in the season (that honor probably belongs to “The Blade of Marmora”), this final episode is truly epic and a fitting end to a superb season.
Honestly, the most difficult part of reviewing this episode is finding specific faults. The greatest criticism I have is that the Paladins never truly come up with a strategy to combat Zarkon during the giant robot battle; instead, Shiro (Josh Keaton) keeps delivering the same pep talk and encouraging the other Paladins to dig deep, connect with their lions, work as a team, etc. Even that negative remark is fairly weak, though, since Shiro’s speeches reveal that this conflict is truly a battle of wills in which teamwork is their greatest weapon. That concept may seem somewhat cheesy, but framing the fight in such a way only adds drama to the moment the entire series has been building up to. Zarkon represents the final boss battle, and this episode perfectly delivers.
One of the season’s greatest strengths (and improvements over season one) was the decision to make the show more serialized, and the finale certainly cashes in on the season’s ongoing plotlines. For one, the season one reveal that Zarkon was the original Black Paladin has made his attempts to acquire Voltron in season two much more personal and Shiro’s struggles to fully bond with the Black Lion much more urgent. As a result, this final battle between Voltron and Zarkon is as much a pivotal moment in these characters’ arcs as it is an electrifying brawl. Similarly, when Shiro is out of commission, we briefly see Keith (Steven Yeun) prove his loyalty and leadership skills, as predicted by Shiro despite the reveal that Keith has a complicated heritage. Such developments bring these ongoing storylines to a conclusion that is truly satisfying.
While this episode could easily work as a series finale if the showrunners so choose, there are plenty of other storylines the show can still explore. Outside of the episode’s two cliffhangers, the show has set up a number of unanswered mysteries that warrant at least one more season. Plus, who would want the series to end when it is on such a hot streak? There is much to be said about finishing on a high note, but I suspect the showrunners still have some exciting twists and storylines in store for Team Voltron. And if they can keep this level of quality storytelling going, far be it from me to complain about a third season.
Epic, thy name is Voltron.
