The episode begins with Team Voltron infiltrating and taking down a Galra base that had been producing more robot soldiers. In the aftermath, they reflect that this has been the latest in a series of strikes they've made, each one without major difficulty or harm to the lions, paladins, or their allies.
They've had a secret weapon, though: Lotor has been providing them with the information they've used to make these attacks. They have him locked away in a cell, and still don't trust him; after talking with Lotor more, he tells Shiro and Allura about a secret lab where they may find Sam Holt, Pidge and Matt's father. The Holt siblings (along with Rolo, Nyma, and Beezer) head there to free him, but unfortunately Sam is no longer there: Lotor's former team has broken in, taken him, and brought him back to Zarkon in the hopes of using him as a bargaining chip for their own protection. The final scene of the episode shows Zarkon send a message to the group, offering up Dr. Holt in exchange for Lotor.
Tropes featured in this episode:
- Action Prologue: The episode opens with Team Voltron attacking one of the empire's sentry production facilities.
- Big "NO!": Pidge trying to deny Matt's words when he says that he couldn't find their father in any of the cells.
- Catch a Falling Star: The Green Lion catches the escape pod as its engines give out.
- Double-Meaning Title: There are two prominent prisoner characters in this episode: Lotor and Sam Holt. The title could refer to either one.
- Hostage Situation: Zarkon offers to give the group Sam if they comply with his wishes at the end of the episode.
- I Have Your Wife: Zarkon calls the paladins to show that he has Sam Holt.
- It's Raining Men: Nyma, Beezer, Rolo and Matt jump from the Green Lion to enter the planets surface.
- So Much for Stealth: Rolo tries to sneak inside the lab without getting caught, only to immediately run into one of the scientists.
- Troubled Fetal Position: When they go back to the castle, Pidge sits at the control chair hunched into a fetal position with Matt's hand on her shoulder.
