Netflix's Voltron: Legendary Defender

I was more hoping for a truncated version of "Dem Bones" ("The foot bone's connected to the leg bone...").

I gotta admit the writing so far as shown by the trailers isn't half bad. I like the part in the newest bit being when asking what the plan was the options given are shoot at it with everything, taking out it's weapon, and calling it names

We've seen a snippet of Voltron connecting together in an earlier trailer, but it's cool too see the whole thing this time.

This series is gonna do just fine.

You can tell the guys doing it don't just respect the source material, but the genre it came from.

I for one, welcome our new lion robot overlords...or perhaps I should say welcome home.

We missed you Voltron.

Now, who's hoping we get at least something of a remix of the old American theme?

Maybe they'll squeeze it in as the Royal Fanfare of the Castle of Lions or something...

Man, I actually wanna see the clips, but I'm kinda worried about spoilers. Maybe after seeing the first few episodes, I'll take a peek at the clips.

But yeah, we are literally, not figuratively, a single week away from the premiere of this show, huh? Man, the wait's not gonna be easy.

The worst part for me is that around that time, I might not have the option to watch Netflix anymore (at least until I get the more for some new Netflix cards and get it myself).

Hopefully, I'll be able to watch it somehow.

The transformation sequence was nice, the animation looks great (better than any other Voltron show that came before) and I like the humor, so this looks good.

Still waiting for the theme song, though. Can't help but be a little disappointed the transformation sequence wasn't scored to it.

edited 3rd Jun '16 9:58:28 PM by drac0blade

I'm hopeful it shows up somewhere. That and the aforementioned JAM Project track. Still, very early. We'll see.

First reviews are up.

http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/feature/2016-06-06/first-impressions-netflix-voltron-legendary-defender/.102916

http://www.forbes.com/sites/olliebarder/2016/06/06/voltron-legendary-defender-episode-1-review-all-hail-mecha-alien-space-lions/#86e4c2094306

Been seeing some clips of the show on the Dreamworks Youtube page....

This new one has me worried.

(Unfortunately, I still can't embed videos. I'm unsure why either, but I do have one theory).

A while back, I actually watched the Voltron version of Shirogane's death, and the way it went down looks similar to this clip, accept with Sendak instead of the witch.

Shirou is still the biggest wildcard here. We don't know his fate, or where they will take him. It's hard to tell if he's going down the same path as his Go-Lion counterpart, or if he'll survive like his Voltron counterpart (even if only through Bowderlization and convenient Back Up Twin).

Seeing where they are gonna go with him is one of the biggest things for me to be honest.

edited 6th Jun '16 7:57:38 PM by HandsomeRob

So I went and watched the first episode of Voltron Force since it's on You Tube as a frame of reference. And I noticed a few things.

1. This animation is ugly. Rather, the human animation is one of those ones where the designs are overly simplistic to make things easier on the animators. The CG designs themselves aren't awful (they're all the same size so the gimmick makes sense) but there's a pretty notable disconnect between the 2D animation and the CG. Legendary looks way better on that front.

2. I keep expecting Maahox (who's the version of Haggar) to break out into a song.

3. Wade is just...boring. But how much of that is based on the tagalong kids on the show?

4. The robot itself seems pretty tiny. There's no majesty to it. The new one seems far more...imposing.

edited 8th Jun '16 7:29:29 AM by Beatman1

Well, today's the day, fellas.

Let's hope the wait was worth it, eh?

I'll understand if they don't do the full invocation every time, but my childhood wants to hear the full sequence as it was in the original just once. From "Activate interlocks" to "... and I'll form the head!" That's what my nostalgia wants.

Hey, just got back from watching the first episode.

Whelp, I'm on board for the rest of the trip!

I just finished the first two episodes and I'm on board for the series as well.

Just a few thoughts so far:

There are some pretty strong indications that the rumor about Pidge mentioned a few pages back is true.

The space mice are back and there is a bit more justification about how Alura can communicate with them this time

I was really worried that Lance would be annoying. I frequently find the full-of-himself comic relief to be obnoxious. So far the writers have made him go to the edge of annoying, sniff around, and go away.

Wow, the bad guys really like their deep purple

I know what I'm going to be doing during my free time this weekend.

Well, if I'm not mistaken, purple can be interpreted as a color of death and Voltron originated from Japanese animated shows, so there's that.

And same, just watch the first ep and, HOLY SHIT AM I LOVING THIS! I freaking grew up watching the original and, this is just so damn amazing! The characters, just so great... mostly. I do love they made Lance just annoying enough that you love to watch him make others suffer from it, but isn't annoying to the audience, the rest all feel real, different. The only character so far I really don't care for is Coran (Is the his name?) the dude that was put in suspend animation along with the Princess, do find him more annoying then charming, but, not overly so.

And actually giving each lion their own design and personality. so awesome. The animation looks gorgeous.... and yeah I was actually doing the "Form feet and legs..." etc.. during that first combination sequence..... So yeah just going by the first ep.... oh sweet Celestia and Luna is this going to be good.

Watched the whole thing.

I liked it.

Also, I'm near positive Lance is Jack De Sena, which mean Sokka is a Voltron pilot. It also explains why he's so damned funny.

Gonna wait to see what others say before I fully weigh in.

