Lion Voltron was known to have extended to 20 more episodes -- followed by that awful 3D cartoon Voltron: The Third Dimension. Back then, a lot of stuff were kept trimmed away from Lion Voltron. I decided to lump up the last five episodes for this reason -- similar to how Voltes V created a movie based on the last five episodes. Yes, there are some spoilers and I'll hit on the RANDOM REVELATION that showed up as well.
Who could remember the toned-down dialogue of Lion Voltron? The arc maintains that Saint (Garrett in Lion Voltron) was a saboteur. Here, it's revealed that Raible's son is not in "some other dimension". Instead, some tribal chief reveal that both of them DIED during the Galra attack. Hysteria wasn't hit by some stun gun. Instead, Hysteria really DIED when Saint shot him. Saint was created by Honerva as an evil clone of the real son, the late Roland. The scene almost looks like what if Okane from Daimos died defending Professor Ryuuzaki. Hysteria was annoying but she was like a mother to Fala.
It gets amazing that Galra comes up with a really good plan but SCREWS IT. The Mecha Beast Fighter Beta can't be hit by anything -- NOT even the Four Lion Attack or the Jyuohken. It was amazing to see Akira make a risky decision -- fool the enemy into firing the Interstellar Cannon at the Mecha Beast Fighter. The cannon fires at both Golion and Mecha Beast Fighter Beta. The Golion team get scrambled. Fala is rescued by some old shaman. The old shaman tells Fala all about Raible's real family. The old man's flashback was deleted from Lion Voltron for obvious reasons. After all, that flashback was too brutal. Still, I wish the dialogue kept them dead than that nonsense "other dimension" thing.
Daibazaal's Saturday Morning Cartoon stupidity sits in. Sure, Sinclinre made a mistake but shouldn't they work together? Instead, Daibazaal orders Sincline to be arrested and executed. If there's any big mistake on Daibazaal's part -- he blames everyone and takes credit for almost everything. Honerva even dumbly recommends summoning the other members of the empire -- before the execution. Honerva's really gone senile one way or another. This great mistake leads to Daibazaal's downfall. Yes, Nice Job Fixing It Villain can fit to Sincline. After all, Sincline's the one who got rid of the two villains!
It's revealed that Castle Gradam is actually a giant spaceship. The Interstellar Cannon will be used to break Galra's barrier. The barrier almost reminds me of Boazan's twin satellites from Voltes V. Yes, those twin satellites that nearly destroyed Voltes V. The giant spaceship revelation was clearly taken from Voltes V. Castle Gradam manages to help repel Daibazaal's arrogant attack. Heck, Golion didn't need to be formed to repel Daibazaal. Golion was only formed to save the Interstellar Cannon -- after Daibazaal was repelled by Castle Gradam. Now, it's time for the great rebellion!
Sincline's rebellion can be that satisfying. Saving Sincline for last has been that good. Sincline still has some loyal followers who'd help him arrest Daibazaal. Sincline doesn't even address his father anymore as a father but by name. Sincline gives Daibazaal the same treatment as Sadak. Daibazaal is forced to become a Mecha Beast Fighter's brain component. Sincline displays some twisted honor -- not that he intends to be honorable. Sincline forces Daibazaal to fight with Golion. The Mecha Beast Fighter Galra nearly crushes Golion. However, putting the key at Altea's sacred symbol -- yes that awkward place to put a sword handguard. However, Golion's lack of proper hands may explain why it's got that design. The Jyuohken is repaired. A deleted scene has the broken blade piercing Mecha Beast Fighter Galra's neck. Golion manages to lift Mecha Beast Fighter Galra (now incapacitated) and runs through it. I still still Golion spun like Combattler V. Daibazaal dies in battle. At long last, Daibazaal is dead!
However, this doesn't sit well. Honerva grieves over Daibazaal. I'd like to call out for that oh-so random revelation. I remember Haggar going crazy when Zarkon was defeated. It can be interpreted that Honerva was just a loyal follower. Honerva reveals an overly last-minute revelation. Honerva reveals that Daibazaal was her SON. This is just too random. Nothing was ever done to develop the plot. Seriously, are we just going to buy that Daibazaal was the illegitimate son of the previous emperor and Honerva was his mistress? Nothing from previous episodes hints that Honerva was Daibazaal's mother! It's a writing hiccup of sorts. This of course means Sincline's age is also in confusion -- is he 106 or much younger? When did the occupation of Altea happen? If so, maybe Fala may be 106 in Earth years but is much younger in Altean Years. 106 for Sincline may just be mere youth and Daibazaal's 500 may just be merely 50 for them. Okay, that's left unexplained too!
