TFW2005HisstankTokuNationToyark
Thundercats.ws -
Big Bad Toy Store
  • Home
  • News
    • Toy News
    • Merchandise News
    • Cartoon News
    • All News Categories…
  • Screen Captures
  • Episode Reviews
  • Toy Galleries
  • Forums (Closed)
    • Why the Changes?
  • Thundercats on Toyark
    • The Cartoon Thread
    • The Comics Thread
    • The Toys Thread
    • Tagged: Thundercats
Thundercats.ws › Thundercats Cartoon News › Thundercats Ep 15 Trials Of Lion-O Pt 1 Review

Thundercats Ep 15 Trials Of Lion-O Pt 1 Review

Posted on April 1, 2012 at 11:43 am by Joe Moore under Thundercats Cartoon News, Thundercats Episode Reviews

Not exactly like the trials the original cartoons Lion-O had to face, episode 15 of the Thundercats aims to teach our current king a few lessons. When Lion-O blindly leads the Cats into an ambush, he winds up paying the ultimate price.

Read on to check out our review of Thundercats Episode 15: The Trials Of Lion-O Part 1. The Story
Lion-O uses the book to help locate the next stone. But the location appears to be high atop a cliff, that is not easy to get to. Ignoring the pleas of his team, Lion-O blindly leads them up the path, leaving them exposed to a possible attack. With the other Thundercats begging him to turn around and think of a different way, Lion-O decides to stop and rest, allowing the team to eat. Just as everything seems the most peaceful, Slithe, Addicus and Kaynar attack. The trio, along with the lizard army, quickly subdue the Cats.

Slithe threatens the life of Wilykit, which causes Lion-O to leap back into action. He grabs the claw shield. But as he prepares to attack, Kaynar pushes him off the edge of the cliff. Lion-O crashes down to the river below and becomes trapped by a pile of rocks. As he struggles to break free, he takes his last breath and dies. Slithe leaves with the rest of the captured Thundercats.

Lion-O’s “spirit” is rescued by the stone in his claw shield and he comes face to face with Jaga’s ghost. Jaga informs Lion-O that the stone has deemed him worthy of returning to life…If he can pass a series of trials. Lion-O accepts and is whisked away to his first trial. He is confronted by two spirits taking the shape of the Wily Twins. They inform him that he has to steal a key from them in order to move onto the next trial. But the twins can create a near infinite amount of holograms, causing Lion-O confusion. Eventually he realizes he can use his sense of smell to weed out the fakes. As the twins lament that Lion-O is taking too long, Lion-O informs them that he already has the key. Impressed, the twins send him off to the next trial.

Back at the lizard army, the captured Cats mourn the death of Lion-O. They look to Tygra, the new heir to the throne, for leadership. He goads Slithe and Addicus until Addicus attacks him. The twins use the opportunity to free themselves and the rest of the team, who all attack. But, as they are fighting, Slithe orders them to fall back, as he has the Sword of Omens, and that’s all Mumm-Ra will care about. So they leave the Cats, as Tygra vows revenge and to get the sword back.

Lion-O enters his second trial. It’s a race through a labyrinth against a spirit disguised as Cheetara. The first one to the center, where the key is, wins. He is given a head start and races from one dead end to another. As Cheetara eventually passes him, Lion-O falls back, giving up. He sees a flying creature and realizes he can just use that to fly to the key, which he does. He barely beats Cheetara to the key. Thinking he has won, he is informed that he is only half way through the trials.

The Review
Where to start here. I found this to be a bit of an uneven episode. Lion-O is being written into a massive character regression here. And it really makes little sense. All of the lessons from the last 14 episodes have been flushed down the tubes as he morphs into a jealous, whining moron. It just doesn’t fit with where the show was headed at the end of “Season 1”. Lion-O is becoming the weakest of the group, which I’m hoping, the “Trials” episodes correct and get him back onto the right path. Otherwise, the writers will be continue doing a disservice to the lead character.

The episode isn’t a total wash though. Slithe, Addicus and Kaynar are establishing themselves as legitimate threats. Addicus and Kaynar continue to be ruthless and crazy, and they add a nice new dynamic to the mix. Having one of the new guys be the one to push Lion-O off the cliff shows that these guys are willing to make the nasty decisions that Slithe couldn’t or wouldn’t. It was also a nice touch to have Tygra sacrifice his well being to allow the others to free themselves. They are setting Tygra up nicely for a bit of a wake up call. His early success as leader is surely going to be met, eventually, with him realizing he is not fit to be called king, thus truly establishing Lion-O as the right choice. Otherwise, we’re going to have another 11 episodes of the same themes instead of moving the group forward.

