I decided to give Voltes V: Legacy a shot. I noticed that the show added some backstory for Emperor Zanbazil such as showing his mother (who NEVER appeared in the 1977 anime). If there was one thing worth noting is how Golion has some similarities with Combattler V followed by Voltes V. The three shows both have similar team formats (leader, rebel, big guy, woman, child genius) and some similar villains. For some reason, Voltes V was cut short to 40 episodes in contrast to Combattler V which had 54 episodes. Why this happened may be because Voltes V was Darker and Edgier in contrast to its predecessor. I guess children weren't too interested in the darker politics. Later, Golion was launched in 1981, four years after Voltes V. One could notice that Golion has better artwork, more episodes, and not to mention the HIGH BODY COUNT. Voltes V did have a high body count too such as the deaths of Mitsuyo Go, Professor Hamaguchi, and General Oka to name a few.
I did remember a conversation I had about Voltes V and Lion Voltron. The comparison can also lead to King Zarkon (EMPEROR Daibazaal in Golion) having more or less the same attitude. Both of them are Dirty Cowards, Orcuses on the Throne, Bad Boss, Hate Sinks, and Aristocrats are Evils. The exception was that Emperor Daibazaal had more screen time while ironically having less development. Both of them were also determined to conquer the Universe. Zanbazil would be the first Boazanian emperor who was bent on universal conquest. Daibazaal also aims to conquer the Universe.
Voltes V episode 28 reveals the history of the Gou brothers. Yes, Professor Kentaro Gou is actually Baron Lagour. The Planet Boazan was revealed to have two types of people. The horned people are the aristocrats while the hornless are slaves. Lagour wasn't fortunate to be born without horns. It was also revealed that the previous emperor had no suitable heir. It's because the firstborn son of the emperor had a MENTAL DEFECT. The emperor was probably frustrated that he had an off-screen affair that gave birth to Zanbazil. Zanbazil was determined to seize the throne at all costs. This was done when Zanbazil exposed Lagour to be hornless.
Later, Golion had what I'd call a very last-minute plot. Lion Voltron totally removed this plot so the relationship between Hagar and Zarkon tends to change. Heck, Voltron Legendary Defender made Haggar the mother of Lotor. However, the original source material included what I'd call a very last-minute plot twist. Rather than portray Honerva as a loyalist to Emperor Daibazaal she later dropped the curtain and revealed she was Daibazaal's MOTHER. For some reason, Daibazaal NEVER knew that he was mistreating his own mother. This was rather last-minute.
This could only mean one thing - Daibazaal was the illegitimate son of the previous Galran Emperor and Honerva. When did this affair happen anyway? At least Voltes V gave us an early revelation that Zanbazil was an illegitimate child of the previous emperor. Golion never explained how Daibazaal came to the throne or the affair between Honerva and the previous emperor. Did Daibazaal also secretly have a mentally-ill half-brother that allowed him to take the throne? I think Daibazaal did wed Sincline's mother in an act of diplomacy. However, the emperor's adulterous affair with the Galran witch was never mentioned. Though, it might also be that the previous emperor used Honerva as a surrogate mother. It seems that Honerva was made to shut up about her maternity of Daibazaal.
I could say that Zanbazil had more development in spite of having less screen time. Daibazaal was somehow too focused on For the Evulz. Daibazaal's rise to power was never explained at all. I think that the writers of Golion wanted to add a last-minute twist. Since both Daibazaal and Zanbazil are Evil Overlords with a price underling - why not copy the illegitimate son twist?
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