Summary: Facing a water shortage in the Pride Lands, the Lion Guard must appease zebra leader, Dhahabu, to gain access to a new watering hole.
This episode contains examples of:
- An Aesop:
- Honesty Is the Best Policy. A good leader must be honest to his or her group, even if it's bad news.
- If there is a problem, a good leader must find a way to fix it.
- The Atoner: After upsetting her herd for not telling them about the watering hole drying up, Dhahabu tries to make up for her failure as leader by going to bring back the water and break the dam holding it back.
- Broken Pedestal: The other zebras are shocked that Dhahabu didn't tell them about the watering hole drying up and are unhappy with her.
- The Bus Came Back: Makucha the leopard returns, his first appearance since "The Imaginary Okapi" in Season 1.
- Cats Are Mean: Makucha is back, just as ruthless as ever. Rather than being an intruding predator like last time, here he's guarding a dam blocking a waterfall that's supposed to flow to Dhahabu's watering hole, with the intention of keeping the water all for himself. And this time he's accompanied by other leopards who are as nasty as him.
- Character Catchphrase: Unlike the Pridelands' zebras, who follow the "Panic and run!" philosophy, the Backlands' zebras seem fond of chanting something slightly different, "Frolic and romp!"
- Continuity Nod: Bunga's nickname for Simba, "King Bro", is a call-back to "Bunga and the King" in Season 1.
- Didn't Think This Through: Dhahabu kept the dried watering hole a secret to avoid making her herd unhappy. When they find out the truth, they become unhappy.
- Fetch Quest: Dhahabu sends the Guard on one in bringing back a rare plant that's a delicacy for the zebras, in order to cover up the fact that the watering hole is dried up. She's surprised that they succeeded.
- Impossible Task: Not wanting her fellow zebras to know the watering hole is dried up and unable to outright refuse to share with the Lion Guard, Dhahabu tells the guard to bring back a rare plant she doesn't expect them to find. They do find it.
- Mythology Gag: The plot of the episode—searching for water in the midst of a harsh dry season—is similar to that of a non-canon Lion King book, where Simba's great-grandfather Mohatu journeyed to find a new water source for the Pridelanders.
- Precocious Crush: Bunga seems to develop one for Dhahabu.
- Rebuilt Pedestal: Dhahabu redeems herself after she and the Lion Guard restore the watering hole.
- Rousing Speech: The Guard give one that showcases what a good leader does, which gives Dhahabu the confidence in defeating Makucha.
- Take Me Instead: Bunga offers to give himself up to Makucha when the leopard takes Dhahabu hostage.Makucha: Ugh. No thanks.
- Took a Level in Badass: Dhahabu actually takes on Makucha, headbutting and kicking out at him until the force from one kick breaks the dam holding the water. She ends up becoming a better leader to her herd and decides to uphold her promise to share some of the watering hole with the Pridelands.
- What the Hell, Hero?: The other zebras become upset with Dhahabu for not telling them about the dried watering hole. They forgive her when she and the Guard bring the water back.
