Episode 14: "New Alliances" Talkback Thread (SPOILERS)

[Philip Gipson]

I watched "New Alliances" today. Yes, it wasn't perfect, but I enjoyed it nevertheless. The introductions of Kaynar (Jackalman) and Addicus (Monkian) are completely thought out, we got to see the ThunderKittens' spaceboards for the first time, and we FINALLY see Panthro's new cybernetic arms (though their "stretch" ability can easily be ignored). Of course, he'll still use his nunchuks. The ThunderTank 2.0, though extremely campy, is an improvment over the original in that it can now carry even more people.

[Manny]

Welcome to the forums, Anne!

The ThunderTank 2.0, though extremely campy, is an improvment over the original in that it can now carry even more people.

Philip, the only reasoning I could see for upgrading the ThunderTank is to have it transform into a mobilized command center. I definitely agree that it will be able to carry more people, but the Cats will have to find more allies first. I wonder when we'll start seeing more survivors from Thundera?

[Anne Cronin]

Aw thanks Manny! Any way to get an avatar pic up next to anything I post? I can't seem to get that, other than putting up a pic as my profile pic.

Yep a sure bet on them adding more to thier team. Bets are more survivors scattered about that they're sure to find. I look forward to see what the tank can do next in upcoming battles or the different mech transform modes it can do and be useful for, such as when stopped/camping out on the trail.

[blackzig]

Pheh, I don't like it either. The whole survival of the species thing isn't being considered, here. They're short on the fuel and a heavy camper gets put on? I suppose the Berbils have a backup supply of Thundrillium around somewhere. The Cats' Lair...I'm thinking that won't happen for some time, if ever.



I don't consider it turning her back on Lion-O. She chose to put the importance on saving a life of someone she loves ahead of a half-hatched plan. She didn't know the generals would be so vicious as to kill them anyway, the generals were just introduced - their threat level undetermined. Tygra would have been just the first one to fall even if she did follow Lion-O. It's more noble/impressive to choose life than be loyal to someone who doesn't yet understand how precarious their situation is, otherwise he wouldn't go rushing into what he has been rushing the cats into. Get some good allies, then do the recruiting the enemy plan. The kid is too sensitive at this point on many issues. I'm not saying he hasn't the right to be, it's just he's supposed to be a leader, start acting like one. He did for like two seconds, then went back to being a whiny kid.

My two-cents.

I don't blame Lion-O one bit, Cheetara was putting out wrong signals, making him think he had a shot. Now the truth is revealed and he's hurt, who wouldn't be. Cut him some slack he's angry and still young, give him time he'll get over it eventually. LION-O HOOOOOO!

[blackzig]

And if you remember it was Lion-O who was cautious about going into battle recklessly, until his older brother Tygra told him "Thundercats never retreat". In other words Thundercats never surrender. So he learned from the best. So Cheetara is the one who went against the code and betrayed Lion-O. LION-O HOOOOOOOOOOO!

[James]

"She didn't know the generals would be so vicious as to kill them anyway, the generals were just introduced - their threat level undetermined. Tygra would have been just the first one to fall even if she did follow Lion-O."

Eh, sorry Celesta, but I can't buy even Cheetara being that naive. But sadly, it appears she is. I'm sure her order would have been so proud of that moment... :sigh:
You have a foe that with the help of a traitor, sacked and looted their homeland, murdered their king and his entire order, enslaved her master, and have made it pretty clear that nothing less than the extinction of their species will suffice... seriously, surrendering because they have some new hired help?

But, you are right about Lion-o. Time for him to grown up and get over himself. Granted he's still young, but harsh times call for harsh lessons and for growing up fast. Oddly enough, it's something you can see in the both Kit and Kat, as they didn't really get to be kids from the start.
Would be nice to see the old Panthro back, giving Lion-o a reality check about what it means to both a man and a leader... and lesson one is "Get over it. You're heart got broke... it hurts. Now, what about those enemies who want to make sure the rest of you is broken too?"

[Philip Gipson]

Well, Manny, I'm open to seeing more Thunderian cats on the show, Pumyra and Bengali especially.

[Brando_The_Destroyer]

"She didn't know the generals would be so vicious as to kill them anyway, the generals were just introduced - their threat level undetermined. Tygra would have been just the first one to fall even if she did follow Lion-O."

Eh, sorry Celesta, but I can't buy even Cheetara being that naive. But sadly, it appears she is. I'm sure her order would have been so proud of that moment... :sigh:
You have a foe that with the help of a traitor, sacked and looted their homeland, murdered their king and his entire order, enslaved her master, and have made it pretty clear that nothing less than the extinction of their species will suffice... seriously, surrendering because they have some new hired help??"

To be fair, Mumm-Ra killed Claudus, not S-s-slithe. He was following Mumm-Ra's orders. I think its fair to say that she didn't know that S-s-slithe would give the order right there to kill them. I think she probably thought they would at least be taken prisoner first which might have bought some more time for them to formulate an escape plan.

Now, Manny brought this up in our podcast we recorded today: Why didn't she just use her super speed to take out Addicus and Kaynar, or at the very least move Tygra out from underneath Kaynar's haliberd? After thinking about it, I've got to say that she must have been exhausted from her own personal fight with Addicus (he did after all sling her head first up against a rock. I thought she was knocked out from the blow). She must have been too exhausted or thought she was to make it over to Tygra in time. If that's the case, then I think she saw Kaynar had the upper hand and that if she didn't surrender and convince Lion-O to do so, that Tygra was absolutely done for.

So I don't see it as her being naive. I see it as her making the best choice out of two awful ones presented to her.

Would be nice to see the old Panthro back, giving Lion-o a reality check about what it means to both a man and a leader... and lesson one is "Get over it. You're heart got broke... it hurts. Now, what about those enemies who want to make sure the rest of you is broken too?"

If the Trials episodes that are coming up in the next two weeks play out in any similar manner to the originals, I think there's a decent chance of some form of the lesson you're looking for playing out. Although it may not be Panthro that does this. I've got to think sooner or later we'll see Jaga again and hopefully he'll come in to be the mentor to Lion-O to help him get to the level of being a worthy Lord of the ThunderCats in the same manner he did in the Rankin Bass series.

[Balgus82]

I think it's perfectly reasonable that Cheetara thought they'd be taken prisoner. *highlight to read the rest for ep 15 spoilers* In fact they DO take them prisoner in the next episode.

[Manny]

I'm sure there are good enough reasons as to why things played out the way it did, but I think there was a better way to phrase the dialogue. I think Cheetara said "I have to stick with him" to make Lion-O even more envious that she chose Tygra. Kaynar did say they were going to kill Tygra if Lion-O didn't give up -- Cheetara could have grabbed him and ran away...speed is her special power.