Bottom Line
The writers seemed to ignore the character advances Lion-O had been making, recycled similar themes from earlier episodes and established Lion-O as someone not fit to lead. On the bright side, the actions was fantastic, the enemies are establishing themselves as worthwhile foes and Tygra is being given a chance to shine. Since this is a 2-parter, the rating for this could really be raised if the second part builds off the and advances the story. As a stand alone episode, it was really, in my opinion, one of the least enjoyable of the series so far.

Overall – 6.5 put of 10

Thundercats Episode 15 Review

› Views: 9923

› Characters: Lion-O, Mumm-Ra, Tygra, Cheetara, Slithe, Wilykit, Jaga, Addicus, Kaynar › Toyline: Thundercats 2011

Discussion / Comments From the Thundercats.ws Forums (Read Only, Archived)

  1. Joe Moore's Avatar Joe Moore says

    03-30-2012, 09:13 PM

    Use this thread to discuss Thundercats Episode 15: The Trials of Lion-O Part 1.

  2. CreepySariFan has no avatar! CreepySariFan says

    03-30-2012, 09:14 PM

    And I have to work tomorrow morning, it's gonna be a painful 10 hours!

  3. Joe Moore's Avatar Joe Moore says

    03-30-2012, 09:16 PM

    Going to have to set the DVR myself. Doing some home renovations tomorrow, so review will have to wait until the evening with caps coming, likely, on Sunday.

  4. Ravenxl7 has no avatar! Ravenxl7 says

    03-30-2012, 09:17 PM

    I'm looking forward to it. Considering how different episode 14 was from the spoilers we had read about it a while back, it should be interesting to see how this one differs too. Should also be interesting to see how the new show's trials compare to the original's.

    It's a relatively minor detail in the grand scheme of things, but I would love to see the crown at the end of the trials. Most especially if they gave it the same design as the one from the originals how. Not really sure why, but I really like the design they came up for it.

    I've been wondering why we still haven't seen any previews for it. Maybe they want us going into this one without any expectations created from said theoretical previews?

  5. CreepySariFan has no avatar! CreepySariFan says

    03-30-2012, 09:28 PM

    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Joe Moore View Post
    Going to have to set the DVR myself. Doing some home renovations tomorrow, so review will have to wait until the evening with caps coming, likely, on Sunday.
    The trials and priorities of real life getting in the way of television... *sigh*

  6. CCDustyV has no avatar! CCDustyV says

    03-30-2012, 10:15 PM

    DVR set... even going into work early so I can get home and watch it sooner

  7. hollowdheart has no avatar! hollowdheart says

    03-30-2012, 11:02 PM

    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Ravenxl7 View Post
    I'm looking forward to it. Considering how different episode 14 was from the spoilers we had read about it a while back, it should be interesting to see how this one differs too. Should also be interesting to see how the new show's trials compare to the original's.

    It's a relatively minor detail in the grand scheme of things, but I would love to see the crown at the end of the trials. Most especially if they gave it the same design as the one from the originals how. Not really sure why, but I really like the design they came up for it.

    I've been wondering why we still haven't seen any previews for it. Maybe they want us going into this one without any expectations created from said theoretical previews?
    They probably don't want to upset anyone who hasn't seen the spoilers, and i think it might be hard to make a preview without including the major plot point of this episode.

  8. SirSapphire has no avatar! SirSapphire says

    03-30-2012, 11:03 PM

    Lion-O looks hilarious psychotic in the image provided. It's almost as funny as the shot from "Ramlak Rising" where he looks like he might be drunk.

  9. Ravenxl7 has no avatar! Ravenxl7 says

    03-30-2012, 11:15 PM

    Quote:
    Originally Posted by hollowdheart View Post
    They probably don't want to upset anyone who hasn't seen the spoilers, and i think it might be hard to make a preview without including the major plot point of this episode.
    Good point.

    The lack of a preview is making me anticipate this episode exponentially more. I can't wait to see it. Hopefully I'll be able to fall asleep tonight, lol.

