"It is finished, Jaga..."
The 1985 series Thundercats opens just as an alien race of humanoid cat people (Thunderians) escape their dying home planet Thundera, right before it pulls a Krypton on them and explodes. As if that wasn't bad enough, they are soon attacked by their arch enemies from the planet Plun-darr, the Mutants (humanoid lizards, monkeys, and jackals). The Mutants destroy every ship in the fleet... except the royal flagship which they know contains the Mineral MacGuffin they are after — the powerful Eye of Thundera. Also on board the last surviving ship are the young prince Lion-O and his royal guard, the planet's most elite fighting force — the Thundercats.
With help from Lion-O and the Sword of Omens (the hereditary weapon of the Lord of the Thundercats, used to channel the power of the Eye of Thundera embedded in the hilt), the Thundercats manage to fend off the attack, but not without sustaining too much damage to reach their intended destination. The closest planet they can find with a compatible atmosphere is an Insignificant Little Blue Planet many light years away. Their leader Jaga orders everyone into the ship's Human Popsicle capsules, while he stays outside to pilot the damaged ship as long as possible to its destination.
Long after Jaga passes away Obi-Wan-style, the ship crash lands on the seemingly abandoned planet with all the Thundercats still asleep. Lion-O is the first to wake up, shocked to find himself in the body of a fully grown man! The Mutants don't give him much time to worry about that before they catch up with him and his team...
This episode provides examples of:
- A Child Shall Lead Them: The plan was obviously for the Thundercats to train the heir to the throne to be an effective leader in the future, but circumstances force them to speed things up.
- Arc Words: The Thundercats' goal isn't only survival of them as individuals but of their culture and the code of Thundera — "Justice. Truth. Honor. Loyalty."
- Back-to-Back Badasses: Done by Tygra and Cheetara during the episode's second battle.
- Clothing Damage: The adult Lion-O wakes up in his younger self's shredded clothes.
- Coming of Age Story: Lion-O's begins now (at an accelerated rate).
- Cry into Chest: Lion-O does this when he says good-bye to Jaga.
- Cryonics Failure: This is universally accepted as the only logical explanation why Lion-O noticeably aged in his capsule while no one else did, including the other two Thunderkittens. Though Jaga said that "some aging does take place" even in a working one.
- Darkest Hour: The series opens on the Thunderians' darkest hour, with the destruction of their planet. Only getting worse for the heroes when they realize that they are about to lose their leader, as well.
- Deliberate Values Dissonance: Clothing apparently wasn't a universal thing on Thundera. Jaga gives his team clothes along with weapons, knowing that they will need it where they're going.
- Doomed Hometown: Thundera explodes at the beginning of the episode (bigger scale than usual).
- Downer Beginning: The heroes' home planet has been destroyed, all of their people seemingly wiped out, their leader is dead, and they are forced to start over alone on an alien world, while pursued by enemies constantly trying to kill them. On top of it all, the protagonist has lost at least 10 of the most formative years of his life and is forced to grow up extremely fast and shoulder a responsibility he wouldn't be ready for, for years. And that is literally just the first episode!
- Dude, Where's My Respect?: Snarf complains over not getting any thanks for his contribution.
- Dying Alone: Jaga was left alone to pilot the ship for years until he simply couldn't hang onto life any longer.
- Early-Installment Weirdness: Tygra turns invisible without using his whip.
- Earth-Shattering Kaboom: Usually, this is something the heroes try to avert, not the way the audience is introduced to them!
- Establishing Character Moment: The first battle on board the ship quickly and effectively introduces the audience to the main characters' talents and personalities.
- Even the Guys Want Him: Both Cheetara and Tygra fully approve of Lion-O's new appearance now that He Is All Grown Up.Tygra: And a fine figure of a Thundercat you've grown up to be, Lion-O!
