Written by: Kevin Berge
Lothor would like everyone to know that his plan is full proof, he is a master tactician, and should not be questioned even when repeatedly embarrassed. (Image Courtesy of: youtube.com)
Quick Take: Voltron: Legendary Defender Season 4 feels more like season 3 part 2 rather than its own season, but the growing web of character dynamics makes this another engrossing experience. In particular, its humor mixed in with growing stakes make this a worthy addition to a great franchise.
Voltron: Legendary Defender Review: Season 1 | 2 | 3
***This review will contain full spoilers up to the end of season 4 of Voltron: Legendary Defender. If you have not watched up to this point in the series and plan to do so, do not read ahead if you wish to avoid spoilers.***
As Voltron: Legendary Defender has backed down on its episode count, the show has become a little bit less seasonal. The stretch from season 3 to season 4 and likely to season 5 feels interconnected in its plot development.
Each season has started big and ended bigger, but the payoff is left half-finished. Season 4 feels closer to a conclusion than season 3, but the character development feels more muddled than previous seasons.
The focus here is on building to the final conflict. The Paladins are working to damage the control of the Galra while building a force to unit the galaxy against their oppressors. It leads to a few key stories, but many characters are left in the dust.
Keith steps down as the Paladin of the Black Lion to work as a Blade, allowing Shiro to step up. Keith then mostly disappears from the narrative. Lance and Hunk are more or less side characters while even Shiro feels isolated. Alura has more of a role and growth but not nearly as much as the previous season.
This leaves the primary story is focus on two characters: Pidge and Lothar. Pidge finds his brother. In a powerful and climactic episode "Reunion", he thinks he has found Matt's grave, but he finds a final clue that leads to his brother. The follow-up is nice as Matt adds a nice dynamic to the growing rebellion.
It is also just nice to have Pidge, who was mostly typecast in previous seasons, get a chance to shine. He is so good in this season, especially in those emotional moments with his brother. He also sees through things others do not now that he can think clearly and focus forward.
***This review will contain full spoilers up to the end of season 4 of Voltron: Legendary Defender. If you have not watched up to this point in the series and plan to do so, do not read ahead if you wish to avoid spoilers.***
As Voltron: Legendary Defender has backed down on its episode count, the show has become a little bit less seasonal. The stretch from season 3 to season 4 and likely to season 5 feels interconnected in its plot development.
Each season has started big and ended bigger, but the payoff is left half-finished. Season 4 feels closer to a conclusion than season 3, but the character development feels more muddled than previous seasons.
The focus here is on building to the final conflict. The Paladins are working to damage the control of the Galra while building a force to unit the galaxy against their oppressors. It leads to a few key stories, but many characters are left in the dust.
Keith steps down as the Paladin of the Black Lion to work as a Blade, allowing Shiro to step up. Keith then mostly disappears from the narrative. Lance and Hunk are more or less side characters while even Shiro feels isolated. Alura has more of a role and growth but not nearly as much as the previous season.
This leaves the primary story is focus on two characters: Pidge and Lothar. Pidge finds his brother. In a powerful and climactic episode "Reunion", he thinks he has found Matt's grave, but he finds a final clue that leads to his brother. The follow-up is nice as Matt adds a nice dynamic to the growing rebellion.
It is also just nice to have Pidge, who was mostly typecast in previous seasons, get a chance to shine. He is so good in this season, especially in those emotional moments with his brother. He also sees through things others do not now that he can think clearly and focus forward.
Is it bad that I wanted the returned brother to be evil? Am I that kind person? (Image Courtesy of: pogdesign.co.uk)
Season 3 established a potential new lead villain in Lotor. Season 4 complicates that thanks to the return of Zarkon. The big bad of this series feels even more inhuman after his return to consciousness, and this allows Lotor to take on a uniquely mysterious role.
Zarkon turns on Lotor, who seems to have a plan to ruin his father's empire. It is not revealed by the end of the season what his goal truly is, but it is interesting to watch him both succeed and fail. He has a greater plan, and his own people turn on him after one too many seeming missteps.
This leads to the season climax and one of the best episodes of the series "A New Defender". Allura helps Voltron escape a gravitational trap, but not before the trap is ready to explode. Lothor gets involved just in time to stop his mother and save a planet on the verge of exploding as well as Voltron and the growing resistance.
This new character's antihero role in the story makes the dynamic far more interesting than it had been to date. Suddenly, the villains are growing harder to predict and pin down. Nothing is certain, which is surprising for a show primarily aimed at younger audiences.
I do wish though that there was more communal storytelling. Too much of this season is one note. It needs to be more dynamic. The lack of connected storytelling really hampers the show's sense of unique style. It is still good but incomplete.
Hopefully, the show continues to ramp up and focuses on the characters left out in the cold with season 4. Lance especially deserves a chance to really step out. His story always hints at the best qualities of the series.
Zarkon turns on Lotor, who seems to have a plan to ruin his father's empire. It is not revealed by the end of the season what his goal truly is, but it is interesting to watch him both succeed and fail. He has a greater plan, and his own people turn on him after one too many seeming missteps.
This leads to the season climax and one of the best episodes of the series "A New Defender". Allura helps Voltron escape a gravitational trap, but not before the trap is ready to explode. Lothor gets involved just in time to stop his mother and save a planet on the verge of exploding as well as Voltron and the growing resistance.
This new character's antihero role in the story makes the dynamic far more interesting than it had been to date. Suddenly, the villains are growing harder to predict and pin down. Nothing is certain, which is surprising for a show primarily aimed at younger audiences.
I do wish though that there was more communal storytelling. Too much of this season is one note. It needs to be more dynamic. The lack of connected storytelling really hampers the show's sense of unique style. It is still good but incomplete.
Hopefully, the show continues to ramp up and focuses on the characters left out in the cold with season 4. Lance especially deserves a chance to really step out. His story always hints at the best qualities of the series.