  10. JASONKAT has no avatar! JASONKAT says

    03-31-2012, 12:39 AM

    B4 this show aired on cartoon network. it had protocol writen all over it!
    They started marketing its products and even tho most of it was "tight-lips" until its debut. it gave that impression that this would be a big hit, a big time seller, something that would be just as good as the 80s version, if not "better"
    Even tho most of us hated the design,& the direction they were going with it. We eventully gave in, and gave it a chance and it pulled us right in to the thundercat world.
    Now it seems like it was all talk and chances are this might get axed sooner or later, (why i dunno) but it gonna break alot of heart.

  11. hollowdheart has no avatar! hollowdheart says

    03-31-2012, 08:21 AM

    getting ready to watch this now. Hopefully it won't be too bad.

  12. Balgus82 has no avatar! Balgus82 says

    03-31-2012, 08:33 AM

    Ok yeah I know Lion-O has been a butt for most of the show, but I don't see why they're all doubting him right now when the book clearly showed them that the stone was up. They are kinda being jerks to him this time.

  13. hollowdheart has no avatar! hollowdheart says

    03-31-2012, 08:35 AM

    So Lion-o sacrifices himself for Kit. And the others did nothing?

  14. hollowdheart has no avatar! hollowdheart says

    03-31-2012, 08:36 AM

    That sure is a painful way to die.....and the others forgot about their powers again.

  15. Balgus82 has no avatar! Balgus82 says

    03-31-2012, 08:39 AM

    Quote:
    Originally Posted by hollowdheart View Post
    So Lion-o sacrifices himself for Kit. And the others did nothing?
    They were captured.

  16. hollowdheart has no avatar! hollowdheart says

    03-31-2012, 08:42 AM

    They weren't captured by the time he was trying to save Kit. Cheetara was free to use her speed, again.

  17. Balgus82 has no avatar! Balgus82 says

    03-31-2012, 08:43 AM

    And now we know why they go after the sword instead of trying to find Lion-O's body. because Slithe and company DID look for him and couldn't find him.

  18. Balgus82 has no avatar! Balgus82 says

    03-31-2012, 08:44 AM

    Quote:
    Originally Posted by hollowdheart View Post
    They weren't captured by the time he was trying to save Kit. Cheetara was free to use her speed, again.
    yes they were. Kaynar had Cheetara in a headlock.

  19. stormbringer has no avatar! stormbringer says

    03-31-2012, 08:45 AM

    Why didn't Lion-o use the grappling hook in the claw?

  20. hollowdheart has no avatar! hollowdheart says

    03-31-2012, 08:45 AM

    I didn't expect them to be on a fliying ship though. That'll be a cool toy to get. But couldn't they have been lying, i thought Tygra wouldn't trust their words, they're Lizards after all.

  21. Balgus82 has no avatar! Balgus82 says

    03-31-2012, 08:46 AM

    Quote:
    Originally Posted by stormbringer View Post
    Why didn't Lion-o use the grappling hook in the claw?
    I've wondered that ever since I heard the spoilers about what happened. Guess just because the plot called for him to have his trials.

  22. hollowdheart has no avatar! hollowdheart says

    03-31-2012, 08:47 AM

    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Balgus82 View Post
    yes they were. Kaynar had Cheetara in a headlock.
    But she was free in the next shot of him falling to his death, unless that was an animation error? Since i thought Kaynar was next to Slithe and Addicus when Lion-o fell?

  23. Balgus82 has no avatar! Balgus82 says

    03-31-2012, 08:47 AM

    Quote:
    Originally Posted by hollowdheart View Post
    I didn't expect them to be on a fliying ship though. That'll be a cool toy to get. But couldn't they have been lying, i thought Tygra wouldn't trust their words, they're Lizards after all.
    lying about what? not finding Lion-O? they WANT to find Lion-O to get the spirit stone back, so why would they lie about not finding him?

  24. stormbringer has no avatar! stormbringer says

    03-31-2012, 08:48 AM

    The trial of speed.

  25. Balgus82 has no avatar! Balgus82 says

    03-31-2012, 08:49 AM

    why doesn't he just climb the roots?

  26. hollowdheart has no avatar! hollowdheart says

    03-31-2012, 08:49 AM

    Man, this spirit Cheetara sure is insulting him.

