Voltron Season 5 Finale Plot Summary:
Lotor (A.J. Locascio) and Allura (Kimberly Brooks) travel to a mysterious realm known as Oriande to discover the secrets to Altean alchemy. Elsewhere, Haggar (Cree Summer) and her team consider their next step.
For perhaps the first time since the second season’s finale, I have almost no idea where the next season of Voltron: Legendary Defender will take the Paladins and their story. After spending more than enough time harping on how many cues Voltron has taken from Power Rangers, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and Star Wars, I find this unpredictability to be incredibly exciting.
As I discussed in my review of the season premiere, following a group of rebels during a civil war (intergalactic or otherwise) isn’t exactly a novel idea, but Voltron and other shows have found intriguing ways to separate themselves from their predecessors and contemporaries. The major developments of the fifth season, however, have the potential to push the series to dramatic avenues significantly different from the show’s initial roadmap.
Honestly, when I saw the title of this episode, I thought for sure that Lotor would become a sixth Paladin and become the pilot of a White Lion. Thankfully, the show avoids such a standard Power Rangers-esque plot point in favor of a much more character-driven storyline. The dynamic between Lotor and Allura has been one of the major highlights of this season, and “White Lion” proves to be an important step in their relationship. The characters possess a wonderful chemistry that not only gives shippers a cause to rejoice but also gives the two greater depth. Pairing Allura and Lotor together also provides a wonderful exercise in comparing and contrasting characters that the show hasn’t seen since Keith’s (Steven Yeun) turn as the team’s leader. Lotor may have become the show’s MVP since his introduction, but he is also bringing out the best of Allura’s character in a similar way to Keith. Whatever his specific role may be next season, Lotor is officially the driving force in the series.
As excited as I am to see Voltron diverge from a typical tale of color-coordinated rebellion, though, I do have some reservations about how the show executes its pivot. While magic has always played a part in the series, the season’s sudden emphasis on an Altean Shambhala is a tad abrupt. The episode relies heavily on exposition to set up the location and doesn’t quite stick the landing; having Lotor frequently repeat his intentions to use trans-dimensional Quintessence to reform the Galra Empire at least displays little trust in the audience’s ability to follow the character’s motivation and the plot’s new direction. Likewise, the magic on display in Oriande is mostly grounded in the show’s mythology but occasionally veers into odd directions that feel out of place.
Elsewhere, “White Lion” promises to continue the season’s ongoing effort of addressing long running mysteries and conflicts. While the season’s penultimate episode only gave as a brief glimpse into Keith’s parentage, the finale teases a full look into one of the questions that has plagued me since the end of the second season: what exactly happened to Shiro (Josh Keaton) during his disappearance? The hints provided in this episode are mouthwatering and may have me more excited for next season than anything else. Without Zarkon (Neil Kaplan) as a primary antagonist, Haggar’s relationship with Team Voltron (particularly Lotor, Allura, and Shiro) will likely be a major source of conflict and drama, and her connection to Shiro appears to be the perfect tool to set this powder keg ablaze.
As Voltron enters uncharted territory unlike seasons past and the show’s that inspired it, the series is truly firing on all robot lion cylinders. The animation is crisp, the performances are solid, and the mix of action, comedy, and drama is perfectly balanced. Moving on to a more politically complex and mystic understanding of its universe, Voltron has the opportunity to do something all extraordinary shows must: outgrow their inspirations and forge their own path. Lotor and the Paladins appear to be on the verge of doing so, and I am confident the series itself can as well.
