For a Big Bad, Mumm-Ra's off to a slow start, only appearing in about half the episodes so far. Perhaps that's why he's decided to ask none other than Nemesis for tips on how to defeat the Thundercats. Nemesis suggests he ring up Ta-She, a legendary (human) beauty with the power of Mind Control through her "Doomgaze." One problem: Ta-She is trapped in Another Dimension called the Time Warp Prison. No big deal — Mumm-Ra knows the spell necessary to free her. But assembling the ingredients for the spell isn't enough — the only way she can be truly, permanently free is if they get a hero to take her place. Fortunately, Mumm-Ra knows just the hero for the job.
The Thundercats first suspect something's going on when they see a giant flying jellyfish heading for the Berbil village. It kidnaps Ro-Bear Belle, and when Cheetara chases after it, she runs into a trap set by Slythe, who cuts off a lock of her hair. While trying to catch up, Lion-O sees Jackalman attacking a unicorn, but all he does is steal its shoe. Very confused about what their enemies are up to, Lion-O uses the sword to at least see where they've gone, and he and Cheetara follow along to rescue Ro-Bear Belle. They arrive in time to see Mumm-Ra perform the ritual necessary to bring Ta-She back from the Time Warp Prison. Lion-O takes one look at her and freezes, unable to move or respond to anyone or anything around him. As Cheetara takes out Monkian, he comes to his senses long enough to summon the other Thundercats just before Ta-She fixes her Hypnotic Eyes on him. He's instantly mesmerized and frozen again, not resisting at all as Mumm-Ra prepares to banish him to the Time Warp Prison.
Fortunately, Cheetara effortlessly takes out the other two Mutants and rushes to save Lion-O. Ta-She tries to hypnotize her, only to get a cocky smirk and a speech about how unimpressed Cheetara is by her "evil beauty," which sends her and Mumm-Ra into a stunned panic. It's at that point that the Thundertank pulls up and all Hell breaks loose as. Cheetara saves Lion-O and sends Ta-She, crying out in desperation for her freedom, back to the Time Warp Prison. Mumm-Ra, realizing his plan has failed and that he only has enough power left to get back to his pyramid, decides "Screw This, I'm Outta Here!" and makes tracks.
When Lion-O snaps out of the trance, he's not sure what happened to him, but he's ashamed of letting everyone down. Fortunately, everyone's all right, and no permanent harm was done. Another victory for the Thundercats and another defeat for Mumm-Ra. Next plan!
This episode provides examples of:
- All Myths Are True: The "Ancient Spirits of Evil" Mumm-Ra serves look like Egyptian gods, but here, he specifically asks the Greek goddess... er, god "Nemesis" for help.
- All Up to You: With Lion-O frozen and spellbound, Cheetara realizes it's all up to her.Cheetara: Well, if Lion-O isn't going to do anything, I certainly am.
- Artistic License – Geography: Mumm-Ra performs the ritual to release Ta-She at a place that looks like Stonehenge, and no teleportation was involved because Lion-O and Cheetara quickly catch up to him. Either the Egyptians of First, Second, or Third Earth liked the design enough to build their own, or the characters are on the wrong continent.
- Cat/Dog Dichotomy:Cheetara: (to Jackalman) So it comes down to this: cat against dog — a foregone conclusion, wouldn't you say?
- Charm Person: Ta-She.
- Children Are Innocent: The much Younger Than He Looks hero truly has no idea why his encounter with The Vamp affected him so strongly.Cheetara: For a moment, you had me worried there, Lion-O.Lion-O: I know, I... I don't understand what happened...
- Closest Thing We Got: A Thunderian cheetah's resemblance to the Earth species Acinonyx jubatus is limited, yet Cheetara's hair is good enough to satisfy a spell that requires the "hair of a cheetah."
- Distressed Dude: The male hero is the one hypnotized by the seductive villain, leading to the girl saving him.
- Eye of Newt: To release someone from the Time Warp Prison, mix one lock of hair of cheetah, one tear of Berbil, and one shoe of unicorn.
- Gender Flip: Nemesis was a Greek goddess, but the voice that speaks to Mumm-Ra is male. (Not that Greek gods couldn't do that if they were in the mood...)
- Gilded Cage: Ta-She has been sentenced to spend eternity... floating on a royal barge, complete with comfy couch, beautiful dress, and attendants. Probably boring after a few centuries, but we've seen worse prison conditions.
- Hoist by His Own Petard: Cheetara ties Monkian up with his own weapon.
- Hypnotic Eyes: The Doomgaze.
- I'm a Man; I Can't Help It: Lion-O is entranced by Ta-She from the instant he sets eyes on her. This is what happens when you put the mind of a pre-pubescent boy in a testosterone-fueled fully grown body...
- Inescapable Net: To an extent. It turns out, stretching a net too fine to be seen in the path of a Super Speedster is a very effective way to catch them, but although it stops Cheetara in her tracks, she's easily able to break out of it once she's got her bearings.
- Informed Ability: Although Cheetara and the Warrior Maidens show the animators are more than capable of drawing attractive female characters, the supposedly irresistibly alluring Ta-she doesn't look particularly beautiful.
- Interspecies Romance: The fact that Ta-She is human is no barrier to a feline alien falling for her charms.
- Let's Split Up, Gang!: Lion-O has Cheetara approach the villains from the opposite direction as him so they can ambush them from both sides. A good strategy in theory, but it could only work if both of them are capable of fighting when the time comes...
- No-Sell:Cheetara: Your mystical powers have no effect on me. You may mesmerize men with your evil beauty, but I am a woman — you hold no mystery for me!
- Mumm-Ra is also able to interact with Ta-She without being hypnotized.
- Not in This for Your Revolution: Ta-She doesn't want to take over the world or complete any other evil agenda (not this time, at least) and has no personal vendetta against the Thundercats. She only agrees to help Mumm-Ra in exchange for her freedom.Ta-She: I want to be free! I only wanted to be free...!
- Offscreen Villainy: We never learn what Ta-She did to warrant being sentenced to eternity in the Time Warp Prison.
- Prisoner Exchange: Someone can only leave the Time Warp Prison by getting a hero to take their place.
- Shout-Out: Slythe calls Cheetara "Catwoman." He must've been brushing up on his Earth culture.
- Tentacled Terror: The giant flying jellyfish.
- This Cannot Be!: "How can it be?!!!" Both Mumm-Ra and Ta-She are shocked when the Doomgaze doesn't work on Cheetara.
- Villain: Exit, Stage Left: Mumm-Ra leaves shortly after his plan falls apart and the fight starts because he's almost out of power.
- Weak-Willed: Lion-O is mesmerized by Ta-She even before she starts actively using her power, and this is not a universal reaction since Tygra has no problem springing into action and attacking once the Thundertank drives up. Kid definitely needs more practice in mental discipline...
- Where Does He Get All Those Wonderful Toys?: Where exactly did Mumm-Ra get a giant flying jellyfish, and why doesn't he use it more often?