  27. stormbringer has no avatar! stormbringer says

    03-31-2012, 08:50 AM

    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Balgus82 View Post
    I've wondered that ever since I heard the spoilers about what happened. Guess just because the plot called for him to have his trials.
    So much for consistency huh?

  28. stormbringer has no avatar! stormbringer says

    03-31-2012, 08:51 AM

    Lion-o don't yell at the flying creature, it could throw you off.

  29. hollowdheart has no avatar! hollowdheart says

    03-31-2012, 08:52 AM

    I don't get how Cheetara still wins?

  30. stormbringer has no avatar! stormbringer says

    03-31-2012, 08:53 AM

    Yikes are they gonna beat Tygra to death?!?

  31. stormbringer has no avatar! stormbringer says

    03-31-2012, 08:54 AM

    Quote:
    Originally Posted by hollowdheart View Post
    I don't get how Cheetara still wins?
    I think because she wanted Lion-o to win.

  32. hollowdheart has no avatar! hollowdheart says

    03-31-2012, 08:54 AM

    Don't know how Panthro got captured with those new arms of his.

  33. Balgus82 has no avatar! Balgus82 says

    03-31-2012, 08:55 AM

    looks like Kits leaving Lion-O a trail to follow.

  34. hollowdheart has no avatar! hollowdheart says

    03-31-2012, 08:56 AM

    Yeah. A cute little Kit smile face.

  35. Balgus82 has no avatar! Balgus82 says

    03-31-2012, 08:57 AM

    Quote:
    Originally Posted by hollowdheart View Post
    But she was free in the next shot of him falling to his death, unless that was an animation error? Since i thought Kaynar was next to Slithe and Addicus when Lion-o fell?
    Could be an editing error. I don't know. Or maybe it just happened too fast for them to react. She might be able to run fast, but that doesn't necessarily mean her reflexes are quite as fast.

    Or since Mumm-Ra wanted the gauntlet as well as the sword she could've thought Kaynar would pull him back instead of pushing him.

  36. stormbringer has no avatar! stormbringer says

    03-31-2012, 08:57 AM

    So will Lion-o face Panthro or Tygra next?

  37. hollowdheart has no avatar! hollowdheart says

    03-31-2012, 08:58 AM

    But she caught Jaga's lamp in the Tower.....

  38. stormbringer has no avatar! stormbringer says

    03-31-2012, 09:01 AM

    Quote:
    Originally Posted by hollowdheart View Post
    But she caught Jaga's lamp in the Tower.....
    More for the sake of plot I guess.

  39. Balgus82 has no avatar! Balgus82 says

    03-31-2012, 09:02 AM

    Quote:
    Originally Posted by stormbringer View Post
    So will Lion-o face Panthro or Tygra next?
    my guess would be Panthro next. Seems to be going in the same order as the OS. Wilys, Cheetara, Panthro, Tygra, then Mumm-Ra.

    Really only makes sense in a story telling sense to have Tygra to be the last of the group he goes against. It would mean more to beat Tygra than to beat Panthro.

  40. Balgus82 has no avatar! Balgus82 says

    03-31-2012, 09:04 AM

    No wait I'm wrong. Wilys was third in the OS and Panthro was first.

  41. AdamofEternia has no avatar! AdamofEternia says

    03-31-2012, 09:04 AM

    i am so confused once again with the whole triangle thing. why the hell did spirit cheetara kiss lion on the cheek or better yet, why are the writers doing this.

  42. Balgus82 has no avatar! Balgus82 says

    03-31-2012, 09:07 AM

    Quote:
    Originally Posted by AdamofEternia View Post
    i am so confused once again with the whole triangle thing. why the hell did spirit cheetara kiss lion on the cheek or better yet, why are the writers doing this.
    no Idea. Talk about mixed signals. First she says he was running into a dead end, implying the real Cheetara was a dead end too, but then she tells him to switch up his tactics and kisses him.

    Maybe even spirit Cheetara just doesn't think a kiss on the cheek is more than platonic encouragement.

  43. stormbringer has no avatar! stormbringer says

    03-31-2012, 09:09 AM

    Quote:
    Originally Posted by AdamofEternia View Post
    i am so confused once again with the whole triangle thing. why the hell did spirit cheetara kiss lion on the cheek or better yet, why are the writers doing this.
    The spirit Wilykittens told Lion-o they took a form he would recognize, so I guess spirit Cheetara just did what real Cheetara used to do.