Cheetara: And so handsome, too... - Failed Attempt at Drama: After their first skirmish with the Mutants, Lion-O tries to give a rousing speech about how they are going to create a mighty new empire under his leadership. His friends just stare at him, then laugh when he sheepishly adds, "... with your help, of course..." Need more practice, kid...
- The Fog of Ages: Whatever malfunction allowed him to age in suspended animation also seems to have affected Lion-O's memory. He has trouble remembering what's going on and things like what Jaga told him about the sword. (None of the other Thundercats show any indication of such memory trouble.)
- Foreshadowing: Before being a Human Popsicle, the Thundercats discuss how the ship is so damaged that their chances of actually reaching their destination intact are very slim. Fortunately, prior to the crash, there seems to have been only one major malfunction — in the prince's suspension capsule.
- Giving the Sword to a Noob: Well, the king is dead, and you are under attack — if a little kid too small to lift the sword without supernatural help is the only one who can wield it, what choice do you have?
- Harmful to Minors: Later episodes will show just how badly watching his home planet explode here affected Lion-O.
- Herald: Jaga fulfills this role, being the one to tell Lion-O all about the sword and making sure he understands his future duty as Lord of the Thundercats.
- The Hero's Journey: The heir to the throne is given a magic weapon as he is sent from a Doomed Hometown to a hostile, unfamiliar world where he will have to fight battles and pass tests to earn the right to rule — classic Hero's Journey beginning.
- Honor Before Reason: The Thundercats are willing to risk robot pilot mode on a damaged ship as long as Jaga remains with them. See More Expendable Than You.Jaga: You will all get into the suspension capsules now. I will pilot the ship to the blue planet.
Panthro: No Jaga, without suspension you'll die! We can set the course on robot pilot.
Jaga: In its damage condition, the ship must be piloted manually for as long as possible. Otherwise we can't be sure of reaching our destination.
Tygra: We can't be sure anyway. We'll take our chances together. You must join us in the capsules, Jaga.
Lion-O: Yes Jaga, please!
Jaga: ENOUGH! - In Medias Res: It would take over a season before we learn how and why Thundera was destroyed.
- Instant Expert: Lion-O has no trouble holding his own against the mutants, despite having the training and experience of a 12-year-old.
- Jumped at the Call: He wasn't expecting to be thrown right into the thick of battle so soon, but Lion-O doesn't hesitate to jump to his friends' defense when the mutants start attacking. He is also eager to take on the title of Lord of the Thundercats now that he is no longer a child.
- Mentor Occupational Hazard: Jaga succumbs to this before the first episode ends.
- More Expendable Than You: Jaga has to fight to get his team to let him make the Heroic Sacrifice for them. He wins by pointing out that he is too old to survive that long as a Human Popsicle anyway.Cheetara: (in tears) But Jaga...
Tygra: Come Cheetara, what Jaga says is true. Don't make it tougher for you. - No Hero to His Valet: Wilykit and Wilykat — Lion-O's peers until just a few minutes ago — are the only ones not impressed by his heroics ("One tiny skirmish, and he's suddenly a super hero!").
- One-Word Title: Exodus.
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here: Once the Mutants realize that they are outmatched, they beam back to their ships.
- Spirit Advisor: Jaga is able to continue to guide Lion-O this way.
- Supernatural Aid: Lion-O is first shown the Sword of Omens after leaving Thundera and officially takes permanent possession of it upon beginning his adventures in a new world. The other Thundercats also receive their own weapons from Jaga before beginning their journey.
- Threshold Guardians: The Mutants serve as this for Lion-O — by defeating them, he is able to survive and begin his journey to become Lord of the Thundercats.
- Tough Love: Jaga thinks it's better for Lion-O to see what's happening to his planet than be shielded from the ugly truth.Jaga: If [Lion-O] is to rule, he must learn to take the bad with the good.
- What Have I Become?: Lion-O can hardly believe what he sees when he looks at his new adult reflection in a pool of water.
- You Can't Go Home Again: Not when it's blown up, you can't.
