History YMMV / Voltron

** To detail: in ''[=GoLion=],'' Shirogane, the character that would become "Sven," was killed off early on so that Fala could become a pilot. However, the Japanese rather liked the character and wanted him to return, so ''[=GoLion=]'' has [[BackupTwin his twin brother]] show up at the end of the series, which ends up feeling a little ham-fisted and awkward. World Events Productions, on the other hand, had a "never say die" policy at the time; to get around this, they rewrote the script: Sven was taken off-world to receive medical attention from an attack on his life. So when the time came for Shirogane's brother to show up, they just brought Sven back. Many fans, in both the US and Japan, prefer this change.

* OlderThanTheyThink: A lot of people who have watched this series assume it was the TropeMaker for CombiningMecha and actually [[TheyCopiedItSoItSucks accuse]] ''Power Rangers'' of [[SmallReferencePools ripping it off]]. Meanwhile, in Japan, it was already a well-worn formula going back to TheSeventies.

* EvilIsSexy: Lotor due to his {{Bishonen}} appearance, his [[WhiteHairBlackHeart white hair]] and the fact that he was an antagonist ([[DracoInLeatherPants and you know how the fans get]]).

* TheyChangedItNowItSucks: The reaction from American fans when the series changed from ''Lion Voltron'' to ''Vehicle Voltron'', since they didn't know the whole story behind the production of ''Voltron''. In Latin America, this goes the other way instead, since ''Vehicle Voltron'' came first and ''Lion Voltron'' didn't air until a decade later.

* CutAndPasteTranslation: One of the better known American examples of this from the 80s, alongside Anime/{{Robotech}}, combining Anime/GoLion and Anime/DairuggerXV, the two parts known to Voltron fans as "Lion Voltron" and "Vehicle Voltron" respectively based on the main mechs of both.

* FoeYay[=/=]LesYay: Allura and Merla, especially in "A Ghost of a Chance" where Merla calls her lovely ("You're just as lovely as they say."), laments that they could've been good friends ("Too bad you're not a bad guy, we have much more fun."), and gets pissed at Lotor for trying to take Allura away ("She's my prisoner!", "I'll do exactly as I please with Allura!").

* HoYay: Let's just say that the Klance subtext didn't start with [[WesternAnimation/VoltronLegendaryDefender the reboot]]...

* AlternateCharacterInterpretation: Keith and Allura's relationship: are they the OfficialCouple, or merely a case of ImpliedLoveInterest? There is some DependingOnTheWriter at play here, as while ''Voltron'' in general seems to go for the former, ''Anime/GoLion'' on the other hand went with the latter. Yes, ''[=GoLion=]'' pretty much stated that Keith/Kogane's feelings for Allura/Fala were strictly platonic and that they were JustFriends, and that if anything the other guys in the Voltron Force were far more interested and attracted to the Princess than Keith/Kogane was (''Voltron'' didn't exactly ignore that little aspect either, especially with Pidge). However, the original ''Voltron'' series did try to go for the former, but it can come off as the latter, especially at first. The American Voltron Animated shows like ''The New Dimension'' and especially ''WesternAnimation/VoltronForce,'' on the other hand, are clearly going for the former.

* SeinfeldIsUnfunny: '''''Yikes''''', it can be hard to understand why anyone ever liked the original show show when a modern viewer sees it. The LullDestruction, the StockFootage combining sequences, the formulaic episodes... it's worth remembering that Voltron really ''was'' bigger than ''WesternAnimation/TheTransformers'' at one point, though.

** Conversely, some try to take a more moderate approach by stating that both versions have plenty of merits despite their differences. More specifically, they take the view that while ''Voltron'' is considered to be an iconic classic in the US, WEP should get some credit for being openly willing to acknowledge ''[=GoLion=]'' and making sure ''[=GoLion=]'' is fully released in the US (and even taking a few good-natured jabs at themselves for how they censored the show so much on their YouTube channel). Also, some may try to point out that despite how different ''Voltron'' and ''[=GoLion=]'' can be, both versions fully deliver the awesome CombiningMecha anime action for which the franchise is well known.

* ViewerGenderConfusion: ''So'' many kids thought Pidge was a girl at first glance. The Japanese version is worse since he actually sounds like one too, whereas his [[DarthWiki/MostAnnoyingSound English voice]] at least clarifies his gender more.

* ViewerGenderConfusion: ''So'' many kids thought Pidge was a girl at first glance. The Japanese version is worse since he actually sounds like one too, whereas his [[MostAnnoyingSound English voice]] at least clarifies his gender more.

* {{Woolseyism}}: In the Mexican Spanish dub, the ''Loved by good, feared by evil'' line in the opening of both series was translated as ''Amado por los justos, temido por los cobardes'' (Loved by the just, Feared by the cowards), who sounds probably more epic than the English version.