  44. L08e16o has no avatar! L08e16o says

    03-31-2012, 09:10 AM

    Quote:
    Originally Posted by AdamofEternia View Post
    i am so confused once again with the whole triangle thing. why the hell did spirit cheetara kiss lion on the cheek or better yet, why are the writers doing this.
    Cause it is important to the story.

    I know.

    That happen so fast that I will have to watch it again.

    It seems like the AP version took on the real personalities of the real ones.

    The kids are so cute.

  45. L08e16o has no avatar! L08e16o says

    03-31-2012, 09:12 AM

    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Balgus82 View Post
    no Idea. Talk about mixed signals. First she says he was running into a dead end, implying the real Cheetara was a dead end too, but then she tells him to switch up his tactics and kisses him.

    Maybe even spirit Cheetara just doesn't think a kiss on the cheek is more than platonic encouragement.
    You know the writers are playing us.

    That is what I got too about swtiching up tactics.

  46. hollowdheart has no avatar! hollowdheart says

    03-31-2012, 09:12 AM

    I really didn't like the allusions to the triangle in the episode, it was really annoying. Since Cheetara wasn't interested in the first place and Lion-o knows that now they really need to stop bringing it up. Spirit Cheetara wasn't helping either.

  47. stormbringer has no avatar! stormbringer says

    03-31-2012, 09:14 AM

    Quote:
    Originally Posted by hollowdheart View Post
    I really didn't like the allusions to the triangle in the episode, it was really annoying. Since Cheetara wasn't interested in the first place and Lion-o knows that now they really need to stop bringing it up. Spirit Cheetara wasn't helping either.
    Agreed. The writers need to drop the triangle stuff.

  48. L08e16o has no avatar! L08e16o says

    03-31-2012, 09:16 AM

    Quote:
    Originally Posted by hollowdheart View Post
    I really didn't like the allusions to the triangle in the episode, it was really annoying. Since Cheetara wasn't interested in the first place and Lion-o knows that now they really need to stop bringing it up. Spirit Cheetara wasn't helping either.
    He didn't expect that kiss. I took it as he went about her the wrong way and he wants to be with her, he needs to go about it differently.

  49. L08e16o has no avatar! L08e16o says

    03-31-2012, 09:17 AM

    Quote:
    Originally Posted by stormbringer View Post
    Agreed. The writers need to drop the triangle stuff.
    They won't. They talked about it in the begining and the WB boss wanted it.

    I know, it is killing me too.

  50. Balgus82 has no avatar! Balgus82 says

    03-31-2012, 09:18 AM

    Yeah having Lion-O loose is one thing, but giving him (and some of the audience) false hope is kinda cruel if she stays with Tygra.


  • This is an archived discussion thread from the Thundercats.ws forums, which are now closed. Don't worry though Thundercats discussion is now on The Toyark! Check out the threads tagged Thundercats over on Toyark to keep talking!

    Not registered yet? Join Now!

 

Search

Line

  • Mega Scale Thundercats
  • Pop Vinyl
  • Thundercats 2011
  • Thundercats Classics
  • Thundercats Minimates
  • Thundercats Staction Figures
  • Thundercats Vintage

Companies

  • Bandai
  • Bandeirantes
  • Diamond Select Toys
  • Funko
  • Hard Hero
  • Icon Heroes
  • Kinetiquettes
  • LJN
  • Mezco
  • Pop Culture Shock
  • PrototypeZ

Characters

  • Addicus
  • Armor of Omens
  • Bengali
  • Cheetara
  • Claudus
  • Grune
  • Jackalman
  • Jaga
  • Kaynar
  • Lion-O
  • Lynx-O
  • Ma-Mutt
  • Monkian
  • Mumm-Ra
  • Panthro
  • Pumyra
  • Ratar-O
  • Ro-Bear Bert
  • Ro-Bear Bill
  • Slithe
  • Snarf
  • Tygra
  • Tygus
  • Vultaire
  • Vultureman
  • Wilykat
  • Wilykit
  • Wolfrat

Scale

  • 14 Inch
  • 2 Inch
  • 4 Inch
  • 6 Inch
  • 8 Inch
Big Bad Toy Store

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 9:50 PM.