The Thundercats have some new gear — Panthro's built two space boards for the Thunderkittens, and he's installed communicators in all of their Iconic Items. The only one who isn't happy is Lion-O. Before being a Human Popsicle, he wasn't only age 10 or so, but was suffering from memory problems. The latter seem to be as permanent as the former, as he can barely remember what life was like on Thundera. Sensing his pupil's depression, Jaga tells him there is a way for him to see what his home was like. The Thunderian royal flagship was carrying a nuclear opto-crystal — a time capsule containing holograms telling the entire history of Thundera. It was lost in the crash, presumably destroyed, but Lion-O wants to see if it's possible to find it.
After ordering the Thunderkittens to stay at Cats Lair, the adults split up to search for the Time Capsule. They each end up fighting a different monster but beating them and escaping. The Thunderkittens have apparently decided their days of listening to the adults and following orders like responsible soldiers are over, as they almost get drowned and eaten; they escape with their lives but lose Wilykit's space board.
It's Lion-O who ultimately manages to find the time capsule, in the possession a grunting, animal skin-clad caveman. Although not much for words, it's clear the caveman will only hand over the time capsule if Lion-O arm wrestles him. The Lord of the Thundercats accepts, refusing to let the others interfere when they show up. With a great deal of effort, he wins, and the caveman willingly surrenders the prize.
Looks like everything worked out great... well, for everyone except the Thunderkittens.
This episode provides examples of:
- Characterization Marches On:
- It's from this point on that Wilykat and Wilykit will act like the Annoying Younger Sibling loads they're remembered as, prone to getting themselves into trouble by disobeying the adults' orders. This is also when the relationship between the adults and the two kids starts resembling that of parents and children.
- It's also from this point on that Tygra's invisibility power is portrayed as a function of his whip rather than an inherent ability like Cheetara's speed and Panthro's strength, with him needing to twirl the whip around himself to become invisible.
- Contemporary Caveman: Earth civilization had obviously advanced well past the age of the cavemen when disaster struck, yet they managed to survive the Apocalypse.
- Continuity Nod: The unicorn keeper and Mole Men from two previous episodes reappear.
- Fling a Light into the Future: The time capsule was intended to serve this function.
- The Fog of Ages: Poor Lion-O's memories of Thundera apparently faded as he aged as a Human Popsicle.
- Forgot I Could Fly: Lion-O doesn't think to use the Sword of Omens to see where the time capsule is until he thinks he sees where it is and wants to use the sword to confirm it. If he'd done that before they left the lair, We Could Have Avoided All This!
- Giant Enemy Crab: Panthro runs into some while searching the beach.
- How Do I Shot Web?: The Wilykats are still getting the hang of their new space boards. At some points, it takes all their effort just to stay on the things!
- I Gave My Word: The caveman is a graceful loser, handing over the time capsule without a fight when Lion-O defeats him.
- Knockout Gas: Panthro's nunchucks release a cloud of this when a crabman breaks them. Excellent contingency plan!
- Mix-and-Match Critters: The Black Widow Shark makes its first appearance, almost eating Lion-O, then the Thunderkittens.
- Names to Run Away from Really Fast: Lion-O, does the "River of Despair" really sound like it'll be an easy swim?
- Rat King: Tygra's opponent is the "Mole Master," a much larger, more eloquent mole man who seems to rule over them like a tyrant.
- Rock Monster: Lion-O saves Snarf from one.
- Sea Monster: Cheetara ends up fighting a giant sea serpent in the swamp.
- This Is Something He's Got to Do Himself: The four Thundercats together could easily overpower the caveman and take their time capsule back by force, but Lion-O insists on finishing the contest he started, and Panthro stops Tygra from interfering.
- Presumably also why Jaga doesn't just tell Lion-O the capsule's exact location, as Snarf pointed out. Lion-O believes Jaga has his reason.
- Ungrateful Bastard: The mole men, presumably. As they still won't help Tygra find the time capsule after he got rid of Mole Master. "Burrowing" is all they have in their minds."Never expect a favor for a favor."
- Vocal Evolution: Lynne Lypton starts using a slightly different voice for Wilykit from this point onward.
- Wacky Wayside Tribe: Most of the episode consists of the Thundercats fighting unrelated opponents at separate locations, and only one of them is connected to the episode's goal.
- You Are Grounded!: Panthro does this to the Thunderkittens as punishment for almost getting themselves killed and wrecking one of the space boards he worked so hard to build.