* AlternateCharacterInterpretation: Keith and Allura's relationship: are they the OfficialCouple, or merely a case of ImpliedLoveInterest? There is some DependingOnTheWriter at play here, as while ''Voltron'' in general seems to go for the former, ''Anime/GoLion'' on the other hand went with the latter. Yes, ''[=GoLion=]'' pretty much stated that Keith/Kogane's feelings for Allura/Fala were strictly platonic and that they were JustFriends, in which if anything the other guys in the Voltron Force were far more interested and attracted to the Princess than Keith/Kogane was (in which Voltron didn't exactly ignore that little aspect either, especially Pidge). However, the original Voltron series did try to go for the former, but it can come off as the latter, especially at first. Though the American Voltron Animated shows like ''The New Dimension'' and especially ''WesternAnimation/VoltronForce'' on the other hand are clearly going for the former.
* BrokenBase: Voltron Vs. Anime/GoLion, which was the better show? There have been plenty who strongly preferred [=GoLion=] due to its grim DarkerAndEdgier dramatic style that is far easier to take it seriously compared to Voltron. Some have even hated WEP for butchering a dark and intense Mecha anime series by turning it into a {{Narm}}-filled LighterAndSofter generic Mecha Anime {{Macekre}} [[MerchandiseDriven just for the sake of cashing in on Voltron's merchandise]]. Some [=GoLion=] fans often make accusations that the only reason why anyone would still like Voltron is strictly due to nostalgia. However, there are those who still openly like Voltron even being well aware of how different it was compared to the original Japanese series. Some would even go so far as to prefer Voltron and find that some of the changes were actually an improvement. Some of them would also accuse [=GoLion=] of being a fairly generic grimdark anime that relied on gory violent scenes just for the sake of cheap shock value...despite still being a giant robot anime based on a multicolored lion robot. There's also been mention of how over time Lotor became a bit more of a conflicted and rounded character in Voltron compared to how he was a one-dimensional depraved monster in the original. And of course one of the biggest reasons why anyone would prefer Voltron over [=GoLion=] was Sven/Shirogane's fate as noted under the {{Woolseyism}} entry below that even Japanese viewers preferred the idea of Sven getting injured then making a comeback over him getting KilledOffForReal early.
** Conversely some try to take a more moderate approach by stating that both versions have plenty of merits despite their differences. Namely that while Voltron is considered to be an iconic classic in the US but WEP should get some credit openly willing to acknowledge [=GoLion=] and worked hard in making sure [=GoLion=] is fully released in the US (and even did a few good-natured jabs at themselves for how they censored the show so much on their Youtube channel). Also that some may try to point out that despite how different both ''Voltron'' and ''[=GoLion=]'' can be, both versions fully delivered the awesome CombiningMecha anime action that the franchise is well known for.

** Even less helped by the purely original third season of the show, which has him become much more of a conflicted character, rather than the straight-up villain he was in the [=GoLion=]-adapted first season.
** The computer animated version that came much later essentially turned him into a TragicVillain, which probably would have pleased his fangirls even more... if half his face and one arm hadn't been blown off in the process, [[BeautyEqualsGoodness severely limiting most of them's desire to fangirl him]].

** Romelle does not appear much in the series but she was immediately well-liked due to her being a DarkerAndEdgier ActionGirl which served to contrast Allura's naivete and purity.

* FanPreferredPairing: While the Canon Keith/Allura pairing has a LOT of fans, an almost equal number of fans like to pair Allura with Lotor, in part because of Lotor's DracoInLeatherPants vibes, and in part of scrub off some of the more boring aspects of Allura.
** While not as active as Keith and Lotor in this regard fans have shipped Allura with one of the other Voltron Force pilots as well in which Lance seems to be the most popular choice in that regard. Some are even willing to point how while WEP seems to be intent on making Keith and Allura the OfficialCouple, but [=GoLion=] had Allura/Fala's love life a bit more ambiguous and supported the idea that the Princess would go with one of the other pilots a bit more though.
* FoeYay[=/=]LesYay: Allura and Merla, especially in "A Ghost of a Chance" where Merla calls her lovely ("You're just as lovely as they say."), laments they could've been good friends ("Too bad you're not a bad guy, we have much more fun."), and gets pissed at Lotor for trying to take Allura away ("She's my prisoner!", "I'll do exactly as I please with Allura!").
* GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff: ''Voltron'' is far better known in America than ''[=GoLion=]'' is in Japan. In fact, ''[=GoLion=]'' is almost forgotten there. This is because when the show premiered in Japan, there were already ''tons'' of transforming/combining mecha shows on airwaves, while in America it was pretty much the only show of its kind (not to mention it had to compete with Super Sentai in Japan too, which America didn't get until the early 90s with ''Franchise/PowerRangers'').
** Also, Vehicle Voltron is better remembered in both Russia and Latin America than in America because it was shown there first. In fact, (at least in Latin America) Lion Force Voltron wasn't broadcasted until a decade later, despite all the toys sold in Latin American countries were from the Lion Force and the Vehicle Force didn't get any, or the bootlegged ones are based from the Japanese version instead.