Honerva reveals to Sincline something he doesn't know -- but the audience does! Sincline's told that his mother is an ALTEAN. Lion Voltron made no mention of Lotor's mother. Sure, Lotor was given a mother in the non-canon Voltron/Robotech crossover. Sincline goes mad from the revelation knowing that he's half-Altean. Sincline also goes bonkers with the revelation that Honerva is Daibazaal's mother. That means Honerva is his PATERNAL GRANDMOTHER. The scene makes it feel awkward because I grew up with my paternal grandmother -- knowing she was my paternal grandmother. However, the revelation was so random that I can't help but feel bonkers. I feel Sincline there because the revelation WAS TOO RANDOM. It'd be like if I discovered some woman I hate was my biological mother all along! It's not even established why Daibazaal never knew Honerva was his mother. Was Honerva some kind of babymaker or did the previous emperor have an affair for some unspecified reason? Emperor Zambojil had little screentime in Voltes V but he was far more developed than Daibazaal. Sincline murders Honerva anyway -- feeling no attachment to her. As a viewer, I feel Sincline's reaction was that, "Shoot! That revelation is so random! Just die!"
Back to Zambojil -- Voltes V did some things to develop the character. Sure, Voltes V was only 40 episodes long. Zambojil had little screentime. However, one can see that Zambojil was given his backstory. I'll even point out that Voltes V Legacy (which prefer to call Buntis Faib Legacy) had given Zambojil's mother more development than Honerva! Why Daibazaal never knew Honerva was his birth mother is unknown. When did the previous Galran emperor have an affair with Honerva? Did Daibazaal also have a retarded half-brother who was too mentally ill to take over Galra? I felt Galra needed some backstory. Galra could've benefited from a plot where it was once a peaceful kingdom until Daibazaal took over. Daibazaal's wicked behavior is pretty much like Zambojil.
Sincline becomes the final enemy they face. The battle with Castle Galra reminds me of the castle battle Voltes V had in the underground. However, it's way more destructive since Sincline is Eviler Than Thou than Heinel. Heinel eventually got better with the revelation and survived into the non-canon Manga. Here? Sincline's determined to finish the battle once and for all. Sincline using the flesh cannons was just one. Honerva got murdered for one thing -- she "assisted" Golion by getting rid of the bomb capsules with slaves. Sincline's being super evil means he was trying to show Golion how evil he can get. Using capsules with people inside was certainly Sincline's way of saying, "Can good truly comprehend evil? Can good help you with all these innocent civilians inside?" Castle Gradam later flies into enemy territory to assist in destroying Castle Galra.
Maybe, I would give a few criticisms. Voltes V had the Solar Falcon enter into the Boazania Star system -- assisting Voltes V. The writers decided that Castle Gradam should only serve as a backup. Was it because Castle Gradam was needed at Altea just in case? I can't be sure what the production crew was thinking. Either way, Castle Gradam enters and helps destroy the last defenses of Castle Gradam. Ryou and Amue have helped disarm Galra. Without them, Galra may have won. Even Ryou's statement that Golion can't handle a lot of Beast Fighters at once -- is true.
What's enjoyable to see is Sincline's utter insanity. The Galran nobility is asking Sincline to surrender. The slave revolt is won thanks to Golion. This is a bloodier version of Heinel's scolding the Boazanian nobility who sought to escape. However, Sincline is a Corrupted Character Copy of Heinel so he ends up slaughtering the nobility. Gobra realizes Sincline has gone crazy too. Sincline also kills Gobra. It's amazing to see Sincline destroy them all HIMSELF. Sincline later holds Ryou hostage -- after Ryou destroys a decoy of Sincline. Sincline's willing to fight to the last drop. Sincline decides to die trying in getting rid of Golion for good. The Golion team goes defenseless and despairs. Golion was about to be destroyed. However, Ryou stabs Sincline. There's no water to break the fall. Both of them die as a result. Ryou says he's finally done his mission. However, Ryou wasted his life in the process when he could've done more productive things. Bittersweet ending! Kind of reminds me of how Heinel discovers that Professor Gou was actually his father Lagour. Heinel died in a redemptive act. Sincline died choosing to remain For the Evulz in the very end.
Golion is later enshrined at Altea's mountain. The team takes a day off. Raible thinks it's unthinkable. However, because since it's NOT linked to Dairugger XV -- the audience is left to imagine what happens next. The ending may not be perfect but it gives me more reasons NOT to rewatch Lion Voltron. However, it got so popular that Toei decided to extend the license, and even make 20 episodes for World Events Productions (WEP) use (and they did the same for Saban Entertainment for Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers). It's not really perfect but I feel it's been worth its while.
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