Actually, that's Jeremy Shada as Lance. So technically, Finn the Human is a Voltron pilot.

Welp, it certainly looked nice but...damn, for someone who came for it as a Super Robot show, I ended up disappointed again.

I mean, it's technically the best Voltron show, but Voltron itself feels more like the elephant in the living room than the main attraction. We get it beaten over our heads that it's the most powerful weapon in the galaxy, and its sequences are probably some of the least impressive in the series.

The angle also feels really odd when the main characters wear bright white suits with colored highlights and spend every episode having to sneak around. The Die Hard episode with Pidge was pretty cool, but after that just watching them wait in corridors while robots march past, or deal with some problem that doesn't require Voltron felt less like a welcome change of pace and more like stalling until the giant robot action could start...which again, was a letdown because Voltron rarely does anything cool in this series.

I'm also gonna say, I think this is a good argument in favor of having named weapons. "Power the blasters!" "Form sword!" and "Form shoulder cannon!" are...really lousy battle cries given what follows.

I also really, really hate ending on such a major cliffhanger without a second season already being in the bag. I'm cool with not solving the main plot thread, but just ending on a big (and frankly, unsatisfying) cliffhanger like that takes it down a few points for me.

Lastly, not a fan of the new theme music. It's just...too low-key for what should be the big highlight.

I love the art direction, some of the Lion battles are cool, and in general I love most of the changes (though the "Hunk is fat and silly" shtick got old pretty quickly), but as hyped as I was for this, it was a pretty big disappointment.

That it wasn't all "Form Voltron, smash random giant Mook of the week." was one of the best parts about it. Actually focusing on the characters over the robots, and making them actual characters. Even sticking to individual lion fights rather then, again, "just get in Lions, form Voltron, Form sword, repeat next episode." It made everything just feel so much better.

The lack of names, also don't see the issue, why bother with big flashy, overly complicated names for things when just sticking to the basics is perfectly serviceable, and given these are all military cadets, it makes sense they'd go that route.

Voltron not easily curb stomping everything, also a great idea, what's the point in that? It did always win, but it had it's limits, and most of the struggles were more around the Paladin's still learning how to use it, still figuring things out, then Voltron itself. The constant sense of New Powers as the Plot Demands was a little annoying, but did mostly make sense in 'verse at least.

As to the cliffhanger..... yeah I'm with you on that one, there had BETTER be a second season after that.

I agree about the cliffhanger.

My thoughts:

• I liked this. Feels like my childhood is back. These characters feel different from the old group, but still cool.

• Keith being more hot-headed then previously, but also The Ace (after Shiro that is) is interesting. Lance, despite being a bit of a jackass, really does seem more coolheaded sometimes.

• Hunk is....not sure the word to use for him, but he seems to be the most down to earth member of the group. His love of food is stereotypical, but not too overbearing. And his desire to return to Balmera gave him an arc that helped him realize why his role as a Voltron pilot was important.

• ....Pidge. Pigde is different. If you haven't watched it (and didn't see that post to an old spoiler page a while back or read the trope page) you might not know how. That being said, despite this difference, it doesn't have too much affect on anything. Pidge is Pidge.

• Shiro is the biggest thing. We are still only learning bits of what he went through. His memory loss (at least right now) seems to be less the possibility of him being a spy, and more plain old Post Traumatic Stress Disorder from his first contact with aliens ending with him being kidnapped, tortured, force to fight in Gladiator games, and having an arm replaced. With his fate in the original series (Go Lion, not Voltron) and this series taking points from that, we've all been wondering what his final fate will be. That being said, he'll get a real story. Not bad for a guy who was nicknamed Quiet originally.

• Allura....is stronger than she looks apparently. And damned tough too. Girl knows what she wants. And what she wants is to kick Galra ass.

• As for the titular robot, the increased learning curve of using it is interesting. Seeing the pilots have to train to use it was great (tell me that part where they were just flying around yelling YEAH! like a bunch of idiots didn't crack any of you up), and them having to discover how to fully use it's power means that even with the most powerful weapon in the universe, there's still some tension as they figure out how to bring that power to bear.

• Zarkon is a beast. Clobbers a lion on foot (Keith really should have realized he needed to retreat the moment he started losing that fight) and was a former Paladin. If we take the powers he used into account (Sword, cannon, whip, etc) we've had a bit of a preview of what other weapons the big V might have.

• Some scenes harkened back to the old series (the blue lion pilot being injured, Shiro going one on one with Haggar), but we're still their own thing.

The show is still rough. it's got a foundation built on past series, but is also doing it's own thing. Only time will tell how it will go. But I do know one thing:

Don't fly in a space lion with Lance. He'll stink the place up.

edited 11th Jun '16 6:55:43 AM by HandsomeRob

Pretty much agree with all of that. Show has a few rough spots, few things it could have done better, but overall was so SO freaking awesome!

@Gunheart. Dude I love you and all, but you have to just give up on American productions replicating the feel and soul of Super Robot anime. Its just too hard, imposible even. Try to let go of that desire and You will be much happier!

A second season is a high possibility, I don't see why they wouldn't make one so hopefully Voltron gets more awesome set-pieces & all. Maybe Zarkon piloting his own evil-Voltron.