** The monster trees in "Zarkon is Dying", emerging from the forest and surrounding Allura, Nanny, and the other maids. The girls' screaming doesn't help. Before the tree monsters show up, the girls heard strange sounds and noticed [[ForebodingFleeingFlock some birds flocking away]], the girls decide to head back but were too late.
* OlderThanTheyThink: A lot of people who have watched this series assume it was the TropeMaker for CombiningMecha and actually [[TheyCopiedItSoItSucks accuse]] PowerRangers of [[SmallReferencePools ripping it off]]. Meanwhile in Japan, it was already a well-worn formula going back to TheSeventies.

** While Sven survives to the end of the series, unlike his [=GoLion=] counterpart Shirogane, he never had it easy. First he's attacked by Haggar and her cat. The planet he's staying on while recovering is attacked by Zarkon's forces. Sven is unable to do anything to stop the invasion and is taken as a slave afterward. Lastly he's left for dead when his captors learn he's unable to work. Things don't get much better for him even after he meets Romelle.

** To detail: in ''[=GoLion=]'' Shirogane, the character that would become "Sven" was killed off early on so that Fala could become a pilot. However, the Japanese rather liked the character and wanted him to return, so ''[=GoLion=]'' has [[BackupTwin his twin brother]] show up at the end of the series, which ends up feeling a little ham-fisted and awkward. World Events Productions, on the other hand, had a "never say die" policy at the time; to get around this, they rewrote the script: Sven was taken off-world to receive medical attention from an attack on his life. So when the time came for Shirogane's brother to show up, they just brought Sven back. Many fans, in both the US and Japan, prefer this change.

* MemeticLoser: In the U.S., Vehicle Voltron is treated as this. See ReplacementScrappy below. Not so much in Latin America and Russia, and in some cases like in Mexico, this is even ''inverted''.
* ReplacementScrappy: Vehicle Voltron (at least in the U.S) will go down in history as the lame, horrid replacement of the original awesome Voltron, regardless of whether that reputation is deserved. ''Robot Chicken'' lampshaded this in a skit, with a character [[CrossesTheLineTwice committing suicide out]] [[ExaggeratedTrope of despair because of Vehicle Voltron]].
* TheyChangedItNowItSucks: The reaction from American fans when the series changed from ''Lion Voltron'' to ''Vehicle Voltron'', since they didn't know the whole story behind the production of ''Voltron''. In Latin America, this goes the other way instead, since ''Vehicle Voltron'' came first and ''Lion Voltron'' didn't came until a decade later.

* {{Macekre}}: Played straight in terms of some of the plot, like making the villains somewhat more one-dimensional, or in terms of LullDestruction (holy cow, the LullDestruction). Sven's not-deaths in particular also seem weird when (for example) most of his comrades are visibly in tears over the fact. However, ''Voltron'' also subverts the trope; most people consider the show a "good" Macekre in that while the changes were ''vast'', they were chiefly done so that the show would even be airable in the US, and the edits didn't remove what made the show fun in the first place (e.g., people in combining robot lions having one BigDamnHeroes moment after another).
** That and say what you will about how WEP tried to downplay the violence and remove the gore in the series to uphold a NeverSayDie rule. But they had no problem with fanservice, as Princess Allura's InnocentFanserviceGirl scenes were kept intact such as incidents like her showing up wearing nothing but a bath towel and her SlipperySwimsuit scene when the Voltron Force when dipping in the lake. (In which the guys definitely noticed both incidents.) So while Voltron may've have tried to tone down the violence, the fanservice was pretty much kept intact in which some times to the point of GettingCrapPastTheRadar levels.

* MostAnnoyingSound: Pidge's voice can get grating after a while.

* SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic: Whatever else you might think of the show, that central theme is remembered by millions for a ''reason''. (Well, okay, [[EarWorm two reasons]].)

* NightmareFuel: In episode 2, the scene where the space explorers travel through a foggy woods and hear a lion's roar is pretty unsettling.

** Also, Vehicle Voltron is better remembered in both Russia and Latin America than in America because it was shown there first. In fact, (at least in Latin America) Lion Force Voltron wasn't broadcasted until a decade later, depise all the toys sold in Latin American countries were from the Lion Force and the Vehicle Force didn't get any, or the bootlegged ones are based from the Japanese version instead.

* MemeticMutation: '''''AND I'LL FORM THE HEAD!'''''

* HilariousInHindsight: One episode has Lance taking the Blue Lion. In the reboot series, Keith, Lance and Shiro (Sven) now pilot Lions that match their uniform colors as opposed to previous [[WesternAnimation/VoltronTheThirdDimension sequel]] [[WesternAnimation/VoltronForce series]] having them wear uniforms matching their Lion colors.

* CrowningMusicOfAwesome: Whatever else you might think of the show, that central theme is remembered by millions for a ''reason''. (Well, okay, [[EarWorm two reasons]].)